Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer (other than skin cancer) among women in the U.S., with more than 211,000 women diagnosed each year.
Early detection through regular self-breast exams, clinical breast exams and mammograms greatly increases survival rates.
About Breast Cancer
There are many types of breast cancers. Breast cancer may be invasive, in situ, or a mixture of both.
Ductal Carcinoma
The most common type of breast cancer, invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), begins in the cells that line the ducts, small tubes that carry milk from the milk-making glands to the nipple. It can spread into the tissue of the breast and possibly to other parts of the body.
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is the most common type of non-invasive breast cancer. Nearly all women at this stage can be cured.
Lobular Carcinoma
Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is a less common type of invasive cancer that begins in the milk-making glands, called lobules.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC)
This is a very uncommon type of invasive breast cancer that is often mistaken for an infection in its early stages.
Who’s at Risk?
The chance of getting breast cancer increases as a woman gets older. Most cases occur in women over 60. Although white women are more likely to develop breast cancer, black women are more likely to die from the disease. Inactivity and obesity also lead to a higher risk of breast cancer.
Breast cancer is found mostly in women, but men can also get the disease.
Risk Factors
Studies have found the following risk factors to increase the chance of developing breast cancer:
- Personal history of breast cancer: Previous diagnosis of breast cancer.
- Family history: A mother, sister, daughter or other relative with breast cancer.
- Atypical hyperplasia: A benign condition in which cells look abnormal under a microscope and are increased in number.
- Gene changes: Mutations to genes BRCA1 and others may increase the risk.
- Reproductive history: Women who have their first child after 30 or those who never have children.
- Menstrual history: Women who have their first menstrual period began before age 12. Women who started menopause after age 55.
- Radiation therapy: Treatment with radiation therapy to the chest before age 30.
- Breast density: More dense tissue in the breast.
- DES (diethylstilbestrol): DES was a drug given to some pregnant women in the U.S. between about 1940 and 1971.
- Alcohol: The more your drink, the higher your risk.
Treatment
Treatment for breast cancer depends mainly on the stage of the disease.
Breast surgery to remove the tumor (lumpectomy) or the entire breast (mastectomy) is the most common treatment for breast cancer. Other treatment options include chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and immunotherapy. External beam radiation and brachytherapy are also used to treat breast cancer.
Women with breast cancer often receive a combination of treatment methods.
For More Information
Cancer Care Northwest has compiled a list of resourceful websites for women with breast cancer.
Some information on this page is provided by the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society.