Breast cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the breast grow out of control. Breast cancer is the most common female cancer in the U.S., and the second-leading cause of cancer death in women (lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths). While breast cancer is more common in women, men can get it too.
Life expectancy for breast cancer is often expressed in five-year survival rates, that is, how many people will be alive five years after diagnosis. According to the American Cancer Society, as of March 2022, the survival rates of breast cancer are:
- For localized breast cancer (cancer that has not spread outside the breast) the five-year survival rate is 99%.
- For regional breast cancer (cancer has spread outside the breast to nearby structures or lymph nodes) the five-year survival rate is 86%.
- For distant breast cancer (cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, such as the bones, liver, or lungs) the five-year survival rate is 29%.
What Are Symptoms of Breast Cancer?
Symptoms of breast cancer include:
- New lump in the breast
- A change in the size or the shape of the breast
- Skin irritation or dimpling
- Redness, scaling, flaking, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
- Swelling of all or part of the breast
- Breast pain
- Nipple turning inward
- Nipple pain
- Nipple discharge that is not breast milk
- A lump in the armpit
What Causes Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is a result of damage to a cell’s DNA, but it is unknown what causes this damage.
Risk factors for developing breast cancer include:
- Inherited genetic mutations, such as a mutation in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes
- Family history of breast cancer, especially a first-degree relative (mother, sister, or daughter)
- Personal history of breast cancer or noncancerous breast disease
- Age over 50 years
- Physical inactivity/sedentary lifestyle
- Having dense breasts
- Previous radiation therapy treatment to the chest or breasts
- Early onset of menstrual periods (before age 12) or late menopause (after age 55)
- History of use of the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES)
How Is Breast Cancer Diagnosed?
A patient may discover a lump in the breast and report it to their doctor, or a healthcare provider may find a lump in the breast when performing a physical examination. Tests used to confirm a diagnosis may include:
- Mammogram
- Breast ultrasound
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast
- Biopsy
If the breast cancer is suspected of metastasizing (spreading), imaging studies may be needed, such as:
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan of the chest
- CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis
- Bone scan
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
What Is the Treatment for Breast Cancer?
Treatment for breast cancer depends on the extent of the tumor and may involve one or more of the following:
- Surgery
- Mastectomy
- Removal of the entire breast
- May be followed by breast reconstruction
- Lumpectomy
- Removal of the tumor and some healthy tissue that surrounds it
- Mastectomy
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Targeted therapy
- Hormone therapy
- Immunotherapy
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http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2007112-overview
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/breast-cancer-guide-to-diagnosis-and-treatment-beyond-the-basics?search=breast%20cancer&source=search_result&selectedTitle=8~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=8
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/index.htm
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK61859/
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/understanding-a-breast-cancer-diagnosis/breast-cancer-survival-rates.html