What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is when cancer (malignant) cells form in the tissues of the breast. Breast cancer can form in one or both breasts. Women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than men, but men can get the disease. The most common type of breast cancer is ductal carcinoma, which begins in the cells of the ducts. Cancer that begins in the lobes is lobular carcinoma and is more often found in both breasts than any other type of breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer is uncommon but symptoms include warm, red and swollen breasts.
What are the Risk Factors for Breast Cancer?
Risk factors for breast cancer include the following:
- A personal history of invasive breast cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS).
- A personally history of benign (non-cancerous) breast disease.
- A family history of breast cancer in a first-degree relative (mother, daughter, sister).
- Inherited changes in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene or other genes that increase the risk of breast cancer.
- Breast tissue that is dense on a mammogram.
- Exposure of breast tissue to estrogen made by the body.
- Taking hormones such as estrogen combined with progestin for symptoms of menopause.
- Treatment with radiation therapy to the breast/chest.
- Drinking alcohol.
- Obesity.
- Older age.
How do you screen for breast cancer?
Karmanos recommends an annual screening mammogram, a special type of X-ray that is used to detect breast abnormalities, for all women of average risk beginning at age 40. Women with one or more risk factors should talk with their family doctor or a Karmanos expert about when to begin getting mammograms.
Learn more about screening and prevention at Karmanos.
What are the signs of breast cancer?
Signs of breast cancer cancer include:
- A lump or thickening in or near the breast or underarm area.
- A change in the size or shape of the breast.
- A dimple or puckering in the skin of the breast.
- A nipple turned inward into the breast.
- Fluid, other than breast milk, from the nipple, especially if it's bloody.
- Scaly, red or swollen skin on the breast, nipple or areola (the dark area of skin around the nipple).
- Dimples in the breast that look like the skin of an orange, called peau d'orange.
What are treatment options for breast cancer?
There are different treatment types for patients with breast cancer including surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. New treatments are also being tested in clinical trials.
Information includes about breast cancer, causes, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment.
Learn More: NCI