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Breast cancer

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Overview

Breast, including lymph nodes, lobules and ducts

Breast anatomy Open pop-up dialog box

Breast cancer is cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts.

After skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United
States. Breast cancer can occur in both men and women, but it's far more common in women.

Substantial support for breast cancer awareness and research funding has helped created advances
in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Breast cancer survival rates have increased, and the
number of deaths associated with this disease is steadily declining, largely due to factors such as
earlier detection, a new personalized approach to treatment and a better understanding of the
disease.

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Types

Angiosarcoma

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)

Inflammatory breast cancer

Invasive lobular carcinoma

Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)

Male breast cancer

Paget's disease of the breast

Recurrent breast cancer

Symptoms

Nipple changes

Nipple changes Open pop-up dialog box

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer may include:

Change in the size, shape or appearance of a breast

Changes to the skin over the breast, such as dimpling

A newly inverted nipple

Peeling, scaling, crusting or flaking of the pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple (areola) or
breast skin

Redness or pitting of the skin over your breast, like the skin of an orange

When to see a doctor

If you find a lump or other change in your breast — even if a recent mammogram was normal —
make an appointment with your doctor for prompt evaluation.

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Causes

Doctors know that breast cancer occurs when some breast cells begin to grow abnormally. These
cells divide more rapidly than healthy cells do and continue to accumulate, forming a lump or mass.
Cells may spread (metastasize) through your breast to your lymph nodes or to other parts of your
body.

Breast cancer most often begins with cells in the milk-producing ducts (invasive ductal carcinoma).
Breast cancer may also begin in the glandular tissue called lobules (invasive lobular carcinoma) or in
other cells or tissue within the breast.

Researchers have identified hormonal, lifestyle and environmental factors that may increase your
risk of breast cancer. But it's not clear why some people who have no risk factors develop cancer, yet
other people with risk factors never do. It's likely that breast cancer is caused by a complex
interaction of your genetic makeup and your environment.

Inherited breast cancer

Doctors estimate that about 5 to 10 percent of breast cancers are linked to gene mutations passed
through generations of a family.
A number of inherited mutated genes that can increase the likelihood of breast cancer have been
identified. The most well-known are breast cancer gene 1 (BRCA1) and breast cancer gene 2 (BRCA2),
both of which significantly increase the risk of both breast and ovarian cancer.

If you have a strong family history of breast cancer or other cancers, your doctor may recommend a
blood test to help identify specific mutations in BRCA or other genes that are being passed through
your family.

Consider asking your doctor for a referral to a genetic counselor, who can review your family health
history. A genetic counselor can also discuss the benefits, risks and limitations of genetic testing to
assist you with shared decision-making.

Risk factors

A breast cancer risk factor is anything that makes it more likely you'll get breast cancer. But having
one or even several breast cancer risk factors doesn't necessarily mean you'll develop breast cancer.
Many women who develop breast cancer have no known risk factors other than simply being
women.

Factors that are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer include:

Being female. Women are much more likely than men are to develop breast cancer.

Increasing age. Your risk of breast cancer increases as you age.

A personal history of breast conditions. If you've had a breast biopsy that found lobular carcinoma in
situ (LCIS) or atypical hyperplasia of the breast, you have an increased risk of breast cancer.

A personal history of breast cancer. If you've had breast cancer in one breast, you have an increased
risk of developing cancer in the other breast.

A family history of breast cancer. If your mother, sister or daughter was diagnosed with breast
cancer, particularly at a young age, your risk of breast cancer is increased. Still, the majority of people
diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease.

Inherited genes that increase cancer risk. Certain gene mutations that increase the risk of breast
cancer can be passed from parents to children. The most well-known gene mutations are referred to
as BRCA1 and BRCA2. These genes can greatly increase your risk of breast cancer and other cancers,
but they don't make cancer inevitable.
Radiation exposure. If you received radiation treatments to your chest as a child or young adult, your
risk of breast cancer is increased.

Obesity. Being obese increases your risk of breast cancer.

Beginning your period at a younger age. Beginning your period before age 12 increases your risk of
breast cancer.

Beginning menopause at an older age. If you began menopause at an older age, you're more likely to
develop breast cancer.

Having your first child at an older age. Women who give birth to their first child after age 30 may
have an increased risk of breast cancer.

Having never been pregnant. Women who have never been pregnant have a greater risk of breast
cancer than do women who have had one or more pregnancies.

Postmenopausal hormone therapy. Women who take hormone therapy medications that combine
estrogen and progesterone to treat the signs and symptoms of menopause have an increased risk of
breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer decreases when women stop taking these medications.

Drinking alcohol. Drinking alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer.

Prevention

Breast cancer risk reduction for women with an average risk

Wedge-shaped pattern for breast self-exam

Breast self-exam Open pop-up dialog box

Making changes in your daily life may help reduce your risk of breast cancer. Try to:

Ask your doctor about breast cancer screening. Discuss with your doctor when to begin breast cancer
screening exams and tests, such as clinical breast exams and mammograms.

Talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks of screening. Together, you can decide what breast
cancer screening strategies are right for you.

Become familiar with your breasts through breast self-exam for breast awareness. Women may
choose to become familiar with their breasts by occasionally inspecting their breasts during a breast
self-exam for breast awareness. If there is a new change, lumps or other unusual signs in your
breasts, talk to your doctor promptly.
Breast awareness can't prevent breast cancer, but it may help you to better understand the normal
changes that your breasts undergo and identify any unusual signs and symptoms.

Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all. Limit the amount of alcohol you drink to no more than one
drink a day, if you choose to drink.

Exercise most days of the week. Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week. If
you haven't been active lately, ask your doctor whether it's OK and start slowly.

Limit postmenopausal hormone therapy. Combination hormone therapy may increase the risk of
breast cancer. Talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks of hormone therapy.

Some women experience bothersome signs and symptoms during menopause and, for these women,
the increased risk of breast cancer may be acceptable in order to relieve menopause signs and
symptoms.

To reduce the risk of breast cancer, use the lowest dose of hormone therapy possible for the shortest
amount of time.

Maintain a healthy weight. If your weight is healthy, work to maintain that weight. If you need to lose
weight, ask your doctor about healthy strategies to accomplish this. Reduce the number of calories
you eat each day and slowly increase the amount of exercise.

Choose a healthy diet. Women who eat a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive
oil and mixed nuts may have a reduced risk of breast cancer. The Mediterranean diet focuses mostly
on plant-based foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts. People who
follow the Mediterranean diet choose healthy fats, such as olive oil, over butter and fish instead of
red meat.

Breast cancer risk reduction for women with a high risk

If your doctor has assessed your family history and determined that you have other factors, such as a
precancerous breast condition, that increase your risk of breast cancer, you may discuss options to
reduce your risk, such as:

Preventive medications (chemoprevention). Estrogen-blocking medications, such as selective

Preventive surgery. Women with a very high risk of breast cancer may choose to have their healthy
breasts surgically removed (prophylactic mastectomy). They may also choose to have their healthy
ovaries removed (prophylactic oophorectomy) to reduce the risk of both breast cancer and ovarian
cancer.

More Information

Breast cancer care at Mayo Clinic

Breast cancer chemoprevention

Genetic testing for breast cancer: Psychological and social impact

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Breast cancer care at Mayo Clinic

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Diagnosis & treatment

Nov. 22, 2019

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