This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by Maurie Markman, MD, President, Medicine & Science
This page was updated on July 20, 2022.
After skin cancer, breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among U.S. women, affecting one in eight women who live to the age of 80. An estimated 310,720 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in U.S. women in 2024, according to the American Cancer Society. Breast cancer accounts for 30 percent of all new female cancers each year.
At City of Hope, our experts have the training and expertise to quickly diagnose breast cancer and tailor a treatment plan to each patient’s unique needs. Our oncologists have experience with early-stage and complex breast cancers, including triple-negative and inflammatory. City of Hope patients have access to tools such as advanced genomic testing and a wide range of breast cancer treatments, including breast-conserving surgery, immunotherapy and clinical trials. Breast cancer is such an important focus at City of Hope that each of our hospitals has a Breast Cancer Center dedicated to treating patients with all stages of this complex disease.
This overview will cover the basic facts about breast cancer, including:
If you believe you may be experiencing symptoms of breast cancer and want to schedule an appointment for diagnostic testing, or if you’re interested in a second opinion for breast cancer, call us or chat online with a member of our team.
Breast cancer develops when cells in the breast mutate and grow out of control, forming a tumor. Exactly what causes breast cells to mutate isn’t known, but certain factors can increase the risk of this happening. Aging and genetics are the biggest contributors to a woman’s breast cancer risk.
Other factors that may increase a woman’s risk for developing breast cancer include:
The risk for developing breast cancer increases with age. According to the National Cancer Institute:
Women with a family history of breast cancer may be at a higher risk for developing the disease. For example:
Other factors that may increase a woman’s risk for developing breast cancer include:
Race and ethnicity may also factor into a woman’s risk of developing, as well as the risk of dying, from breast cancer.
Breast cancer also occurs in men but is very rare – male breast cancer accounts for 1 percent of all diagnoses. Approximately 2,800 American men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024, according to the American Cancer Society.
"My experience was consistently empowering. I was part of the decision-making process at every step of the way. My care team was exactly that—a team of caring people—and I made lifelong friends with patients and employees. My naturopathic provider and my dietitian helped me manage and prevent side effects, taught me how to shop for and cook healthier foods, and recommended supplements to take during and after treatment to help my recovery."
A lump, mass and change in the feel or position of the breast are among the most common symptoms of breast cancer. Other symptoms include:
It’s important to alert your doctor or health care provider as soon as you experience symptoms.
Breast cancers share one main thing in common—they all begin in the breast. Most breast cancers start in the ducts that carry milk to the nipple, or in the “lobules,” where breast milk is made. However, there are many different types of breast cancer, and the distinctions between them can be difficult to understand.
Breast cancer types are separated into two main groups: invasive or in situ (non-invasive). All kinds of breast cancer fall under one of these categories.
In situ (non-invasive): When breast cancer is not invasive, it is most likely ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a non-invasive type of breast cancer that starts in a milk duct and has not yet spread anywhere else. DCIS accounts for approximately 1 in 5 new cases of breast cancer. DCIS is also called stage 0 breast cancer, and most women have a positive prognosis at this stage. However, DCIS can progress and spread beyond the milk ducts, becoming invasive cancer.
Invasive: Invasive breast cancer refers to any breast cancer that spreads from the original site and “invades” other areas, like nearby breast tissue, lymph nodes or anywhere else in the body. Most breast cancers are invasive.
The most common type of invasive breast cancer is called invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). IDC accounts for roughly 70 to 80 percent of all breast cancers. IDC starts in a milk duct and spreads, growing into other parts of the breast. With time, it may spread further, or metastasize, to other parts of the body.
Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is the second most common type, accounting for roughly 5 to 10 percent of all breast cancers. ILC starts in lobules—where breast milk is made—and then spreads into nearby breast tissue. Like IDC, it can metastasize.
There are many other subtypes of invasive breast cancer—some are more challenging to treat or easier to treat than the more common IDC. Other, less common types of breast cancer include:
Rare breast cancers that affect other types of cells in the breast, which are more aggressive and more challenging to treat:
When breast cancer spreads out of the breasts and beyond nearby lymph nodes into other parts of the body, like the bones, lungs, liver or brain, it’s called metastatic, the most advanced breast cancer stage.
Breast cancer types may also be differentiated by other factors, which help determine the treatments that are most likely to work. Your doctor will identify these factors to come up with the most appropriate treatment plan for you. These factors include:
Diagnostic tests for breast cancer are used not only to determine if you have cancer but also to identify the type and how aggressive it is. Tools and tests used to diagnose breast cancer include:
Different tests are used to determine whether the breast cancer has metastasized. These tests include:
If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, the next step will be to partner with your care team on treatment options. It's important to spend time learning about the benefits and risks of each approach. Your care team—which may include an oncologist, nurses, social workers and other supportive providers—is there for you to learn from and lean on.
There are two main categories of treatments for breast cancer and other types of cancer: local treatments and systemic treatments.
Breast cancer treatment usually consists of a combination of local and systemic treatments. Most women with breast cancer have surgery to remove a tumor. But the other treatments used largely depend on factors like:
Surgery is a common treatment option for breast cancer. Other treatment options include:
At the Breast Cancer Centers at our hospitals in Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix, our cancer experts are devoted to a single mission—treating breast cancer patients with compassion and precision. Each patient’s care team is led by a medical oncologist and coordinated by a registered oncology nurse, who helps track the various appointments, follow up on tests and answer questions that come up along the way. Your care team also may include a breast surgeon, radiation oncologist, radiologist, pathologist and a plastic and reconstructive surgeon with advanced training in helping patients restore function and appearance. Fertility preservation and genetic testing are also available for qualifying patients who need them.
Our pathologists and oncologists are experienced and trained in tools designed to diagnose, stage and treat different types of breast cancer, from early-stage ductal carcinoma in situ to complex diseases such as triple-negative and inflammatory breast cancer.
Our breast surgeons offer microsurgical approaches such as nipple-sparing mastectomy and reconstructive flap surgery, and our radiation oncologists employ technologies designed to reduce the risk of radiation exposure to the heart and other critical organs. The Breast Cancer Center is also involved in clinical trials on precision treatments and innovative technologies, including targeted therapies. These trials may offer participants options that may have otherwise been unavailable to them.
To help our patients stay strong and maintain quality of life throughout treatment, our patients have access to a team of breast cancer experts to help with managing the side effects of treatment. Some supportive care services for breast cancer patients may include:
If you believe you may be experiencing symptoms of breast cancer and want to schedule an appointment for diagnostic testing, or if you’re interested in a second opinion for breast cancer, call us or chat online with a member of our team.
