A woman has a one in eight chance of getting breast cancer during her lifetime. While not as common, men also can get breast cancer.
Breast cancer cells often form a tumor that either can be felt as a lump or seen during a mammogram. Common types of breast cancer include the following:
- Ductal carcinoma in situ
- Invasive carcinoma
Most types of breast cancer start in tubes called ducts that carry milk to the nipple, while others begin in glands that make breast milk.
Risk Factors
- Women age 55 and older
- Inheriting gene mutations
- Family history of breast cancer
- Being taller
- Having dense breast tissue
- Certain non-cancerous breast conditions
- Having a menstrual period before age 12
- Experiencing menopause after age 55
- Radiation therapy to the chest
- Drinking excessive alcohol
- Being overweight or obese after menopause
- Physical inactivity
- Not having children
- Not breastfeeding
- Birth control
- Hormone therapy after menopause
Symptoms
- A new lump, mass or change in the size or shape of the breast
- Swelling of the breast
- Pain in the nipple or breast
- Nipple discharge
- Skin with texture like an orange peel
- Breast or nipple is red, dry, flaky or getting thicker
Treatments
We provide multiple options for breast cancer treatment at the Phelps Health Delbert Day Cancer Institute. The following treatments can be used alone or in combination:
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Targeted therapy
Screening
Early detection is the best prevention when it comes to breast cancer. Screening tests can find cancer in its early stages, when the disease is more treatable. Screenings also have been shown to lower your risk of dying from breast cancer.