Breast Cancer
General Information About Breast Cancer
KEY POINTS
- Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast.
- A family history of breast cancer and other factors increase the risk of breast cancer.
- Breast cancer is sometimes caused by inherited gene mutations (changes).
- The use of certain medicines and other factors decrease the risk of breast cancer.
- Signs of breast cancer include a lump or change in the breast.
- Tests that examine the breasts are used to detect (find) and diagnose breast cancer.
- If cancer is found, tests are done to study the cancer cells.
- Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.
Read the full article on the National Cancer Institute website.
New 2024
Lymph Node Removal
Removal of armpit lymph nodes can leave many breast cancer patients with lingering lymphedema, a painful swelling of the arm.
Now, new research may help identify which patients require extensive lymph removal, based on the number and size of tumors infiltrating lymph nodes, and which do not.
The 2024 study Omitting Axillary Dissection in Breast Cancer with Sentinel-Node Metastases looked at 2540 breast cancer patients, of whom 1335 were assigned to undergo sentinel-node biopsy only and 1205 to undergo completion axillary-lymph-node dissection. It found that the omission of completion axillary-lymph-node dissection was not inferior to the more extensive surgery in patients with clinically node-negative breast cancer who had sentinel-node macrometastases, most of whom received nodal radiation therapy.
You can bring this study to the attention of your medical team if you’re being told you need completion axillary-lymph-node dissection.
Women with breast cancer are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with women without breast cancer.
This 2024 study Diet quality and cardiovascular disease risk among breast cancer survivors in the Pathways Study looked at 3415 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in California between 2005 and 2013 and followed through December 31, 2021. The study found that implementing diets concordant with healthy dietary patterns may be beneficial for preventing CVD and CVD-related deaths for breast cancer patients. It found that the plant-based Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet may provide the most benefit, particularly for those breast cancer patients receiving cardiotoxic chemotherapies.
For people who have been diagnosed with cancer, a plant-based diet is also an important way to improve survival, according to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
See also:
Male Breast Cancer
Breast cancer in men usually occurs between 60 and 70 years of age. Male breast cancer makes up less than 1% of all cases of breast cancer…
Breast Cancer Types
Breast cancer cells taken out during a biopsy or surgery will be tested to see if they have certain proteins that are estrogen or progesterone receptors…
Breast Cancer Treatment Options
You have many treatment options besides those offered by your oncologist (chemo, surgery, etc) including complementary therapies…
Breast Cancer Complementary therapies
Therapies that can be used alongside your conventional treatments to reduce treatment side-effects & pain and prolong survival.
Breast Screening Mammograms
Independent expert groups in Switzerland and France have recommended that breast screening be stopped or reduced substantially…
Breast Cancer Recurrence
Many patients get the “all clear”, breathe a sigh of relief and promptly go back to their old diet and lifestyle. But, all too often a deadly recurrence ensues…
Metastatic Breast Cancer
Cancer that spreads from where it started to a distant part of the body is called metastatic cancer. For many types of cancer, it is also called stage IV cancer.
Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy
Many women who have surgery to remove an entire breast to treat or prevent breast cancer have the option of having the shape of the removed breast rebuilt.
Hereditary Breast Cancer
There is emerging new evidence that adopting a healthy lifestyle may be particularly relevant for women with hereditary susceptibility to breast cancer…
Breast Cancer Anxiety and Stress
Anxiety and distress may cause problems such as nausea and vomiting before each treatment, having more pain than usual, and sleeplessness…
Breast Cancer Causes
Knowing what caused your Breast Cancer is important because if you can identify the cause you can do something about it in some cases.
Breast cancer-related Lymphedema
If you have breast cancer, no matter which type of surgery you have, you will likely have one or more lymph nodes removed from under your arm…
Breast Cancer Overdiagnosis
Finding cases of cancer with a screening test (such as a mammogram) that will never cause any symptoms. This can lead to unnecessary treatment and suffering..
Breast Cancer and Pregnancy
Breast cancer occurs about once in every 3,000 pregnancies. It occurs most often in women aged 32 to 38 years…
Breast Cancer Hair Loss
Some types of chemotherapy and radiation therapy can cause the hair on your head and other parts of your body to fall out. There are a few things you can do…
Breast Cancer Prevention
Studies have shown that your risk for breast cancer is due to a combination of factors. The main factors include being a woman and getting older.
Page updated 2024