The most common cancer among women in the U.S., breast cancer accounts for about 30% of all female cancers each year. It’s estimated that one in eight women develop breast cancer at some point in their life, with the majority impacted being middle-aged women or senior women.
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to help you understand what breast cancer is, what risk factors can lead to a breast cancer diagnosis, how you can prevent breast cancer through lifestyle changes, and more.
- What Is Breast Cancer?
- What Causes Breast Cancer?
- Breast Cancer Warning Signs
- Breast Cancer Prevention Tips
- How Breast Cancer Is Treated
- FAQs About Breast Cancer
What Is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer occurs when tumors in the breast develop as a result of uncontrolled division and growth of abnormal cells. Breast tumors can grow at different rates and can take many different forms, such as a single lump, an area of scattered seed-like tumors, or an unstructured shape with multiple tentacles extending into the tissue. About 70% to 80% of breast cancers begin in the milk ducts, with other forms occurring in the breast tissue.
Stages of Breast Cancer
There are several breast cancer stages, ranging from pre-cancerous to advanced. It’s important to be aware of these different breast cancer types, as they often determine how the cancer is detected and treated.
Stage 0: Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS)
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a non-invasive breast cancer and is sometimes referred to as pre-cancerous. With DCIS, abnormal cells are found in the milk ducts, but they haven’t progressed to the point of invading nearby breast tissue. Although DCIS is non-invasive, it can develop into invasive breast cancer if not properly treated.
Stages 1-2: Early Breast Cancer
Early breast cancer is the most common type of breast cancer diagnosed in the U.S., describing both stages 1 and 2. This occurs when abnormal cells from inside the milk ducts or lobules break out into nearby breast tissue. These cancer cells can also travel from the breast to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system or bloodstream. If the cancer spreads, the axillary lymph nodes (i.e., in the underarm area) are usually the first place it’s found.
Stage 3: Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC)
Considered an aggressive or locally advanced breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is an invasive ductal carcinoma that begins in the milk ducts and becomes a large tumor in the breast or a tumor that spreads into the chest wall and/or axillary lymph nodes. This stage is called “inflammatory” because the breast is typically red and inflamed.
Stage 4: Metastatic Breast Cancer
Metastatic breast cancer is the most advanced stage of breast cancer. Here, cancerous cells spread beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes into other parts of the body—most often the brain, lungs, liver, or bones. In most cases, metastatic breast cancer appears after treatment for early or inflammatory breast cancer; it’s rarely the stage first diagnosed.
What Causes Breast Cancer?
Though the exact cause of breast cancer is unknown, there are multiple factors that can increase your risk of developing breast cancer. These range from genetic and environmental factors to hormones and lifestyle choices.
Breast Cancer Risk Factors
Common risk factors for breast cancer include:
- Being born female
- Getting older
- Being overweight or obese
- Drinking alcohol or smoking
- Dense breast tissue
- Family history of breast cancer
- Personal history of breast conditions or breast cancer
- Hormone therapy
- Beginning menstruation at an early age (i.e., younger than 12)
- Beginning menopause at an older age (i.e., older than 55)
- Having your first child at an older age (i.e., older than 30)
Understanding Your Breast Cancer Risk
To review and determine your personal risk of breast cancer, take the following steps with your healthcare provider:
- Ask about a breast cancer risk assessment.
- Discuss your family’s health history.
- Find out if you should be tested for the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene.
- Schedule clinical breast exams every three years starting at age 25, then annually starting at age 40.
- Schedule a mammogram every year starting at age 45. (Keep in mind that women age 65 and older may have different considerations.)
- Discuss any symptoms or changes in your breasts.
If a lump is detected or your healthcare provider notices something during a breast cancer screening, you may be called back for a diagnostic mammogram, an ultrasound, or a biopsy (which removes a small amount of tissue to be tested for cancerous cells).
Breast Cancer Warning Signs
Breast cancer risk assessments and screenings are essential for early detection. However, you should also watch out for breast health issues and signs that could indicate cancer.
Breast or Chest Pain
Breast cancer growths can cause different types of pain or discomfort. It’s important to keep track of when, where, and how often the pain occurs. Consult your healthcare provider if you experience pain under the right or left breast, and if this is a new symptom different from any other sensation you've experienced before.
Upper Back, Shoulder, or Neck Pain
Sometimes, breast cancer can be felt in the back, shoulders, or neck rather than the chest or breasts. This pain is often confused with sore muscles—but unlike sore muscles, it doesn't go away with rest, stretching, changing position, or physical therapy. This could be a sign of breast cancer that has spread into the spine or ribs. If pain in these areas continues, talk to your doctor.
Itchy Breasts
Persistent itching in the breast is a symptom of IBC that often goes unnoticed and may be written off as a dermatology or allergy issue. You may be given an ointment, antibiotic, or asked to see a specialist to rule out other medical conditions first. If the itching persists or gets worse, contact your healthcare provider. Also, take note of any accompanying symptoms, such as skin discoloration, rashes, swelling, or burning sensations.
Changes in Breast Shape or Size
Tissue growth may push out the shape or size of the breast without creating an obvious lump. If there’s a difference in breast appearance you haven’t previously noticed, tell your doctor. Be sure to pay attention to these symptoms if you’ve been told you have dense breast tissue, as that can make it more difficult to detect tumors in screenings.
Change in Nipple Appearance or Sensitivity
One of the most common locations for a breast tumor is just beneath the nipple. This can cause a change in nipple appearance or a decrease in nipple sensitivity. Sometimes, there can be bloody, milky, or watery discharge, or the skin of the nipple can seem crusty, scaly, or inflamed. Because some women have naturally inverted nipples or have discharge during and post-pregnancy, these symptoms may not get flagged right away. Note any changes in the nipples and discuss them with your healthcare provider.
Swelling or Lump in Your Armpit
Pain in the armpit is often a telltale sign of breast cancer since lymph nodes are where the cancer usually spreads. This may present as a hard lump in the armpit that doesn’t move when you touch it or feel like a tender spot under the arm. In some cases, there can be armpit pain with no lump, or even swelling in the collarbone. Keep in mind that certain respiratory illnesses or viral infections can cause swollen lymph nodes, so if you're sick, wait for it to clear up before you worry. If a lump or tender spot in the underarm area persists for a week with no apparent cause, see your doctor.
Red, Swollen Breasts
Breast pain or redness can be signs of inflammatory breast cancer. Breasts may feel swollen and sore, or the skin and underlying tissue may feel hot or look red—sometimes even purple. IBC is the most likely cause of this symptom, but less advanced breast tumors can also push on tissues, which can cause breasts to feel swollen and sore.
Breast Cancer Prevention Tips
Whether your focus is the prevention of breast cancer, or you’ve already had a diagnosis and want the best possible outcome, a healthy lifestyle is a crucial component of good breast health, regardless of your age. Here are some steps you can take to live a healthier life and reduce your risk of breast cancer.
Don’t Smoke
Smoking doesn’t just raise your breast cancer risk; it also increases the risk of at least a dozen other types of cancer, as well as heart disease and stroke. There are many resources that can help you or your loved one quit smoking, including Freedom From Smoking® from the American Lung Association.
Limit Alcohol Consumption
Research indicates that drinking alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer. The more you drink, the higher your risk. Even small amounts can raise your risk of developing breast cancer, so stick to the Center for Disease Control (CDC)’s recommended guidelines for moderate alcohol consumption: two drinks or less a day for men, and one drink or less a day for women.
Be Careful with Hormonal Treatments
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) used to ease the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause can increase breast cancer risk, particularly if it’s taken for more than three to five years. If you and your doctor decide that short-term hormone therapy is the best option for your health needs, take the lowest dose possible to reduce your personal risk.
Breastfeed, If Possible
Women who breastfeed after childbirth have a reduced risk of breast cancer. Breastfeeding a baby for at least one year can help lower the risk of breast cancer. Studies suggest the longer you nurse, the higher the level of protection will be.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Being overweight or obese can increase the risk of breast cancer, especially as you get older. Where your body stores fat can make a difference as well. For instance, extra weight around the mid-section can increase breast cancer risk more than extra weight around the thighs or hips. Regardless, working with your doctor to maintain a healthy weight range can reduce your chances of developing breast cancer.
Eat a Nutritious Diet
A healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains—and limited in saturated fats, refined grains, sugar, and processed meats—can help reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. Consider the Mediterranean Diet, which focuses on fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
Stay Active
The American Cancer Society recommends that adults get 150-300 minutes of moderate intensity or 75-150 minutes of vigorous intensity activity each week to reduce the risk of cancer development. Studies have shown that women who walk at least 30 minutes each day have a lower risk of developing breast cancer compared to those who aren’t active.
Destress and Relax
Stress is a silent killer, and it can cause multiple health conditions, including breast cancer. It weakens the body's immune system, affecting its ability to fight against cancer cells. To prevent stress or deal with it more effectively, practice meditation, yoga, and other relaxing techniques that can help you remain stress-free and relaxed.
How Breast Cancer Is Treated
Breast cancer is one of the most survivable cancers, with a 91% survival rate after five years. If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, your healthcare provider will work closely with you to determine the best treatment for your needs.
Treatment may include one or more of the following:
- Surgery: This would either be a lumpectomy (i.e., removal of the lump and a margin of tissue around it) or a mastectomy (i.e., removal of the breast).
- Radiation Therapy: External Radiation Beam Therapy (ERBT) is the most common type of radiation therapy for breast cancer and specifically targets radiation at the area affected by the cancer.
- Systemic Therapy: This is given by mouth, injected into a muscle, or put directly into the bloodstream and can include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted drug therapy, or hormone therapy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Cancer
Can men get breast cancer?
Yes, men can get breast cancer. Although men account for less than 1% of all breast cancer diagnoses, the American Cancer Society estimates that about 2,800 men will be diagnosed with new cases of invasive breast cancer in 2025, and 510 will die from it.
Breast cancer risk factors for men include a family history of breast cancer, inherited BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, heavy drinking, hormone treatments, Klinefelter syndrome, radiation exposure, and more. If you’re concerned about your risk of developing breast cancer as a man, talk with your doctor.
Do birth control pills cause breast cancer?
Birth control pills have not been directly linked to an increased breast cancer risk. You’re slightly more likely to develop breast cancer if you currently take or have taken birth control pills in the recent past; however, research shows that this risk is small and typically goes away within 5 years of stopping taking the pill. If you’re concerned about your risk, consult your healthcare provider.
How often should I get a mammogram?
According to the American Cancer Society’s guidelines for women with average risk of breast cancer, women between the ages of 45 and 54 should get mammograms every year. Women 55 and older can continue with annual mammograms or switch to every other year, with screenings continuing as long as you’re in good health and expected to live at least 10 more years.
If you’re unsure of how frequently you need a mammogram, or if you’re at high risk of developing breast cancer, talk with your doctor.
Can breast cancer be cured?
Yes, breast cancer can be cured and has a 91% survival rate. In fact, it ranks among the top five types of cancers most easily cured.
How often does breast cancer come back?
Breast cancer—particularly DCIS and early-stage—can return after completion of initial treatment, and there’s always some risk of recurrence after treatment. Whether breast cancer returns and how frequently it comes back depends on the type of breast cancer you had, what type of treatment you had, and other personal risk factors.
To reduce your risk of recurrence, it’s best to maintain a healthy lifestyle and follow your doctor’s recommendations for recovery.
BrightStar Care Can Support Your Cancer Care
If you or a loved one are recovering from breast cancer, currently going through treatment for breast cancer, or were recently diagnosed with breast cancer, BrightStar Care is here to provide the extra support you need at home with nurse-led care plans and professional caregivers.
With personal care services that help with everyday needs like transportation and meal prep, skilled nursing services that offer medical support and in-home therapies, and respite care services that gives family caregivers time to recharge, BrightStar Care knows care.