Stay Educated

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women in the United States, with hundreds of thousands diagnosed each year. It happens when certain cells in the breast grow out of control, often starting in the milk ducts or lobules. These cancer cells can form a lump or mass and may spread to other parts of the body if not treated early. While it can also affect men, it is far more common in women and touches the lives of many—whether through personal diagnosis or someone they love. Because it’s so widespread, raising awareness and encouraging early detection through screenings like mammograms and self-exams is incredibly important.

Things like getting older, being female, and having a family history of breast cancer can increase your risk. Inherited gene changes, like BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, also raise the chance. Other factors include starting your period early, going through menopause late, not having children or having them later in life, and hormone replacement therapy. Lifestyle choices like drinking alcohol, not exercising, or being overweight after menopause can also play a role.

Early detection of breast cancer is key to finding the disease before it spreads and when it’s most treatable. There are several ways to catch it early, including breast self-exams (BSE), where you regularly check your own breasts for any changes like lumps, swelling, or skin changes. While BSEs help you get familiar with what’s normal for your body, regular clinical breast exams by a healthcare provider add another layer of screening. Most importantly, mammograms—low-dose X-rays of the breast—can detect cancer even before you feel a lump. Women over 40 are generally advised to get yearly mammograms, but those with higher risk may need to start earlier. Combining these tools gives you the best chance of catching breast cancer early, when treatment is most effective.

The diagnosis process for breast cancer usually begins when a lump is found during a self-exam, a clinical breast exam, or on a routine screening mammogram. If something unusual is detected, doctors may order additional imaging tests like an ultrasound or a diagnostic mammogram to take a closer look. In some cases, an MRI may be used for more detailed images. If the area still looks suspicious, a biopsy is performed—this is when a small sample of breast tissue is taken and examined under a microscope to check for cancer cells. If cancer is found, more tests may be done to determine the type, stage, and whether it has spread, which helps guide the best treatment plan.

Breast cancer is staged from 0 to 4, based on how much the cancer has grown and whether it has spread. Stage 0 is the earliest stage, also called ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), where abnormal cells are found only in the ducts and haven’t spread. Stage 1 means the cancer is small and still mostly contained within the breast. In Stage 2, the tumor may be larger or may have spread to nearby lymph nodes. Stage 3 is more advanced, with greater lymph node involvement or larger tumor size, but it hasn’t spread to distant organs. Stage 4, also known as metastatic breast cancer, means the cancer has spread to other parts of the body like the bones, liver, lungs, or brain. Knowing the stage helps doctors decide on the best treatment options.

Breast cancer treatment depends on the type, stage, and whether the cancer has spread, but common options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, and targeted therapies. Surgery is often used to remove the tumor and may involve a lumpectomy (removing just the tumor) or a mastectomy (removing the entire breast). Chemotherapy uses strong medicine to kill cancer cells and is sometimes given before or after surgery. Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to target and destroy remaining cancer cells in the breast area. Hormone therapy is used for cancers that are sensitive to hormones like estrogen or progesterone, while targeted therapies work on specific proteins or gene changes found in cancer cells. Many patients receive a combination of treatments, all aimed at removing the cancer and reducing the risk of it coming back.