Diseases and Conditions
Breast cancer
Breast cancer risk reduction for women with an average risk
Diagnosing breast cancer
Consulting with your health care team
Overview
Symptoms
Causes
Risk factors
Prevention
Diagnosis
Treatment
Alternative medicine
Coping and support
Preparing for an appointment
Overview
Breast cancer is cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts.
After skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States. Breast cancer can occur in both men and women, but it's far more common in women.
Substantial support for breast cancer awareness and research funding has helped created advances in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Breast cancer survival rates have increased, and the number of deaths associated with this disease is steadily declining, largely due to factors such as earlier detection, a new personalized approach to treatment and a better understanding of the disease.