Breast cancer develops when cells in the breast multiply abnormally and form masses, or tumors. With prevention, breast cancer screenings, clinical research and advanced treatment, the survival rate for breast cancer has improved dramatically to 91% overall, according to the American Cancer Society.  When caught early and localized to breast tissue, the survival rate is better than 99%.

Breast cancer can start in the breast and eventually spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. Similarly, cancer can start elsewhere in the body, such as the lungs or ovaries, and spread to the breast.

Breast cancer usually affects women over the age of 50. However, it also can affect younger women and men.

Some people have no symptoms in the very early stages of breast cancer. If you notice any changes in your breasts, discuss it with your health care provider promptly.

Early signs can come up during an annual screening mammogram, clinical breast exam or a breast self-exam.

A lump or other symptom of breast cancer doesn’t mean you are sick. Most breast lumps aren’t cancerous and are often benign cysts. It’s important to talk about any changes with your medical provider. Symptoms you may notice on your own include:

• A new lump or tissue thickening in the underarm area. A lump can be painless, can be hard and can have irregular edges. It also can be soft, round, tender or painful.
• Breast skin changes, such as dimpling or puckering: This can appear as an indentation on the breast skin that sometimes resembles the texture of an orange peel. Redness, scaling or thickening of the skin should be cause for concern. Also, darker patches of skin in those with dark skin,  or red or purple skin in those with light skin, should be discussed with your health care provider.
• An inverted nipple, changes in the position of the nipple or crusting of the nipple or the darker areola
• Clear, milky, yellow, green or bloody nipple discharge
• Swollen lymph nodes under the arm or near the collarbone can be a sign that breast cancer has spread while a breast tumor is still too small to feel.

Breast Cancer Risk Factors

There are risk factors for breast cancer you can control, and some you can’t. Risks outside your control include:

Risks that you have some control over include:

Types of Breast Cancer

These are the most common types of breast cancer in the United States:

• Invasive (infiltrating) ductal carcinoma (IDC) starts in your milk ducts (the tubes milk comes out of when you are breastfeeding) and spreads to nearby breast tissue.
• Lobular breast cancer starts in the milk-producing glands (lobules) in your breast and often spreads to nearby breast tissue.
• Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) starts in your milk ducts, similar to IDC. The difference is DCIS doesn’t spread beyond your milk ducts.

Less-common breast cancer types include:

• Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC): This invasive cancer is aggressive and spreads more quickly than other breast cancers. 
• Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC): This rare, fast-growing cancer looks like a rash on your breast. IBC is rare in the United States.
• Paget disease of the breast: This rare cancer affects the skin of your nipple and may look like a rash. Less than 4% of all breast cancers are Paget disease of the breast.

There are subtypes of these cancers, which depend on what kind of hormone the cancer cell attracts or attaches to, such as the hormones progesterone or estrogen. Your doctors will do tests to see exactly what kind of cancer you have so they can treat your disease most effectively.

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Breast Cancer Treatment

After your initial exam with Norton Cancer Institute, your breast cancer treatment gets started with a Norton Cancer Institute patient navigator to support you along your journey, every step of the way.

The multidisciplinary Norton Cancer Institute Breast Clinic allows you to see multiple specialists in the same day. This setting offers the convenience of fewer appointments, thereby reducing travel and time in beginning the next steps in your care path. The clinic also brings together various specialists into one location, fostering a collaborative care model that has been shown to improve outcomes.

The Norton Cancer Institute breast health team is skilled and experienced with the most advanced treatment options. Once the stage and type of your cancer is determined, the team will devise your personalized care plan.

Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy and genomics can be significant parts of breast cancer treatment. Norton Specialty Pharmacy will provide regular consultations on your medications and treatment plan in collaboration with your oncology team.

If you are interested in taking part in a breast cancer research clinical trial, discuss with your physician whether the options are right for you.

Many types of breast reconstructive surgery are available to fit your specific situation.

Norton Cancer Institute Resource Centers offer nutritional counseling, complementary therapies, yoga, support group meetings and more for cancer patients and their caregivers.

The Norton Cancer Institute Sexual Health Program provides private, confidential consulting and other resources for breast cancer patients.