Breast Facts  

A lot of changes occur in a woman’s breasts during her lifetime, and it’s important for her to understand which of those changes are normal and which are not. The first step to doing this is to become familiar with the structure of the breasts and how they function. This section of About Breast Cancer provides key facts about breast health and introduces the topic of cancer and other breast diseases.

Risk Factors and Prevention  

“What causes breast cancer?” It’s a question women want a straight answer to. Unfortunately, the field of breast cancer research moves so fast—and the news media even faster—that it can seem that all women get is scientific sidestepping rather than good, solid information they can use. This section of About Breast Cancer helps cut through all this and describes the many known risk factors for breast cancer—breaking them down into those you can’t control (like age and family history) and those you can (like exercise and hormone use). Also included are tips for lowering risk, information on genetic mutations (including genetic testing) and options like tamoxifen for women at high risk.

Early Detection and Screening  

It’s a fact: getting tested regularly for breast cancer is the best way for women to lower their risk of dying from the disease. These screening tests can find cancer early when it’s most treatable. In this section of About Breast Cancer, we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each of the standard screening tests currently available to women—mammography, clinical breast exam and breast self-exam—as well as what happens if a test shows something abnormal.

Diagnosis  

Breast cancer is often first suspected when a lump is felt or when an abnormal area is found on a mammogram. Most of the time, these suspicious areas do not turn out to be cancer, but the only way to know for sure is through follow-up tests. Understanding what these tests are and how to interpret their results can help a woman take control of her situation and pick the course of action that is best for her. This section of About Breast Cancer discusses follow-up tests called biopsies, which involve the removal of cells or tissue from the breast. Also covered are additional tests that help determine the most appropriate treatment if cancer is found.

Treatment   

In the past two decades, great improvements have been made in the treatment of breast cancer. As a result, most breast cancer patients now live for at least 10 years after their diagnosis. Although each woman’s treatment will be slightly different, it generally involves some combination of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy. Deciding on a particular treatment is as much a personal matter for women as it is a medical one. In this section of About Breast Cancer, we describe each treatment option and its risks and benefits.

After Treatment  

More than two million women in the United States are breast cancer survivors. While most of these women will experience fulfilling lives, they also carry with them the knowledge that they have survived a potentially life-threatening illness. This section of About Breast Cancer offers suggestions on how survivors can manage their unique situation and improve their quality of life after treatment. Also covered are steps that women can take to improve their chances for survival, the most important of which is to seek regular medical care after treatment.

Support  

Having emotional support and practical assistance throughout the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer (and beyond) is immensely important. Such social support plays a key role in helping women work through both the emotional and physical trials of breast cancer. This section of About Breast Cancer focuses on the support women get through their interactions with other individuals, whether they are family members, spiritual advisors, friends, coworkers, colleagues, health care providers, or fellow cancer patients.

Breast Cancer Research  

This section of About Breast Cancer delves deeper into the details behind many of the recommendations and standards of practice that have been discussed throughout other sections. Here, we present the results from individual studies that have looked at topics ranging from risk factors to treatment to social support. Choose the specific topic you’re interested in to see a table that summarizes the current body of scientific evidence on that topic. If you’re unfamiliar with how the research process works (or just need a refresher), “How to read a research table” is a good place to start before moving onto the individual tables.

Resources  

Being well informed is important for understanding and fighting breast cancer. Here, we list the Web sites that have been specifically referenced throughout About Breast Cancer. Many other resources—including links to other Web sites, books, audio/video cassettes, the breast cancer glossary, and other educational material—appear to the left in the navigation.