All inherited traits are passed down through genes. Each person has two copies of every gene: one gene from each parent. Since each parent passes down exactly half of their genes to each child, any of the parent’s genetic traits has a 50% chance of being passed on to their offspring.

What Is BRCA?

The name “BRCA” is an abbreviation for “BReast CAncer gene.” BRCA1 and BRCA2 are two different genes that have been found to impact a person’s chances of developing breast cancer.

Every human has both the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Despite what their names might suggest, BRCA genes do not cause breast cancer. In fact, these genes normally play a big role in preventing breast cancer. They help repair DNA breaks that can lead to cancer and the uncontrolled growth of tumors. Because of this, the BRCA genes are known as tumor suppressor genes.

However, in some people these tumor suppression genes do not work properly. When a gene becomes altered or broken, it doesn’t function correctly. This is called a gene mutation.

BRCA Mutations

A small percentage of people (about one in 400, or 0.25% of the population) carry mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. A BRCA mutation occurs when the DNA that makes up the gene becomes damaged in some way.

When a BRCA gene is mutated, it may no longer be effective at repairing broken DNA and helping to prevent breast cancer. Because of this, people with a BRCA gene mutation are more likely to develop breast cancer, and more likely to develop cancer at a younger age. The carrier of the mutated gene can also pass a gene mutation down to his or her offspring.

BRCA Mutation Risks

It is estimated that one in eight women, or approximately 12%, will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.

However, women with certain genetic mutations have a higher lifetime risk of the disease. It’s estimated that 55 – 65% of women with the BRCA1 mutation will develop breast cancer before age 70.

Approximately 45% of women with a BRCA2 mutation will develop breast cancer by age 70.

Women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation who overcome their breast cancer with treatment appear to have a higher-than-average chance of developing a second cancer. This is called a recurrence. Cancers related to a BRCA1 mutation are also more likely to be triple negative breast cancer, which can be more aggressive and difficult to treat.

You may find these statistics alarming. However, it’s important to note that less than 10% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have a BRCA mutation. Also, with early detection, the vast majority of breast cancer cases can be successfully treated—and that’s true even for people who have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation.

Medically reviewed June 2023

The post BRCA: The Breast Cancer Gene appeared first on National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Early Detection Plans

People with BRCA or PALB2 gene mutations have a higher-than-average chance of developing breast cancer, and are more likely to develop it at a younger age. Women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation can have a 45 – 65% chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer before age 70. For PALB2 mutations, 33% will develop breast cancer by that age.

The good news is that, with this knowledge, you can create a custom early detection plan with your doctor to increase the chances that your breast cancer is detected early. Early detection makes breast cancer far easier to treat. Overall, the five-year relative survival rate for breast cancer detected in the localized stage (there is no sign that the cancer has spread outside of the breast) is 99%.

An early detection plan for someone with a BRCA or PALB2 gene mutation will likely involve more frequent breast cancer screenings starting at a younger age. It may also involve different types of screenings, such as ultrasound or MRI scans. Your doctor can help recommend which screenings you should have, and when you should have them.

Preventative Surgery

Though some consider it extreme, women with high-risk BRCA mutations may choose to undergo preventative surgery to help reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.

A preventative double mastectomy (or bilateral prophylactic mastectomy) is the surgical removal of both breasts before cancer has a chance to develop and/or spread. There are different types of preventative mastectomies; some remove the entire breast, while others leave the skin and nipples intact to aid in breast reconstruction surgery.

Actress and filmmaker Angelina Jolie drew public attention to using surgery to proactively address BRCA gene mutations when she publicly shared her story of undergoing a preventative double mastectomy. She later chose to also have her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed, a procedure known as a preventative salpingo-oophorectomy.

Removing ovaries and fallopian tubes are commonly recommended as a way to reduce breast cancer risk, as well as ovarian cancer risk. For women not diagnosed with either type of cancer, it can be helpful to talk with a genetics counselor about the timing of when to do preventative surgeries. If a woman is still of childbearing age, she likely will want to delay getting her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed until she has finished birthing her family.

Though such preventative or prophylactic surgeries decrease the risk of developing breast cancer by more than 90%, they don’t eliminate the risk entirely. Surgery itself also carries its own set of risks and costs, which need to be carefully considered. Your doctor can help you understand the options and risks and make the choice that is right for you.

BRCA, Gene Mutations, And Breast Cancer Treatment

If someone with a BRCA mutation does develop breast cancer, the treatments used may be different than for people who do not carry the gene mutation.

People with BRCA1 mutations are more likely to develop triple negative breast cancer. Triple negative breast cancer does not respond to hormone therapy or certain drugs. However, chemotherapy may be more effective at treating triple negative cases than it is against other types of cancer.

Breast cancer patients with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations are also more likely to later develop a second cancer, either in the same or the opposite breast. Because of this, they may opt for a double mastectomy instead of a single or partial mastectomy (also known as lumpectomy). Removing the healthy breast along with the cancerous one is essentially another form of a preventative mastectomy.

Though research is still ongoing, some findings indicate that certain types of cancer treatment drugs might be more effective than others in patients with BRCA gene mutations.

As always, your doctor can help determine which breast cancer treatments are right for you.

Other Considerations

There are many emotions and decisions that come along with a positive BRCA mutation test result. Feelings can range from fear to anger, sadness, or guilt. There can be questions about whether your children or other family members should be tested. For some, it can affect the decision of whether or not to have children. You may have concerns about passing on the mutated gene to your offspring; some women even choose preventative surgeries that can make it difficult or impossible to have children.

Genetic counselors can help you navigate the waters and understand all the risks, decisions, and emotions involved.

Help is available; you don’t have to go through this alone.

Medically reviewed June 2023

The post What To Do If You’ve Tested Positive appeared first on National Breast Cancer Foundation.

While BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations may increase your odds of developing breast cancer, your odds of having either mutation are pretty small. An estimated 0.25% of the general population carries a mutated BRCA gene, or about one out of every 400 people.

For some people, though, the chances of having a BRCA gene mutation are much higher. Genes are inherited, which is why knowing your family history is important when determining breast cancer risks. If one of your parents has a BRCA mutation, you have a 50% chance of inheriting the mutated gene.

Odds can also vary depending on a person’s ethnicity. For example, people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent have a 2.5% chance of inheriting a BRCA mutation, or about 10 times the rate of the general population.

Because the overall odds are so low, most experts recommend that only people with a heightened risk get tested for BRCA mutations. Likewise, insurance companies often only cover genetic counseling and testing for individuals who are at high risk. A person could be considered at high risk for BRCA mutations if they have a family history of:

• Breast cancer diagnosed before age 50.
• Male breast cancer at any age.
• Multiple relatives on the same side of the family with breast cancer, particularly if they are first-degree relatives (mother, sister, daughter).
• Multiple breast cancers in the same woman, meaning breast cancer developing in both breasts over time or at the same time.
• Both breast and ovarian cancer in the same woman.
• A history of ovarian cancer in the woman’s family, especially if a first-degree relative.
• Ashkenazi Jewish heritage.
• A significant history on the same family side (mother or father’s side) of men diagnosed young with prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, melanoma, or pancreatic cancer. (These can be signs of a BRCA2 gene mutation present in the family.)

There are also other gene mutations besides BRCA that could increase the risk of breast cancer. The most prominent of these is PALB2. As with BRCA1 and BRCA2, testing for other genetic mutations is recommended only if you are at high risk for that particular gene.

How To Get BRCA Genetic Testing

Genetic counseling is recommended for those who are interested in being tested for breast cancer gene mutations. You can talk to a doctor about getting a referral to a genetic counselor, who can help determine whether genetic testing would make sense based on family history and risk factors. Since many genetic tests only look for one specific gene mutation, the counselor can often help determine which mutations to test for.

The genetic test itself simply involves taking a small sample of blood or saliva, which is sent to a lab for analysis. Results can take several weeks or months.

Genetic testing results are not always clear-cut:

• A test result can be positive, meaning that the patient does carry the gene mutation.
• A negative test result indicates that they do not have that particular known gene mutation. It does not, however, rule out the possibility of having mutations in other genes. It also does not rule out the possibility of developing breast cancer. Most breast cancer cases are not hereditary, so everyone should still have an early detection plan.
• Genetic test results can also be uncertain or ambiguous. An ambiguous test result means that a mutation has been found on the gene, but it is not yet known whether that particular mutation has any effect on the chances of developing breast cancer.
• Someone is either negative or positive. Over time, a person cannot go from being negative to being positive or vice versa for the specific gene mutations they were tested for.

After receiving genetic test results, a patient should meet again with a genetic counselor to clarify what the results mean. Whether the results are positive, negative, or ambiguous can impact many life decisions, and a counselor can help navigate those decisions.

Genetic testing can be scary. The results also can impact other family members such as siblings and offspring; when someone tests positive for a gene mutation, their siblings and offspring will have a 50% risk of also testing positive. Having a discussion with a genetics counselor first is encouraged so a discussion about the potential scenarios can take place.

For a woman who tests positive for BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, bilateral mastectomies are usually recommended particularly if she has just been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Medically reviewed June 2023

The post Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer appeared first on National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Family history is one of the unavoidable genetic risk factors for developing breast cancer. Ongoing research is helping identify the genes that are responsible for this inherited increased risk. BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations are currently the best-known and most discussed genetic risk factors, but new genetic links are being discovered regularly.

Below are a number of other genes that are known to influence breast cancer risk. In each case, having a normal and healthy copy of the gene decreases the risk of developing breast cancer. The risk only increases if the gene is mutated or abnormal, and therefore does not perform its natural cancer-prevention functions.

• PALB2 – After BRCA1 and BRCA2, PALB2 is currently the third most prevalent breast cancer gene. PALB2 is short for “Partner And Localizer of BRCA2.” In other words, it works in partnership with the BRCA2 gene to repair DNA damage and thereby prevent breast cancer from developing. An estimated 35% of women with a mutated PALB2 gene will develop breast cancer by age 70.
• CHEK2 – “Checkpoint Kinase 2,” or CHEK2, creates a protein that helps suppress tumor growth. Having a mutated CHEK2 gene doubles the risk of breast cancer in women. In men, it makes male breast cancer 10 times more likely to occur.
• CDH1 – CDH1, or “CaDHerin 1,” is a tumor suppression gene that helps groups of cells stick together to form organized tissues. A mutation in the CDH1 gene can increase the risk of forming lobular breast cancer, or cancer that begins in the breast’s milk-producing lobules. Since the gene normally helps cells stick together, a mutation can also make it easier for individual cancer cells to break off from a breast tumor and metastasize, or spread to other parts of the body.
• PTEN – The “Phosphatase and TENsin homolog” (PTEN) gene helps prevent tumor growth by controlling the rate of cell division. It also causes damaged cells to self-destruct before they can become cancerous. Like CDH1, PTEN also plays a role in helping cells stick together, which can help prevent cancer from spreading.
• STK11 – “Serine/Threonine Kinase 11” is another tumor suppressor. STK11 gene mutations cause Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. Peutz-Jeghers syndrome carries an increased risk for multiple types of cancer, including breast cancer.
• TP53 – Also known as P53 (and nicknamed the “guardian of the genome”), “Tumor Protein p53” recognizes when a cell’s DNA has been damaged. It then either activates a DNA repair gene (like BRCA1) or causes the cell to self-destruct. If TP53 is mutated, the damaged DNA won’t be repaired and the cell will live on, perhaps becoming a cancer cell. Though some TP53 mutations are inherited, most of them occur during a person’s lifetime and are only found in cells that become cancerous.

More Genes

There are a number of other genes, including ATM, BARD1, BRIP1, CASP8, CTLA4, CYP19A1, FGFR2, H19, LSP1, MAP3K1, MRE11A, NBN, RAD51, and TERT, that are thought to also increase the risk of developing breast cancer when they carry a mutation. There is also a rare gene mutation called Cowden Syndrome that links breast cancer, uterine cancer, thyroid cancer, and large head circumference together.

While you cannot change your genetics or family history of breast cancer, knowing that you are at a higher risk can help with creating an early detection plan to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages, while it is still localized (there is no sign that the cancer has spread outside of the breast), and easier to treat.

Some people with a family history of breast cancer may choose to undergo genetic counseling and genetic testing to see if they have inherited genes that increase the risk of the disease. It is also advisable to maintain an accurate family medical history to determine if there is a significant family history of breast cancer or other illnesses.

Medically reviewed June 2023

The post Other Breast Cancer Genes appeared first on National Breast Cancer Foundation.

What Is A Tumor?

A tumor is a mass of abnormal tissue. There are two types of breast cancer tumors: those that are non-cancerous, or ‘benign’, and those that are cancerous, which are ‘malignant’.

Benign Tumors

When a tumor is diagnosed as benign, doctors will usually leave it alone rather than remove it. Even though these tumors are not generally aggressive toward surrounding tissue, occasionally they may continue to grow, pressing on other tissue and causing pain or other problems. In these situations, the tumor is removed, allowing pain or complications to subside.

Malignant tumors

Malignant tumors are cancerous and may be aggressive because they invade and damage surrounding tissue. When a tumor is suspected to be malignant, the doctor will perform a biopsy to determine the severity or aggressiveness of the tumor.

Metastatic cancer

Metastatic cancer is when cancer cells of a malignant tumor spread to other parts of the body, usually through the lymph system or by using the blood stream, and form a secondary tumor. These secondary tumors, known as metastatic disease, are still made up of breast cancer cells, but are now located inside other organs, such as the bones, liver, or lungs.

Understanding Benign Breast Problems

If you’re not aware of your breast health, important changes in your breasts can be easy to miss. Download our free eBook, Breast Problems That Aren’t Breast Cancer, to learn about the most common non-cancerous breast problems you should know about.

Tell us where we can send your free copy:

Tumor Grades

Tumor grading is a system used by pathologists to classify a malignant breast cancer tumor based upon the severity of the mutation and the likelihood that it will spread. The breast cancer cells are examined under a microscope to determine, among other factors, how closely the breast cancer cells resemble the healthy cells (called the histologic grade) and the shape and size of the tumor cells’ nuclei (called the nuclear grade) as well as how rapidly those cells divide and multiply.

When dealing with breast cancer, tumors are often graded based on a scale of one to three indicating how aggressive the cancerous cells are:

• Low grade (1) – Well-diffentiated
• Intermediate grade (2) – Moderately differentiated
• High grade (3) – Poorly differentiated

Low grade tumors look more like normal tissue under the microscope. High-grade tumors look abnormal and less like normal tissue and tend to be more aggressive.

Breast cancer tumor grades are not to be confused with cancer stages. Tumor grades help to determine the best treatment plan, and in general, a lower grade tumor means a better chance for a full recovery. However, there are individuals who make full recoveries at every stage and with even the highest grades of aggressive tumors.

Medically reviewed June 2023

Materials on this page courtesy of:

• British Journal of Cancer

The post Breast Tumors appeared first on National Breast Cancer Foundation.

As you learn about breast cancer, we will repeatedly reference the anatomy of the breast. Understanding the different parts and functions will help you better grasp the details of breast cancer.

Knowing your body helps you to:

• Make informed decisions.
• Have a better dialogue with your doctor.
• Be aware of anything unusual.

Adipose Tissue

The female breast is mostly made up of a collection of fat cells called adipose tissue. This tissue extends from the collarbone down to the underarm and across to the middle of the ribcage. As a woman ages, especially once she reaches menopause, the breast tissue contains more adipose (fatty) tissue.

Lobes, Lobules, And Milk Ducts

A healthy female breast is made up of 12–20 sections called lobes. Each of these lobes is made up of many smaller lobules, the gland that produces milk in nursing women. Both the lobes and lobules are connected by milk ducts, which act as stems or tubes to carry the milk to the nipple. These breast structures are generally where the cancer begins to form.

Lobes, Lobules, And Milk Ducts

A healthy female breast is made up of 12–20 sections called lobes. Each of these lobes is made up of many smaller lobules, the gland that produces milk in nursing women. Both the lobes and lobules are connected by milk ducts, which act as stems or tubes to carry the milk to the nipple. These breast structures are generally where the cancer begins to form.

Medically reviewed June 2023

The post Breast Anatomy appeared first on National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Breast cancer in men is usually detected as a hard lump underneath the nipple and areola. Men carry a higher mortality than women do, primarily because awareness among men is less and they are less likely to assume a lump is breast cancer, which can cause a delay in seeking treatment. The majority of men diagnosed are over the age of 50.

Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma

Of the men who develop breast cancer, the vast majority of those cases are Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma (IDC), which means cells in or around the ducts begin to invade surrounding tissue. Very rarely, a man might be diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer or Paget disease of the nipple, which is Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) contained within the nipple and usually areola.

Risk Factors

• Radiation exposure
• High levels of the hormone estrogen
• Family history of breast cancer, especially breast cancer that is related to the BRCA2 gene.

Signs & Symptoms

Male breast cancer can exhibit the same symptoms as breast cancer in women, including a lump. Anyone who notices anything unusual about their breasts, whether male or female, should contact their physician immediately.

Most men find their own lump while in the shower and it is usually located underneath the nipple and areola. It is common for men to delay reporting the lump to a physician which can result in the patient requiring more treatment.

Nearly all breast cancer in men is estrogen receptor positive with treatment including hormonal therapy, just as it does for 70% of women. Survival rates and treatment for men with breast cancer are very similar to those for women. Early detection of breast cancer increases treatment options and often reduces the risk of dying from breast cancer.

Genetic Testing

Although treatment outcomes are very similar to women at the same stage of detection, a man diagnosed with breast cancer should also consider seeing a genetics counselor for a consultation. If a man tests positive for a defective gene (most commonly either BRCA1 or BRCA2) that can lead to a future diagnosis of breast cancer and his children have a 50% chance of carrying the gene. In addition:

• A male child of a man with breast cancer who inherits the defective BRCA2 gene has only approximately 6% chance of eventually developing breast cancer and just over 1% with BRCA1.
• A female child of a man with breast cancer who inherits the defective gene has a risk between 40% and 80% of eventually developing breast cancer.
• Men with a genetic predisposition to breast cancer (carrying BRCA2 gene mutation) are also at higher risk of getting prostate cancer at a younger age than usually diagnosed, as well as being at higher risk for melanoma and pancreatic cancer.

Medically reviewed June 2023

Material on this page is courtesy of:

• American Cancer Society
• American Society of Clinical Oncology
• Journal Of The National Cancer Institute
• Journal Of Clinical Oncology

The post Male Breast Cancer appeared first on National Breast Cancer Foundation.

What Causes Breast Cancer Growth?

There is much that we know and much that we have yet to understand. However, we do know that cancer spreads in three important ways:

1. Damaged cells replicate, creating more damaged cells and tumor growth.
2. Our body’s hormones and chemicals can accelerate the growth of some tumors.
3. Lymph and blood vessels can carry the cancer to others areas of the body, and lymph node examination can help pinpoint the progression of the disease.

Damaged Cells

Healthy cells are the basic building blocks of all tissue and organs in the body. But when cell DNA (the cell’s wiring) is damaged, mutated cells begin to rapidly reproduce without following the pre-wired plan. Aggressive cell growth can form a tumor (or mass of tissue) that does not function as originally intended. These abnormal cells or groups of cells can progress into the disease known as breast cancer and can spread to other parts of the body.

Accelerated Growth

The growth and spread of breast cancer can be difficult to grasp because cancer cell growth is often fueled by normally healthy chemicals of the body, like estrogen, progesterone, and the HER2/neu gene (a growth hormone). Although each of these three bodily chemicals can serve an important healthy function, when a cell becomes cancerous these chemicals can accelerate the growth of breast cancer tumors. These are known as prognostic factors of the breast cancer cells.

Healthy HER2 receptors are the proteins that help manage how a breast cell grows, divides, and repairs itself. However, in about a quarter of all breast cancer patients, the HER2 gene isn’t functioning properly. It makes an excess number of copies of itself in a process known as “HER2 gene amplification.” Then these extra genes instruct the cells to make too many HER2 receptors, which is called “HER2 protein overexpression.” The ultimate result is that breast cells grow and divide in an uncontrolled fashion.

Cancer Receptors

Think of a receptor as a mouth. When open, cancer cells can feed and grow. When blocked off or closed, the same cells begin to starve.

By identifying the cancer’s unique receptors, your doctor can recommend effective treatment methods to block the receptors. Remember, inhibiting the cancer’s “food supply” works to restrict the cancer’s growth. Ideally, your treatment plan will stop the cancer growth before it spreads through the lymph system and on to other tissue and organs in the body.

The Lymph System

The lymph system, which is part of the immune system, is a network of lymph vessels and lymph nodes running throughout the entire body. Similar to how the blood circulatory system distributes elements throughout the body, the lymph system transports disease-fighting cells and fluids. Clusters of bean-shaped lymph nodes are fixed in areas throughout the lymph system; they act as filters by carrying abnormal cells away from healthy tissue. 

The lymph system, which is part of the immune system, is a network of lymph vessels and lymph nodes running throughout the entire body. Similar to how the blood circulatory system distributes elements throughout the body, the lymph system transports disease-fighting cells and fluids. Clusters of bean-shaped lymph nodes are fixed in areas throughout the lymph system; they act as filters by carrying abnormal cells away from healthy tissue. 

The type of breast cancer is generally determined by the origin of the growth of cancer cells, which is almost always in the lobes, lobules, or ducts. When cancer is found in the nearby lymph nodes, it helps doctors identify just how far the cancer has spread. If the nearest nodes contain cancer, additional nodes are usually examined for the presence or absence of cancer cells to understand how far the disease has progressed.

There are situations in which the bloodstream transports breast cancer cells from the breast to other parts of the body as well. The pathologist looks closely at the breast cancer cells to see if there is angio invasion, meaning blood vessels running through the tumor, and/or lymphatic invasion, meaning lymphatic vessels running through the tumor. When present, there is an increased risk of the cancer being able to spread to other parts of the body.

Medically reviewed June 2023

The post Growth of Cancer appeared first on National Breast Cancer Foundation.

What Do Scientists Actually Know About The Cause Of Breast Cancer?

Cancer grows when a cell’s DNA is damaged, but why or how that DNA becomes damaged is still unknown. The damage could be caused by genetic or environmental and lifestyle factors, or in most cases, a combination of the two. Most patients will never know exactly what caused their cancer. However, there are certain established risk factors that are associated with breast cancer.

Genetic risk factors are inherited, or passed down, from parent to child through the genes. These risk factors cannot be changed because they are built into your DNA from birth. Environmental and lifestyle risk factors are avoidable risk factors that are typically under an individual’s control. These risk factors can be reduced by changing elements within your environment or making alterations to your lifestyle.

Genetic Risk Factors

Genetic risk factors that cannot be changed may include:

• Gender: Breast cancer occurs nearly 100 times more often in women than in men.
• Age: Two out of three women with invasive cancer are diagnosed after age 55.
• Race: Breast cancer is diagnosed more often in Caucasian women than women of other races.
• Family History and Genetic Factors: If your mother, sister, father, or child has been diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer, you have a higher risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer in the future. Your risk increases if your relative was diagnosed before the age of 50.  
• Personal Health History: If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer in one breast, you have an increased risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer in the other breast in the future. Also, your risk increases if abnormal breast cells have been detected before (such as atypical hyperplasia, lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)).
• Menstrual and Reproductive History: Early menstruation (before age 12), late menopause (after age 55), having your first child at an older age, or never having given birth can increase your risk for breast cancer.
• Certain Genome Changes: Mutations in certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, can increase your risk for breast cancer. This is determined through a genetic test, which you may consider undergoing if you have a family history of breast cancer. Individuals with these gene mutations can pass the gene mutation onto their children.
• Dense Breast Tissue: Having dense breast tissue can increase your risk for breast cancer and make lumps harder to detect. Several states have passed laws requiring physicians to disclose to women if their mammogram indicates that they have dense breasts so that they are aware of this risk. Be sure to ask your physician if you have dense breasts and what the implications of having dense breasts are.

Environmental And Lifestyle Risk Factors

Environmental and lifestyle risk factors that can be changed may include:

• Lack of Physical Activity: A sedentary lifestyle with little physical activity can increase your risk for breast cancer. Moving your body or exercising for even 20 minutes a day can help lower this risk factor.
• Poor Diet: A diet high in saturated fat and lacking fruits and vegetables can increase your risk for breast cancer. Eating 3.5 to 5 cups of fruits and vegetables a day can help lower this risk factor. 
• Being Overweight or Obese: Being overweight or obese can increase your risk for breast cancer. This risk increases if you have already gone through menopause.
• Drinking Alcohol: Frequent consumption of alcohol can increase your risk for breast cancer. The more alcohol you consume, the greater the risk.
• Radiation to the Chest: Having radiation therapy to the chest before the age of 30 can increase your risk for breast cancer. While radiation is often an unavoidable therapy for certain illnesses, it is still considered an environmental or lifestyle risk factor because it is not an inherited trait that someone is born with.
• Combined Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Taking combined hormone replacement therapy, as prescribed for menopause, can increase your risk for breast cancer and increases the risk that the cancer will be detected at a more advanced stage. Speak with your doctor about the benefits and risks of HRT.

What Are The Stats?

60-70% of people with breast cancer have no connection to these risk factors at all, and other people with risk factors will never develop cancer.

These Do Not Cause Breast Cancer

• Breast cancer is not contagious; you can’t contract cancer from a person who has the disease.
• Breast cancer is not caused by wearing underwire bras, implants, deodorants, antiperspirants, mammograms, caffeine, plastic food serving items, microwaves, or cell phones, as myths often suggest.

Medically reviewed June 2023

The post Risk Factors appeared first on National Breast Cancer Foundation.

But there is hope. When caught in its earliest, localized stages, the 5-year relative survival rate is 99%. Advances in early detection and treatment methods have significantly increased breast cancer survival rates in recent years, and there are currently over 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. 

Awareness of the facts and statistics surrounding breast cancer in the United States is key in empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their health.

Table of Contents 

Facts & statistics
Incidence statistics
Statistics by age
Statistics by ethnicity
Survival & mortality statistics
Male breast cancer statistics
Facts & statistics images

What Is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast. There are many different types of breast cancer that can affect both women and men.

To determine the extent of an individual’s breast cancer and if it has spread outside of the breast, the cancer is assigned a stage upon diagnosis. The early detection of breast cancer through annual mammography and other breast exams is the best defense against receiving a late-stage breast cancer diagnosis. Generally speaking, the earlier the cancer is detected, the greater the likelihood of a successful outcome.

Key Statistics & Facts About Breast Cancer In The United States

• In 2023, an estimated 297,790 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the U.S., as well as 55,720 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.¹
• There are currently over 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.¹
• An estimated 43,700 U.S. women will die from breast cancer in 2023.¹ 
• Risk of breast cancer recurrence depends on the type and staging of the initial breast cancer. Typically, the highest risk of recurrence is during the first few years after treatment and decreases over time.²

Breast cancer incidence in the United States

• 1 in 8 women, or approximately 13% of the female population in the U.S., will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.¹
• Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, except for skin cancers.¹
• It is estimated that in 2023, approximately 30% of all new female cancer diagnoses will be breast cancer.¹
• On average, every 2 minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States.¹
• Approximately 64% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at a localized stage, before cancer has spread outside of the breast, when it is easiest to treat.³
• The 5-year relative survival rate for cancer diagnosed at the localized stage is 99%.¹
• Approximately 15% of women diagnosed have a family history of breast cancer. Those with a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) with breast cancer are nearly twice as likely to develop breast cancer themselves.⁴

Breast cancer statistics by age

Though breast cancer in the United States occurs primarily in middle-aged and older women, age is not the only risk factor for a breast cancer diagnosis. Many risk factors beyond age may contribute to a breast cancer diagnosis, and sometimes there are no discernable risk factors at all.

• The average age of U.S. women diagnosed with breast cancer is 62 years old.¹
• Half of U.S. women who develop breast cancer are 62 years of age or younger when they are diagnosed.¹
• About 9% of all new breast cancer cases in the U.S. are diagnosed in women younger than 45 years old.⁵
• Younger people, particularly those under age 35 at the time of their original breast cancer diagnosis, face a higher risk of breast cancer recurrence.⁶

Breast cancer statistics by ethnicity

In the United States, breast cancer occurs within every racial and ethnic group. However, there are variations in statistics and outcomes across the different groups. Learn more about how NBCF is addressing disparities in breast cancer.

Black Women:

• The average age of Black women diagnosed with breast cancer is 60 years old, compared to an average age of 62 for white women.¹
• Black women are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women.¹
• Black women have the lowest 5-year relative breast cancer survival rate of any racial or ethnic group.¹ 
• 1 in 5 Black women with breast cancer are diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, which is harder to treat. This is higher than any other racial or ethnic group.¹

Hispanic Women:

• Overall, Hispanic women have a 20% lower incidence rate of breast cancer than other groups.⁷
• Hispanic women are more likely than white women to be diagnosed with breast cancer at later stages when it is more difficult to treat.¹
• Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for Hispanic women.¹

Asian, Pacific Islander, American Indian, and Alaska Native Women:

• Asian and Pacific Islander women are more likely to be diagnosed with localized (earlier stage, more treatable) breast cancer than other groups.¹
• Asian and Pacific Islander women have the lowest death rate from breast cancer.¹
• American Indian and Alaska Native women have the lowest incidence rate of developing breast cancer.¹
• Chinese and Japanese women have the highest breast cancer survival rates.⁷

Breast cancer survival & mortality statistics

Breast cancer survival rates are calculated using different forms of data, including the type and staging of breast cancer at diagnosis. These rates give an idea of what percentage of people with the same type and stage of cancer are still alive after a certain time period—usually 5 years—after they were diagnosed. This is called the 5-year relative survival rate.

• The 5-year relative survival rate in the U.S. for all types and stages of breast cancer combined is 91%.¹
• The 5-year relative survival rate in the U.S. of localized (early stage) breast cancer is 99%.¹

• Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in U.S. women, behind lung cancer. The chance that a woman will die from breast cancer is 1 in 39, or about 2.5%.¹
• In 2023, an estimated 43,700 women will die from breast cancer in the U.S.¹
• Breast cancer death rates have slowly decreased since 1989, for an overall decline of 43% through 2020. This is in part due to better screening and early detection efforts, increased awareness, and continually improving treatment options.¹
• Women who receive regular screenings for breast cancer have a 26% lower breast cancer death rate than women who do not receive screenings.⁵

Breast cancer in men statistics

All people are born with some breast cells and tissue, including men. Although rare, men get breast cancer too. 

• In 2023, an estimated 2,800 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the United States.¹
• An estimated 530 U.S. men will die from breast cancer in 2023.¹
• The lifetime risk of a U.S. man developing breast cancer is about 1 in 833.¹
• Black men with breast cancer tend to have a worse prognosis, or outlook, than white men with breast cancer.¹

Awareness is the first step in making informed choices about breast health. Donate now to help NBCF support more women and men facing breast cancer in communities throughout the United States.

Medically reviewed June 2023

Share These Facts & Stats and Support Breast Cancer Awareness

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Breast Cancer Disparities

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Sources:
¹ American Cancer Society (cancer.org)
² Johns Hopkins (hopkinsmedicine.org)
³ National Cancer Institute (cancer.gov)
⁴ BreastCancer.org (breastcancer.org)
⁵ Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (cdc.gov)
⁶ Mayo Clinic (mayoclinic.org)
⁷ National Institutes of Health (nih.gov)

The post Breast Cancer Facts & Stats appeared first on National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Protect Your Health

Did you know that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime? While you can’t usually prevent cancer, it is important to be proactive about your health. Get the free Healthy Living and Personal Risk Guide to help you protect your overall health and assess your breast cancer risk.

Where can we send your copy of this helpful guide?

Causes Of Breast Cancer: How Did This Happen? 

When you’re told that you have breast cancer, it’s natural to wonder what may have caused the disease. But no one knows the exact causes of breast cancer. Doctors seldom know why one woman develops breast cancer and another doesn’t, and most women who have breast cancer will never be able to pinpoint an exact cause. What we do know is that breast cancer is always caused by damage to a cell’s DNA.

Known Risk Factors

Women with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop breast cancer. A risk factor is something that may increase the chance of getting a disease. Some risk factors (such as drinking alcohol) can be avoided. But most risk factors (such as having a family history of breast cancer) can’t be avoided. Having a risk factor does not mean that a woman will get breast cancer. Many women who have risk factors never develop breast cancer.

Medically reviewed June 2023

Detecting Breast Cancer Earlier

Breast cancer can’t usually be prevented, but you can take three important steps to help detect it earlier. The free resource, 3 Steps to Early Detection, can increase your chance of finding breast cancer before it spreads.

Tell us where we can send you your copy.

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Understanding Breast Cancer

Cancer is a broad term for a class of diseases characterized by abnormal cells that grow and invade  healthy cells in the body.  Breast cancer starts in the cells of the breast as a group of cancer cells that can then invade surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to other areas of the body.

What Causes Cancer To Develop?

Cancer begins in the cells which are the basic building blocks that make up tissue. Tissue is found in the breast and other parts of the body.  Sometimes, the process of cell growth goes wrong and new cells form when the body doesn’t need them and old or damaged cells do not die as they should.  When this occurs, a build up of cells often forms a mass of tissue called a lump, growth, or tumor.

Breast cancer occurs when malignant tumors develop in the breast.  These cells can spread by breaking away from the original tumor and entering blood vessels or lymph vessels, which branch into tissues throughout the body. When cancer cells travel to other parts of the body and begin damaging other tissues and organs, the process is called metastasis.

Medically reviewed June 2023

The post What Is Cancer? appeared first on National Breast Cancer Foundation.