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Today, early detection and modern treatment methods may be very effective in treating breast cancer. Although doctors cannot predict exactly who will get breast cancer, the following are risk factors for this cancer: a family history of breast cancer, especially if cancer occurred before age 40; first menstrual period before age 12; menopause after age 50; and first birth after age 30.

While breast cancer is a serious diagnosis, there are many treatment options available, and more are being discovered each day to offer hope for successful treatment. The earlier breast cancer is found and treated, the better the chances for living a long and healthy life after diagnosis.

How Breast Cancer Develops
Breast cancer occurs when the cells in your breast grow abnormally, forming tumors with uncontrolled growth. The major types of breast cancer are ductal (arising in the lining of the ducts) and lobular (arising in the lobules). Cancer cells may also be found in lymph nodes under the arm. Breast cancer, if left untreated, may metastasize, or spread, sending cancerous cells to form tumors in other parts of your body. In many types of breast cancer, you have time to take a couple of weeks to learn more about your cancer and consider your treatment options. Both men and women can get breast cancer, but this section addresses how it occurs in women.

Diagnosing Breast Cancer
You may feel a lump in your breast during a breast self-exam. Also, tumors may show up on a screening mammogram. This is a routine test that women of age 40 and over are encouraged to take annually. To determine if the tumor is cancerous, you will be sent in for more tests, including a diagnostic mammogram. You may have an ultrasound scan of your breast to help rule out benign (non-cancerous) tumors.

You may have a biopsy taken, where a small amount of the tumor’s tissue will be removed and examined for cancerous cells. If the biopsy is positive, you may have a computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan or a bone scan to find if cancer has gone to sites outside the breast (metastases). A blood test may be ordered to evaluate the levels of tumor markers, special proteins that can be elevated in the presence of breast cancer. You may have some or all of the axillary lymph nodes, located under the arm closest to the breast, removed to check for cancer. These nodes are the main routes for breast cancer to spread to the rest of the body.

Treatment Options
Your diagnostic information will be used to determine the type of breast cancer and its stage. The TNM (Tumor, Node, Metastases) status is a common tool used to stage your cancer, to see how best to treat you. You may receive some combination of surgery, radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy to treat your cancer.

Surgery
A lumpectomy is a breast-conserving surgery generally done when tumors are small and confined to the breast. The tumor is removed, including a margin of tissue surrounding the tumor. A lumpectomy is usually followed by radiation therapy. A mastectomy is surgery that removes the entire breast.

In both surgeries, some or all of the lymph nodes under the arm will be removed and examined for cancer. If a woman wishes to have reconstructive breast surgery after a mastectomy, she may have it immediately after or wait and do it later. It is important to discuss with your doctor the benefits and side effects of each of these surgical treatments.

Chemotherapy
You will work with a medical oncologist, a doctor specifically trained in using drugs against cancer, to determine the appropriate treatment for you. Some women’s breast cancers are “estrogen receptive,” meaning that the presence of estrogen promotes the cancer’s growth. In this case, women on estrogen therapy may need to evaluate the safety of its use with their doctor. Special estrogen-blocking drugs, such as tamoxifen, may be used as an adjuvant therapy to reduce the risk of the recurrence of breast cancer. Not all women will benefit from estrogen blockers, and they have some side effects to consider.

Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is often used in conjunction with surgery or chemotherapy. You will discuss your radiation treatment needs with a radiation oncologist, a doctor trained in the use of radiation against cancer.

It is important you learn about your treatment options and their side effects. Ask about clinical trials (investigations of new treatments) that may be appropriate for you to consider. Recent advancements in detection and treatment should encourage you to hope for a positive outcome from your treatment. Stay positive in attitude and know that your healthcare team will work with you to find solutions for your long-term health.