Breast cancer

Woman in the shower feeling a lump in her breast.
A cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts.
Very common
More than 3 million US cases per year
Treatable by a medical professional
Requires a medical diagnosis
Lab tests or imaging often required
Breast cancer can occur in women and rarely in men.
Symptoms of breast cancer include a lump in the breast, bloody discharge from the nipple, and changes in the shape or texture of the nipple or breast.
Treatment depends on the stage of cancer. It may consist of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.
Ages affected
0-2
Very rare
3-5
Very rare
6-13
Very rare
14-18
Very rare
19-40
Common
41-60
Very common
60+
Very common
Genders affected
Males
Rare
Females
Very common

SYMPTOMS
Requires a medical diagnosis
Symptoms of breast cancer include a lump in the breast, bloody discharge from the nipple, and changes in the shape or texture of the nipple or breast.
People may experience:
Breast: bloody nipple discharge, discomfort, inverted nipple, lumps, or sore nipple
Also common: cancer-related fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, or weight loss
Close-up of cancer in the breast tissue.
Treatable by a medical professional
Treatment depends on the stage of cancer. It may consist of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.
Prescription
Chemotherapy regimen: Capecitabine (Xeloda)
Chemotherapy regimen by injection: Epirubicin (Ellence), Docetaxel (Docefrez), Paclitaxel (Taxol)
Hormones: Tamoxifen (Soltamox)
Other treatments: Cyclophosphamide by injection, Zoledronic acid by injection (Zometa), Letrozole (Femara), Exemestane (Aromasin), Anastrozole (Arimidex), Trastuzumab by injection
Also common
Chemotherapy regimen: TCH regimen, AC-T regimen, TAC regimen, FEC regimen, AC regimen, Neoadjuvant therapy, Doxorubicin-Docetaxel regimen
Procedures: Radiation therapy, Lymphadenectomy, Lumpectomy, External beam radiotherapy, Breast surgery, Radical mastectomy, Mastectomy, Wide local excision, Breast-Conserving surgery, Mammaplasty, Tissue expansion
Other treatments: Hormone therapy
Specialists
Oncologist: Specializes in cancer.
Radiologist: Uses images to diagnose and treat disease within the body.
Radiation oncologist: Treats and manages cancer by prescribing radiation therapy.
Plastic surgeon: Reconstructs defective, damaged, or missing body parts.
Surgeon: Performs operations to treat disease.