Breast Health
A closer look at the structure of the breast.
Detailed information on the most common breast conditions, including mastalgia (breast pain), benign breast lumps, fibrocystic breast changes, nipple problems, nipple discharge, breast infections, and breast inflammation
Your breasts change at different stages of your life. Breast self-awareness is knowing how your breasts normally look and feel. This can help you to find even small changes right away.
Clinical trials are studies managed by government agencies, educational institutions, private not-for-profit organizations, or commercial businesses. They develop and evaluate the effectiveness of new treatments and therapies for diseases.
To diagnose a breast condition, your healthcare provider will examine your breasts and may order imaging tests or a biopsy.
It is important to remember that a lump or other changes in the breast, or an abnormal area on a mammogram, may be caused by cancer or by other, less serious problems.
Timing your mammogram when your breasts are not tender is important. In premenopausal women, this is usually 1 week after a menstrual period.
For some types of breast cancer, hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, can also cause breast cancer cells to grow. In these cases, hormone therapy is used to help prevent the growth, spread, and recurrence of breast cancer.
Detailed information on breast health, anatomy of the breast, breast development, breast cancer prevention, common breast conditions, and breast cancer in males and females
The most common type of breast infection is lactational mastitis. This happens when a woman is breastfeeding. The nipples become cracked and sore, allowing bacteria from the baby's mouth to enter the ducts and rapidly multiply in the milk.
The 2 most common types of benign breast lumps are cysts and fibroadenomas. A cyst is a fluid-filled sac that develops in the breast tissue. Fibroadenomas are solid, smooth, firm, benign lumps that are most commonly found in women in their late teens and early 20s.
Whenever the normal drainage pattern in the lymph nodes is disturbed or damaged - often during surgery to remove the lymph nodes - the arm may swell. This swelling, caused by too much fluid, is called lymphedema.
Detailed information on mammograms, including the different types, how a mammogram is done, and recommended screening guidelines.
Breast cancer in men is rare—less than 1% of all breast cancer occurs in men.
Breast development happens in certain stages during a woman's life: first before birth, and again at puberty and later during the childbearing years. Changes also happen to the breasts during menstruation and when a woman reaches menopause.
There are 2 main types of breast pain. The most common type is linked to the menstrual cycle and is almost always hormonal.
Detailed information for women following a mastectomy, including breast reconstruction, lymphedema prevention, and breast prosthesis
Nipple conditions are a common noncancer (benign) breast condition affecting many women. Some problems are related to lactation, and others are not.
Radiation therapy is a breast cancer treatment choice that often uses X-rays to kill cancer cells. There are several ways to give radiation therapy to the breast cancer cells.
A look at specific things that may increase your chance of having breast cancer.
Detailed information on breast health, anatomy of the breast, breast development, breast cancer prevention, common breast conditions, and breast cancer in males and females
Surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible is the main treatment for breast cancer. Today, women have many surgical options and choices.
To keep track of your breast health, you should get a yearly clinical exam and mammograms as directed by your healthcare provider.
Detailed information on breast cancer treatment, including surgery, breast reconstruction, lymphedema, breast prosthesis, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, Tamoxifen, and Taxol
People with this syndrome have dark moles around the mouth, nose, and eyes, as well as multiple polyps in the intestines.
Breast cancer is 1 of the most common types of cancer in women in the U.S. Once breast cancer occurs, cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body, making it life-threatening. The good news is that breast cancer is often found early, before it has spread.
A-T is a rare childhood disease that affects the nervous system and other body systems.
Fibrocystic breast changes are symptoms you may feel in your breasts right before your period. Learn what these common symptoms feel like, what causes them--and how to care for your breasts with breast self-awareness.