Breast cancer is a disease in which breast tissue cells start growing abnormally and uncontrollably. In the U.S., breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, with the exception of skin cancer, and the second leading cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer. It can occur in both men and women, but breast cancer is rare in men.
Not all breast tumors are cancerous, but some benign (non-cancerous) breast lumps may lead to an increased risk for developing breast cancer. That's why it's essential to have any breast changes evaluated by an expert.
Breast cancer accounts for approximately 30 percent of all newly diagnosed cancers among women in the United States, and about one out of eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Researchers don't yet know what causes individual cases of breast cancer, but they have identified certain risk factors that may lead to an increased risk for developing the disease.
Breast cancer may not always cause symptoms in its early stages, and is often detected during screening tests, such as mammograms. If symptoms do occur, they may include a lump, skin changes, pain, or lymph node swelling.
Most breast cancers are diagnosed as invasive ductal carcinoma, but other types of cancer may develop in the breast, including inflammatory breast cancer, triple-negative and triple positive.
Precise breast cancer tests are crucial for staging and treating the disease.
Diagnostic evaluations may include a mammogram, ultrasound, MRI or other imaging studies, as well as a physical exam and biopsy.
The care team will personally consult with each patient about her disease, treatment options and desired outcomes. Afterward, a multidisciplinary team of specialists will work together to discuss, design and deliver an individual treatment plan to best meet those goals.
City of Hope® clinicians and researchers collaborate extensively to develop and evaluate new therapies for better survival and quality-of-life outcomes.
Patients have access to a wide variety of breast cancer clinical trials, including new chemotherapy, targeted and hormone therapies, surgical techniques, radiation therapy approaches, and prevention strategies.
City of Hope patients automatically gain access to an unparalleled array of supportive care and long-term follow-up programs to help you and your loved ones manage the process of breast cancer treatment and recovery.
City of Hope is a national leader in advancing research and treatment protocols. As a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, our doctors also help develop and improve evidence-based breast cancer treatment guidelines for patients throughout the country.
You can access our top-ranked breast cancer physicians, world-class cancer research expertise, leading-edge treatments and clinical trials at City of Hope locations across the United States. We are committed to providing continuity of care that will help you successfully navigate and manage the process of diagnosis, treatment and transition to recovery.
City of Hope’s growing national system includes its Los Angeles/Duarte campus, a network of clinical care locations across Southern California, a cancer center in Orange County, California, and cancer treatment centers and outpatient facilities in the Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix regions.
City of Hope provides every breast cancer patient with access to a strong network of support services designed to help you address needs like financial counseling and treatment-related side effect management.
Our developments in the areas of breakthrough cancer drugs, bone marrow transplants and CAR T cell therapy are recognized internationally.
Our leadership in research and innovation continually enhances our ability to provide novel and differentiated approaches to cancer care.
Whole person care, all under one roof. Meet with a team of Breast Cancer experts at our comprehensive cancer locations in:
