Breast cancer is most commonly diagnosed in the ducts and the lobules, according to the National Cancer Institute. These are the tubes and glands that produce and transport breast milk.
Significance
The National Cancer Institute estimates that in the United States in 2009, nearly 192,370 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in women, and 1,910 new cases will be found in men. That same year, more than 40,000 will die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society.
Risk Factors
While there is no one known cause of the disease, risk factors for breast cancer include a family or personal history of the disease, certain genetic factors, previous chest exposure to radiation, alcohol usage and lack of physical activity.
Symptoms
You do not necessarily need to have a solid lump to have breast cancer. Symptoms can include a thickening in the breast or underarm, an inverted nipple, dimpling in the breast skin, a red or inflamed, swollen breast, or nipple discharge.
Diagnosis
Many women are diagnosed when they have no apparent symptoms. Screening and diagnostic tools include a clinical exam by a practitioner, mammogram, ultrasound or MRI.
Types
Breast cancer can be noninvasive or invasive, and the various types include ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), infiltrating/invasive ductal carcinoma, infiltrating/invasive lobular carcinoma, inflammatory breast cancer and Paget's disease of the nipple.
Survival
The American Cancer Society estimates that as of 2009, there are approximately 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.
