Diseases
breast cancer
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Overview
Breast cancer is cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts. After skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States. Breast cancer can occur in both men and women, but it's far more common in women.
Symptoms
- a breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue
- change in the size, shape or appearance of a breast
- changes to the skin over the breast, such as dimpling
- a newly inverted nipple
- redness or pitting of the skin over your breast, like the skin of an orange
Causes
- researchers have identified hormonal, lifestyle and environmental factors that may increase your risk of breast cancer. but it's not clear why some people who have no risk factors develop cancer
Risk factors
- being female. women are much more likely than men are to develop breast cancer.
- increasing age. your risk of breast cancer increases as you age.
- a personal history of breast cancer.
Diagnosis
- breast exam
- mammogram
- breast ultrasound.
- removing a sample of breast cells for testing (biopsy)
Medicines used
Frequently asked questions
What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts. After skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States. Breast cancer can occur in both men and women, but it's far more common in women.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
a breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue, change in the size, shape or appearance of a breast, changes to the skin over the breast, such as dimpling, a newly inverted nipple, redness or pitting of the skin over your breast, like the skin of an orange
What causes breast cancer?
researchers have identified hormonal, lifestyle and environmental factors that may increase your risk of breast cancer. but it's not clear why some people who have no risk factors develop cancer
Which medicines are used for breast cancer?
ado-trastuzumab, anastrozole, capecitabine, cyclophosphamide, docetaxel, epirubicin, eribulin, estradiol, everolimus, exemestane, fluorouracil, fulvestrant, gemcitabine, goserelin, lapatinib, letrozole, megestrol, methotrexate, paclitaxel, palbociclib
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