Breast changes such as lumps, bumps, and discharge are common. Some causes can be aging, hormones, and medicines. Learn what's normal and what's not.
Mastitis
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Breast Diseases
Breast Cancer
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Breast Cancer
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Breast Diseases
Most women experience breast changes at some time. Your age, hormone levels, and medicines you take may cause lumps, bumps, and discharges (fluids that are not breast milk).
If you have a breast lump, pain, discharge or skin irritation, see your health care provider. Minor and serious breast problems have similar symptoms. Although many women fear cancer, most breast problems are not cancer.
Some common breast changes are
Fibrocystic breast changes - lumpiness, thickening and swelling, often just before a woman's period
Cysts - fluid-filled lumps
Fibroadenomas - solid, round, rubbery lumps that move easily when pushed, occurring most in younger women
Intraductal papillomas - growths similar to warts near the nipple
Blocked milk ducts
Milk production when a woman is not breastfeeding
Source: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Additional Materials (16)
Breast cancer progression
Stages of cell changes that occur when normal duct epithelium of the breast becomes cancerous.
Image by Huckfinne
Breast cancer - Early Signs - Overview
Early signs of possible breast cancer
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Breast Cancer Metastasis to Liver
The malignant breast cancer cells metastasized to the liver. A cluster of the cancer-cells with their brown-staining cytoplasm is within a portal tract of the liver (monoclonal antibody b1.1, abc immunoperoxidase method, hematoxylin counterstain, x500).
Image by National Cancer Institute / Unknown Photographer
Invasive lobular carcinoma
These tumors are notorious for how cytologically bland they are. They can be easily missed on small biopsies. On a larger section, such as this one from a mastectomy, the characteristic "targetoid" pattern of invasion can be appreciated. Classic Invasive Lobular Carcinoma of the Breast.
Image by Ed Uthman
Breast Cancer
This is a high-resolution mid-range infrared image depicting cancer in the right breast by the high-energy blood vessels. Philip P. Hoekstra, III, Ph.D. This is a high-resolution mid-range infrared image depicting cancer in the right breast by the high-energy blood vessels. Philip P. Hoekstra, III, Ph.D.
Image by Philiphoekstra (talk) (Uploads)
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Female Breast Anatomy
Female Breast Anatomy
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Common Breast Diseases
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Atypical Breast Lesions and Benign Breast Disease — Mayo Clinic
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Benign Breast Disease
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UConn Health Minute: Benign Breast Disease
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Breast Pathology (Inflammatory vs. Benign vs. Malignant)
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Breast Diseases: Disorders of Development & Breast Abnormalities – Pathology | Lecturio
Video by Lecturio Medical/YouTube
Breast Disorders - Nursing lecture
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Fibrocystic Breast, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.
Video by Medical Centric/YouTube
Topic 40: Disorders of the Breast
Video by Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO)/YouTube
History Taking for Breast Diseases
Video by Breast Cancer Resource Centre UMMC/YouTube
Breast cancer progression
Huckfinne
Breast cancer - Early Signs - Overview
Raphseck
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Breast Cancer Metastasis to Liver
National Cancer Institute / Unknown Photographer
Invasive lobular carcinoma
Ed Uthman
Breast Cancer
Philiphoekstra (talk) (Uploads)
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Female Breast Anatomy
TheVisualMD
1:41
Common Breast Diseases
Women's Care/YouTube
2:29
Atypical Breast Lesions and Benign Breast Disease — Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic/YouTube
1:01
Benign Breast Disease
Roper St. Francis Healthcare/YouTube
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UConn Health Minute: Benign Breast Disease
UConn Health/YouTube
29:26
Breast Pathology (Inflammatory vs. Benign vs. Malignant)
Dirty Medicine/YouTube
2:57
Breast Diseases: Disorders of Development & Breast Abnormalities – Pathology | Lecturio
Lecturio Medical/YouTube
1:12:29
Breast Disorders - Nursing lecture
Nursing Lectures/YouTube
3:29
Fibrocystic Breast, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.
Medical Centric/YouTube
7:08
Topic 40: Disorders of the Breast
Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO)/YouTube
10:18
History Taking for Breast Diseases
Breast Cancer Resource Centre UMMC/YouTube
Mammography
Mammogram Showing Normal Fatty Breast
Image by Dr. Dwight Kaufman. National Cancer Institute
Mammogram Showing Normal Fatty Breast
A mammogram of a normal fatty breast, typical of older women. Diagnosis of abnormal lesions or cancer is more accurate in non-dense breasts.
Image by Dr. Dwight Kaufman. National Cancer Institute
Mammography
A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breast. It can be used to check for breast cancer in women who have no signs or symptoms of the disease. It can also be used if you have a lump or other sign of breast cancer.
Screening mammography is the type of mammogram that checks you when you have no symptoms. It can help reduce the number of deaths from breast cancer among women ages 40 to 70. But it can also have drawbacks. Mammograms can sometimes find something that looks abnormal but isn't cancer. This leads to further testing and can cause you anxiety. Sometimes mammograms can miss cancer when it is there. It also exposes you to radiation. You should talk to your doctor about the benefits and drawbacks of mammograms. Together, you can decide when to start and how often to have a mammogram.
Mammograms are also recommended for younger women who have symptoms of breast cancer or who have a high risk of the disease.
When you have a mammogram, you stand in front of an x-ray machine. The person who takes the x-rays places your breast between two plastic plates. The plates press your breast and make it flat. This may be uncomfortable, but it helps get a clear picture. You should get a written report of your mammogram results within 30 days.
Source: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Additional Materials (28)
Diagram showing a woman having a mammogram
Cancer Research UK / Wikimedia Commons
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Mammography
Mammogram being conducted
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What to Expect -- Digital Mammography
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Cancer Testing with Digital Mammography | Living Healthy Chicago
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Five Things to Know about Mammography Video – Brigham and Women’s Hospital
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3-D Digital Breast Mammography Tomosynthesis
Video by Dartmouth-Hitchcock/YouTube
Mammography and Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines
Video by HenryFordTV/YouTube
Your first mammogram: What to expect
Video by MD Anderson Cancer Center/YouTube
3D Mammography (Tomosynthesis): A Better Mammogram
Video by MyMichiganHealth/YouTube
Innovations In Breast Cancer Detection: 3D Mammography
Video by MassGeneralHospital/YouTube
NHS Breast Cancer Screening - Module 1
Video by ASKVisualScience/YouTube
NHS Breast Cancer Screening - Module 2
Video by ASKVisualScience/YouTube
NHS Breast Cancer Screening - Module 3
Video by ASKVisualScience/YouTube
NHS Breast Cancer Screening - Module 4
Video by ASKVisualScience/YouTube
What is a Mammogram?
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What to Expect During Your First Mammogram
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4 Things to do if you get “the call” after a Mammogram
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When to Get a Mammogram
Video by Johns Hopkins Medicine/YouTube
What does breast cancer look like on a mammogram?
Video by Patient/YouTube
What is a mammogram and how often should I have it?
Video by You and Breast Cancer/YouTube
Mammogram questions | Mercy Health
Video by Bon Secours Mercy Health/Vimeo
How To Decide What To Do If You Have Dense Breasts On Mammogram - Mayo Clinic Breast Clinic
Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube
What You Should Know: Proposed Changes to Mammogram Screening
Video by U.S. Food and Drug Administration/YouTube
Four Tips for a Pain Free Mammogram
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What Does it Mean to Have Dense Breasts?
Video by Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center/YouTube
Breast Imaging Technology - Breast CT Scanning
Video by Emory Healthcare/YouTube
Breast Cancer Screening
Video by Learning in 10/YouTube
Getting Screened for Breast Cancer
Video by Lee Health/YouTube
Diagram showing a woman having a mammogram
upload.wikimedia.org
Mammography
CDC
4:07
What to Expect -- Digital Mammography
Hologic, Inc./YouTube
3:54
Cancer Testing with Digital Mammography | Living Healthy Chicago
LivingHealthyChicago/YouTube
3:25
Five Things to Know about Mammography Video – Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Brigham And Women's Hospital/YouTube
5:35
3-D Digital Breast Mammography Tomosynthesis
Dartmouth-Hitchcock/YouTube
28:19
Mammography and Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines
HenryFordTV/YouTube
1:08
Your first mammogram: What to expect
MD Anderson Cancer Center/YouTube
1:38
3D Mammography (Tomosynthesis): A Better Mammogram
MyMichiganHealth/YouTube
4:51
Innovations In Breast Cancer Detection: 3D Mammography
MassGeneralHospital/YouTube
2:07
NHS Breast Cancer Screening - Module 1
ASKVisualScience/YouTube
1:22
NHS Breast Cancer Screening - Module 2
ASKVisualScience/YouTube
1:52
NHS Breast Cancer Screening - Module 3
ASKVisualScience/YouTube
2:05
NHS Breast Cancer Screening - Module 4
ASKVisualScience/YouTube
1:18
What is a Mammogram?
Women's Care Florida/YouTube
5:02
What to Expect During Your First Mammogram
Johns Hopkins Medicine/YouTube
4:09
4 Things to do if you get “the call” after a Mammogram
RAYUS Radiology™/YouTube
0:56
When to Get a Mammogram
Johns Hopkins Medicine/YouTube
0:50
What does breast cancer look like on a mammogram?
Patient/YouTube
4:35
What is a mammogram and how often should I have it?
You and Breast Cancer/YouTube
1:08
Mammogram questions | Mercy Health
Bon Secours Mercy Health/Vimeo
6:45
How To Decide What To Do If You Have Dense Breasts On Mammogram - Mayo Clinic Breast Clinic
Mayo Clinic/YouTube
1:39
What You Should Know: Proposed Changes to Mammogram Screening
Mammograms can be used to check for breast cancer in women who have no signs or symptoms of the disease. This type of mammogram is called a screening mammogram. Screening mammograms usually involve two or more x-ray pictures, or images, of each breast. The x-ray images often make it possible to detect tumors that cannot be felt. Screening mammograms can also find microcalcifications (tiny deposits of calcium) that sometimes indicate the presence of breast cancer.
Mammograms can also be used to check for breast cancer after a lump or other sign or symptom of the disease has been found. This type of mammogram is called a diagnostic mammogram. Besides a lump, signs of breast cancer can include breast pain, thickening of the skin of the breast, nipple discharge, or a change in breast size or shape; however, these signs may also be signs of benign conditions. A diagnostic mammogram can also be used to evaluate changes found during a screening mammogram or to view breast tissue when it is difficult to obtain a screening mammogram because of special circumstances, such as the presence of breast implants.
Source: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
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Nurse examines mammogram image of patient during exam.
Mammograms are still the best primary tool for breast cancer screening. To continue to protect women's health, the FDA is proposing updates to the mammography regulations to reflect advances in mammography technology and processes.
Image by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
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Mobile Mammography Bus
A mobile home used as a mobile mammogrpahy unit by St. Vincent's Breast Cancer Centers and the University of Maryland Cancer Center.
Image by National Cancer Institute / Unknown Photographer
Woman Having Mammogram
Photograph of woman having mammogram. Mammograms are considered the gold standard for breast cancer screening. Mammography requires the breasts to be compressed between plates while the image is captured. Typically, two views are taken of the breast: cranial-caudal (top to bottom) and mediolateral oblique (angled side view).
Image by TheVisualMD
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Mammography
A Caucasian female patient receives a lateral mammogram treatment. She is lying on her left side with the left breast compressed and she is holding her right breast out of the way so as to not block the x-ray. Note the older methods of the diagnostic procedure.
Image by National Cancer Institute / Unknown Photographer
What is a Mammogram?
Video by Women's Care Florida/YouTube
Your first mammogram: What to expect
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How To Decide What To Do If You Have Dense Breasts On Mammogram - Mayo Clinic Breast Clinic
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Mammography
A woman getting a mammogram, showing a cone in position on her right breast.
Image by National Cancer Institute
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Nurse examines mammogram image of patient during exam.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
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Mobile Mammography Bus
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Woman Having Mammogram
TheVisualMD
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Mammography
National Cancer Institute / Unknown Photographer
1:18
What is a Mammogram?
Women's Care Florida/YouTube
1:08
Your first mammogram: What to expect
MD Anderson Cancer Center/YouTube
6:45
How To Decide What To Do If You Have Dense Breasts On Mammogram - Mayo Clinic Breast Clinic
Mayo Clinic/YouTube
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Mammography
National Cancer Institute
What You Need To Know
Bilateral digital mammography images of the breasts
A mammogram is an X-ray picture of the breast. Doctors use a mammogram to look for early signs of breast cancer. Regular mammograms are the best tests doctors have to find breast cancer early, sometimes up to three years before it can be felt.
How is a mammogram done?
You will stand in front of a special X-ray machine. A technologist will place your breast on a plastic plate. Another plate will firmly press your breast from above. The plates will flatten the breast, holding it still while the X-ray is being taken. You will feel some pressure. The steps are repeated to make a side view of the breast. The other breast will be X-rayed in the same way. You will then wait while the technologist checks the four X-rays to make sure the pictures do not need to be re-done. Keep in mind that the technologist cannot tell you the results of your mammogram. Each woman’s mammogram may look a little different because all breasts are a little different.
What does having a mammogram feel like?
Having a mammogram is uncomfortable for most women. Some women find it painful. A mammogram takes only a few moments, though, and the discomfort is over soon. What you feel depends on the skill of the technologist, the size of your breasts, and how much they need to be pressed. Your breasts may be more sensitive if you are about to get or have your period. A doctor with special training, called a radiologist, will read the mammogram. He or she will look at the X-ray for early signs of breast cancer or other problems.
When will I get the results of my mammogram?
You will usually get the results within a few weeks, although it depends on the facility. A radiologist reads your mammogram and then reports the results to you and your doctor. If there is a concern, you will hear from the mammography facility earlier. Contact your health care provider or the mammography facility if you do not receive a report of your results within 30 days.
What happens if my mammogram is normal?
Continue to get mammograms according to recommended time intervals. Mammograms work best when they can be compared with previous ones. This allows the radiologist to compare them to look for changes in your breasts.
What happens if my mammogram is abnormal?
An abnormal mammogram does not always mean that there is cancer. But you will need to have additional mammograms, tests, or exams before the doctor can tell for sure. You may also be referred to a breast specialist or a surgeon. It does not necessarily mean you have cancer or need surgery. These doctors are experts in diagnosing breast problems. Doctors will do follow-up tests to diagnose breast cancer or to find that there is no cancer.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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Normal (left) versus cancerous (right) mammography image.
Normal (left) versus cancerous (right) mammography image.
Image by National Cancer Institute
Digital Mammography
Bilateral digital mammography images of the breasts; mediolateral oblique view
Image by Nevit Dilmen (talk)
Mammogram questions | Mercy Health
Video by Bon Secours Mercy Health/Vimeo
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Normal (left) versus cancerous (right) mammography image.
National Cancer Institute
Digital Mammography
Nevit Dilmen (talk)
1:08
Mammogram questions | Mercy Health
Bon Secours Mercy Health/Vimeo
Male Breast Cancer
Male Breast Cancer
Image by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Male Breast Cancer
Although breast cancer is a disease usually associated with women, men can get it too.
Image by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Male Breast Cancer
Although breast cancer is much more common in women, men can get it too. It happens most often to men between the ages of 60 and 70.
Breast lumps usually aren't cancer. However, most men with breast cancer have lumps. Other breast symptoms can include
Dimpled or puckered skin
A red, scaly nipple or skin
Fluid discharge
Risk factors for male breast cancer include exposure to radiation, a family history of breast cancer, and having high estrogen levels, which can happen with diseases like cirrhosis or Klinefelter's syndrome.
Treatment for male breast cancer is usually a mastectomy, which is surgery to remove the breast. Other treatments include radiation, chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy.
Source: NIH: National Cancer Institute
Additional Materials (13)
Mayo Clinic Minute: Breast cancer is a risk for men
Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube
How does breast cancer appear in men?
Video by Premier Health/YouTube
Breast cancer in men often diagnosed at more advanced stage
Video by CBS Mornings/YouTube
Genetic Testing for Male Breast Cancer | UCLA Health
Video by UCLA Health/YouTube
Male breast cancer: Mayo Clinic Radio
Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube
Male breast cancer: research and advances
Video by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/YouTube
How to Identify the Symptoms of Male Breast Cancer| Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center
Video by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/YouTube
Male breast cancer more common than most people realize
Video by Cleveland Clinic Martin Health/YouTube
Male Breast Cancer - Henry's Story - Mayo Clinic
Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube
Male breast cancer - Mayo Clinic
Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube
Male breast cancer and other breast issues - Mayo Clinic
Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube
Male Breast Cancer Symptoms and Treatment | Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Video by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/YouTube
Male Breast Cancer
Male Breast Cancer
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Mayo Clinic Minute: Breast cancer is a risk for men
Mayo Clinic/YouTube
0:43
How does breast cancer appear in men?
Premier Health/YouTube
5:18
Breast cancer in men often diagnosed at more advanced stage
CBS Mornings/YouTube
2:20
Genetic Testing for Male Breast Cancer | UCLA Health
UCLA Health/YouTube
9:32
Male breast cancer: Mayo Clinic Radio
Mayo Clinic/YouTube
2:08
Male breast cancer: research and advances
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/YouTube
3:16
How to Identify the Symptoms of Male Breast Cancer| Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/YouTube
2:09
Male breast cancer more common than most people realize
Cleveland Clinic Martin Health/YouTube
3:42
Male Breast Cancer - Henry's Story - Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic/YouTube
0:33
Male breast cancer - Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic/YouTube
3:14
Male breast cancer and other breast issues - Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic/YouTube
2:24
Male Breast Cancer Symptoms and Treatment | Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/YouTube
Male Breast Cancer
TheVisualMD
What Is Male Breast Cancer?
Man Touching Left Breast
Image by freestocks.org/Pexels
Man Touching Left Breast
Image by freestocks.org/Pexels
What Is Male Breast Cancer?
General Information about Male Breast Cancer
KEY POINTS
Male breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast.
A family history of breast cancer and other factors can increase a man's risk of breast cancer.
Male breast cancer is sometimes caused by inherited gene mutations (changes).
Men with breast cancer usually have lumps that can be felt.
Tests that examine the breasts are used to diagnose breast cancer in men.
If cancer is found, tests are done to study the cancer cells.
Survival for men with breast cancer is similar to survival for women with breast cancer.
Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.
Male breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast.
Breast cancer may occur in men. Breast cancer may occur in men at any age, but it usually occurs in men between 60 and 70 years of age. Male breast cancer makes up less than 1% of all cases of breast cancer.
The following types of breast cancer are found in men:
Infiltrating ductal carcinoma: Cancer that has spread beyond the cells lining ducts in the breast. This is the most common type of breast cancer in men.
Ductal carcinoma in situ: Abnormal cells that are found in the lining of a duct; also called intraductal carcinoma.
Inflammatory breast cancer: A type of cancer in which the breast looks red and swollen and feels warm.
Paget disease of the nipple: A tumor that has grown from ducts beneath the nipple onto the surface of the nipple.
Lobular carcinoma in situ (abnormal cells found in one of the lobes or sections of the breast), which sometimes occurs in women, has not been seen in men.
Source: PDQ® Adult Treatment Editorial Board. PDQ Male Breast Cancer Treatment. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute.
Additional Materials (2)
Breast cancer in men often diagnosed at more advanced stage
Video by CBS Mornings/YouTube
Mayo Clinic Minute: Breast cancer strikes men, too
Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube
5:18
Breast cancer in men often diagnosed at more advanced stage
CBS Mornings/YouTube
1:01
Mayo Clinic Minute: Breast cancer strikes men, too
Mayo Clinic/YouTube
What You Need To Know
Male Breast Cancer
Image by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Male Breast Cancer
Although breast cancer is a disease usually associated with women, men can get it too.
Image by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Breast Cancer in Men
Although it is rare, men can get breast cancer. Learn about symptoms of breast cancer in men and things that may increase your risk.
Breast cancer is most often found in women, but men can get breast cancer too. About 1 out of every 100 breast cancers diagnosed in the United States is found in a man.
The most common kinds of breast cancer in men are the same kinds in women—
Invasive ductal carcinoma. The cancer cells begin in the ducts and then grow outside the ducts into other parts of the breast tissue. Invasive cancer cells can also spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body.
Invasive lobular carcinoma. Cancer cells begin in the lobules and then spread from the lobules to the breast tissues that are close by. These invasive cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body.
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a breast disease that may lead to invasive breast cancer. The cancer cells are only in the lining of the ducts, and have not spread to other tissues in the breast.
What Are the Symptoms?
The most common symptoms of breast cancer in men are—
A lump or swelling in the breast.
Redness or flaky skin in the breast.
Irritation or dimpling of breast skin.
Nipple discharge.
Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area.
These symptoms can happen with other conditions that are not cancer. If you have any symptoms or changes, see your doctor right away.
What Are the Risk Factors?
Several factors can increase a man’s chance of getting breast cancer. Having risk factors does not mean you will get breast cancer.
Getting older. The risk for breast cancer increases with age. Most breast cancers are found after age 50.
Genetic mutations. Inherited changes (mutations) in certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, increase breast cancer risk.
Family history of breast cancer. A man’s risk for breast cancer is higher if a close family member has had breast cancer.
Radiation therapy treatment. Men who had radiation therapy to the chest have a higher risk of getting breast cancer.
Hormone therapy treatment. Drugs containing estrogen (a hormone that helps develop and maintain female sex characteristics), which were used to treat prostate cancer in the past, increase men’s breast cancer risk.
Klinefelter syndrome.Klinefelter syndrome is a rare genetic condition in which a male has an extra X chromosome. This can lead to the body making higher levels of estrogen and lower levels of androgens (hormones that help develop and maintain male sex characteristics).
Certain conditions that affect the testicles. Injury to, swelling in, or surgery to remove the testicles can increase breast cancer risk.
Liver disease. Cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver can lower androgen levels and raise estrogen levels in men, increasing the risk of breast cancer.
Overweight and obesity. Older men who are overweight or have obesity have a higher risk of getting breast cancer than men at a normal weight.
What Can I Do to Reduce My Risk?
If several members of your family have had breast or ovarian cancer, or one of your family members has a known BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, share this information with your doctor. Your doctor may refer you for genetic counseling. In men, mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes can increase the risk of breast cancer, high-grade prostate cancer, and pancreatic cancer.
If genetic testing shows that you have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, your doctor will explain what you should do to find cancer early, if you get it.
All men can lower their risk by keeping a healthy weight and exercising regularly.
How Is Breast Cancer Treated?
As in women, treatment for breast cancer in men depends on how big the tumor is and how far it has spread. Treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Additional Materials (6)
Male Breast Cancer
Senior Airman Elisabeth Stone compresses a male patient's breast tissue during a baseline screening of mammogram at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
Image by Staff Sgt. Sheila deVera
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Invasive breast cancer
Invasive Breast Cancer Description Invasive breast cancer cells growing through the wall of a breast duct.
Image by National Cancer Institute
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Ductal Carcinoma in situ
Title: Anatomy: Breast Cancer, Ductal Carcinoma in Situ. Description: Breast duct: Shown is a drawing of a breast duct containing ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).
Image by Don Bliss (artist) National Cancer Institute / NIH
What Men Need To Know About Breast Cancer
Video by NBC News/YouTube
What to know about male breast cancer
Video by KSAT 12/YouTube
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Ductal carcinoma in situ
Diagram showing ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
Image by Cancer Research UK / Wikimedia Commons
Male Breast Cancer
Staff Sgt. Sheila deVera
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Invasive breast cancer
National Cancer Institute
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Ductal Carcinoma in situ
Don Bliss (artist) National Cancer Institute / NIH
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What Men Need To Know About Breast Cancer
NBC News/YouTube
1:48
What to know about male breast cancer
KSAT 12/YouTube
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Ductal carcinoma in situ
Cancer Research UK / Wikimedia Commons
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer
Image by SMART-Servier Medical Art, part of Laboratoires Servier.
Breast cancer
Image by SMART-Servier Medical Art, part of Laboratoires Servier.
Breast Cancer
What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is a cancer that starts in breast tissue. It happens when cells in the breast change and grow out of control. The cells usually form a tumor.
Sometimes the cancer does not spread any further. This is called "in situ." If the cancer spreads outside the breast, the cancer is called "invasive." It may just spread to nearby tissues and lymph nodes. Or the cancer may metastasize (spread to other parts of the body) through the lymph system or the blood.
Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer in women in the United States. Rarely, it can also affect men.
What are the types of breast cancer?
There are different types of breast cancer. The types are based on which breast cells turn into cancer. The types include:
Ductal carcinoma, which begins in the cells of the ducts. This is the most common type.
Lobular carcinoma, which begins in the lobules. It is more often found in both breasts than other types of breast cancer.
Inflammatory breast cancer, in which cancer cells block lymph vessels in the skin of the breast. The breast becomes warm, red, and swollen. This is a rare type.
Paget's disease of the breast, which is a cancer involving the skin of the nipple. It usually also affects the darker skin around the nipple. It is also rare.
What causes breast cancer?
Breast cancer happens when there are changes in the genetic material (DNA). Often, the exact cause of these genetic changes is unknown.
But sometimes these genetic changes are inherited, meaning that you are born with them. Breast cancer that is caused by inherited genetic changes is called hereditary breast cancer.
There are also certain genetic changes that can raise your risk of breast cancer, including changes in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. These two changes also raise your risk of ovarian and other cancers.
Besides genetics, your lifestyle and the environment can affect your risk of breast cancer.
Who is at risk for breast cancer?
The factors that raise your risk of breast cancer include:
Older age
History of breast cancer or benign (noncancer) breast disease
Inherited risk of breast cancer, including having BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene changes
Dense breast tissue
A reproductive history that leads to more exposure to the estrogen hormone, including
Menstruating at an early age
Being at an older age when you first gave birth or never having given birth
Starting menopause at a later age
Taking hormone therapy for symptoms of menopause
Radiation therapy to the breast or chest
Obesity
Drinking alcohol
What are the signs and symptoms of breast cancer?
The signs and symptoms of breast cancer include:
A new lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the armpit.
A change in the size or shape of the breast.
A dimple or puckering in the skin of the breast. It may look like the skin of an orange.
A nipple turned inward into the breast.
Nipple discharge other than breast milk. The discharge might happen suddenly, be bloody, or happen in only one breast.
Scaly, red, or swollen skin in the nipple area or the breast
Pain in any area of the breast.
How is breast cancer diagnosed?
Your health care provider may use many tools to diagnose breast cancer and figure out which type you have:
A physical exam, including a clinical breast exam (CBE). This involves checking for any lumps or anything else that seems unusual with the breasts and armpits.
A medical history.
Imaging tests, such as a mammogram, an ultrasound, or an MRI.
Breast biopsy.
Blood chemistry tests, which measure different substances in the blood, including electrolytes, fats, proteins, glucose (sugar), and enzymes. Some of the specific blood chemistry tests include a basic metabolic panel (BMP), a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), and an electrolyte panel.
If these tests show that you have breast cancer, you will have tests that study the cancer cells. These tests help your provider decide which treatment would be best for you. The tests may include:
Genetic tests for genetic changes such as in the BRCA and TP53 genes.
HER2 test. HER2 is a protein involved with cell growth. It is on the outside of all breast cells. If your breast cancer cells have more HER2 than normal, they can grow more quickly and spread to other parts of the body.
An estrogen and progesterone receptor test. This test measures the amount of estrogen and progesterone (hormones) receptors in cancer tissue. If there are more receptors than normal, the cancer is called estrogen and/or progesterone receptor positive. This type of breast cancer may grow more quickly.
Another step is staging the cancer. Staging involves doing tests to find out whether the cancer has spread within the breast or to other parts of the body. The tests may include other diagnostic imaging tests and a sentinel lymph node biopsy. This biopsy is done to see whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
What are the treatments for breast cancer?
Treatments for breast cancer include:
Surgery such as
A mastectomy, which removes the whole breast
A lumpectomy to remove the cancer and some normal tissue around it, but not the breast itself
Radiation therapy
Chemotherapy
Hormone therapy, which blocks cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow
Targeted therapy, which uses drugs or other substances that attack specific cancer cells with less harm to normal cells
Immunotherapy
Can breast cancer be prevented?
You may be able to help prevent breast cancer by making healthy lifestyle changes such as:
Staying at a healthy weight
Limiting alcohol use
Getting enough exercisee
Limiting your exposure to estrogen by
Breastfeeding your babies if you can
Limiting hormone therapy
If you are at high risk, your health care provider may suggest that you take certain medicines to lower the risk. Some women at very high risk may decide to get a mastectomy (of their healthy breasts) to prevent breast cancer.
It's also important to get regular mammograms. They may be able to identify breast cancer in the early stages, when it is easier to treat.
Source: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Additional Materials (12)
Breast cancer progression
Stages of cell changes that occur when normal duct epithelium of the breast becomes cancerous.
Image by Huckfinne
Diagram showing stage 1A breast cancer
Stage 1B breast cancer
Stage 2A breast cancer - Diagram 1 of 2
Stage 2A breast cancer - Diagram 2 of 2
Stage 2B breast cancer - Diagram 1 of 3
Stage 2B breast cancer - Diagram 2 of 3
Stage 2B breast cancer - Diagram 3 of 3
Stage 3A breast cancer- Diagram 1 of 3
Stage 3A breast cancer- Diagram 2 of 3
Stage 3A breast cancer- Diagram 3 of 3
Diagram 1 of 3 showing stage 3C breast cancer
Stage 3C breast cancer - Diagram 2 of 3
Stage 3C breast cancer - Diagram 3 of 3
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Stages of Breast Cancer
Interactive by Cancer Research UK / Wikimedia
Normal Breast Cross Section / Breast Cancer Cross Section
Normal Breast Cross Section / Breast Cancer Cross Section
Medical visualization of an anteriolateral view of healthy breast tissue. The most common type of breast cancer is infiltrating ductal carcinoma (over 70%) which begins in the lining of the ducts, followed by inflitrating lobular carcinoma (over 10%) which orginates in the lobules, medullary carcinoma, tubular carcinoma, mucinous carcinoma, and inflammatory breast cancer. Breast cancer affects approximately one in 93 women by the age of 45, and over the course of a lifetime one in eight women will be diagnosed with the disease. Early detection is critical - survival rates for those diagnosed at early stages is greater than 90 percent. Annual mammograms are recommended for women over 40, as are regular self-exams and clinical exams for all women. Women with a family history of breast cancer, especially premenopausal occurrence, as well as those who test positive for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, are at a higher lifetime risk for developing breast cancer and should start detection screening earlier. Men comprise one percent of breast cancer patients. 1 of 2.
Interactive by TheVisualMD
Stage 0
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 2
Stage 4
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Breast Cancer Summary Staging
After breast cancer has been diagnosed, tests are done to find out if cancer cells have spread within the breast or to other parts of the body.
Interactive by TheVisualMD
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Woman with Breast Cancer, Stage 1
Woman with Breast Cancer, Stage 1 : Breast cancer is by far the most common cancer among women; worldwide, about 1.3 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer annually, and about 465,000 will die from it (North America has the highest rate of breast cancer in the world). In recent years, however, tremendous strides have been made in early diagnosis and treatment. Imaging techniques have been refined to spot ever-tinier tumors, biomarkers have been developed to reflect physiological changes produced by cancer, and genetic tests have been devised to reveal increased familial risk of breast cancer.
Image by TheVisualMD
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Metastatic Breast Cancer in Pleural Fluid
Image by Ed Uthman/Flickr
Understand.com | Breast Cancer Animation Library Demo
Video by Understand/YouTube
Beyond The Shock - Chapter 5 - Types & Stages - Breast Cancer During Pregnancy
Video by National Breast Cancer Foundation/YouTube
Understanding Breast Cancer
Video by You and Breast Cancer/YouTube
Why Am I at Risk of Developing Breast Cancer? | Being Jewish and Breast Cancer Risk
Video by Johns Hopkins Medicine/YouTube
Breast Cancer Sub-types - Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Video by Dr. Susan Love Foundation/YouTube
Breast Cancer 101: Our Oncologists Answer Questions On Breast Cancer
Video by Michigan Medicine/YouTube
Breast cancer progression
Huckfinne
Stages of Breast Cancer
Cancer Research UK / Wikimedia
Normal Breast Cross Section / Breast Cancer Cross Section
TheVisualMD
Breast Cancer Summary Staging
TheVisualMD
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Woman with Breast Cancer, Stage 1
TheVisualMD
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Metastatic Breast Cancer in Pleural Fluid
Ed Uthman/Flickr
3:44
Understand.com | Breast Cancer Animation Library Demo
Understand/YouTube
2:04
Beyond The Shock - Chapter 5 - Types & Stages - Breast Cancer During Pregnancy
National Breast Cancer Foundation/YouTube
8:24
Understanding Breast Cancer
You and Breast Cancer/YouTube
3:36
Why Am I at Risk of Developing Breast Cancer? | Being Jewish and Breast Cancer Risk
Johns Hopkins Medicine/YouTube
3:40
Breast Cancer Sub-types - Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Dr. Susan Love Foundation/YouTube
58:50
Breast Cancer 101: Our Oncologists Answer Questions On Breast Cancer
Michigan Medicine/YouTube
Fibrocystic Breast Disease
Mammogram showing fibrocystic disease
Image by Unknown photographer/Wikimedia
Mammogram showing fibrocystic disease
Title Mammogram Showing Fibrocystic Disease
Description Mammogram showing thickenings typical of fibrocystic disease. Also seen are ductal patterns.
Topics/Categories Test or Procedure -- Imaging Procedures
Type B&W, Photo
Source National Cancer Institute
Image by Unknown photographer/Wikimedia
Fibrocystic Breast Disease
A common and benign breast disease characterized by varying degree of fibrocystic changes in the breast tissue. There are three major patterns of morphological changes, including FIBROSIS, formation of CYSTS, and proliferation of glandular tissue (adenosis). The fibrocystic breast has a dense irregular, lumpy, bumpy consistency.
Source: National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine
Additional Materials (8)
Fibrous breast changes
fibrous breast growths
Image by Mekuix/Wikimedia
Fibrocystic change
Low magnification micrograph of fibrocystic change of the breast, also fibrocystic breast changes and fibrocystic disease, with apocrine metaplasia.
Image by Nephron
Breast MRI, sagittal (front-to-back) view, after breast-conserving tumor removal surgery
Colorized breast MRI, sagittal (front-to-back) view, after breast-conserving tumor removal surgery. The surrounding anatomy is visible, including lobule/gland tissue, suspensory ligaments, and part of the chest cavity including ribs. Although for breast MRIs the breasts are imaged while hanging down into recesses, radiologists view the images as though the breasts were pointing up for purposes of assessment.
Image by TheVisualMD
Fibrocystic Breast Changes
Video by CMcC Narratives/YouTube
What are the Symptoms of Fibrocystic Breast Changes?
Video by HCA West Florida/YouTube
Fibrocystic Breast Disease
Video by Roper St. Francis Healthcare/YouTube
Can fibrocystic breasts make cancer hard to detect?
Video by Piedmont Healthcare/YouTube
Fibrocystic Breast, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.
Video by Medical Centric/YouTube
Fibrous breast changes
Mekuix/Wikimedia
Fibrocystic change
Nephron
Breast MRI, sagittal (front-to-back) view, after breast-conserving tumor removal surgery
TheVisualMD
2:08
Fibrocystic Breast Changes
CMcC Narratives/YouTube
0:36
What are the Symptoms of Fibrocystic Breast Changes?
HCA West Florida/YouTube
1:31
Fibrocystic Breast Disease
Roper St. Francis Healthcare/YouTube
2:18
Can fibrocystic breasts make cancer hard to detect?
Piedmont Healthcare/YouTube
3:29
Fibrocystic Breast, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.
A fluid-filled sac that forms in the breast that is sometimes filled with a mix of fluid and solid material. Breast cysts may occur in one or both breasts, and there may be more than one. Most cysts feel like a round or oval lump with a smooth, well-defined border that moves easily under the skin of the breast. But some cysts are too small to be felt. Symptoms may include pain or tenderness in the breast, especially around the time of a menstrual period, or a clear or cloudy fluid discharge from the nipple. Most breast cysts are not cancer and do not increase the risk of breast cancer. They can occur at any age but are most common in premenopausal women and in women taking hormone therapy for menopause.
Mammography revealing various breast conditions and diseases
These images are examples of breast changes that may be seen on a mammogram. A normal mammogram picture is shown in the first image. A breast cancer picture is shown in the last image.
Image by National Cancer Institute
Breast Cancer | Is It Cancer or a Cyst? | Woman's Hospital
Video by WomansHospitalBR/YouTube
What are Breast Cysts? (Fluid-filled Sac in Breast)
Video by healthery/YouTube
What Are Breast Cysts?
Video by Breast Cancer Answers®/YouTube
Can fibrocystic breasts make cancer hard to detect?
Video by Piedmont Healthcare/YouTube
Deciphering a Breast Cyst vs. Tumor - Dr. Falguni Patel - Mercy
Video by Mercy Medical Center - Baltimore/YouTube
"Breast Lumps: When to Worry" (10/3/22)
Video by BAYSTATEHEALTH/YouTube
If I have cysts, does that mean I will develop breast cancer? | Norton Cancer Institute
Video by Norton Healthcare/YouTube
Breast Cysts - Animated Atlas of Breast and Gastric Cancer
Breast cysts are bubbles of fluid in the breast. They are like blisters. Breast cysts are benign (not cancer). They are common in females aged 35 to 50 years. They are also common in females taking hormone replacement therapy.
Source: healthdirect.gov.au
Additional Materials (1)
Ultrasound images of breast cyst
Medical ultrasound image.
Image by Nevit Dilmen (talk)/Wikimedia
Ultrasound images of breast cyst
Nevit Dilmen (talk)/Wikimedia
Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS)
Ductal Carcinoma In Situ / Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Brown Skin
Ductal Carcinoma In Situ / Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Brown Skin
Ductal Carcinoma in Situ
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS); drawing shows a lobe, ducts, and fatty tissue in a cross section of the breast. The inset shows a normal duct and a duct with abnormal cells.
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Abnormal cells are found in the lining of a breast duct.
The most common type of breast cancer. It begins in the lining of the milk ducts (thin tubes that carry milk from the lobules of the breast to the nipple). Ductal carcinoma may be either ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or invasive ductal carcinoma. DCIS is a noninvasive condition in which abnormal cells are found in the lining of a breast duct and have not spread outside the duct to other tissues in the breast. In some cases, DCIS may become invasive cancer. In invasive ductal carcinoma, cancer has spread outside the breast duct to surrounding normal tissue. It can also spread through the blood and lymph systems to other parts of the body.
Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS)
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a noninvasive breast condition in which abnormal cells are found inside the breast duct but have not spread outside it. DCIS is also called intraductal breast carcinoma or stage 0 breast carcinoma in situ. Although the cells are abnormal, they are not considered cancer because they do not have the ability to break through the duct wall or spread in the body, which is the definition of cancer. DCIS may sometimes become invasive breast cancer and spread to other tissues.
Doctors diagnose some cases of DCIS as being at lower risk of becoming invasive than others. However, since doctors don’t currently know for sure which cases of DCIS will become invasive cancer and which ones won’t, DCIS is almost always treated. Because research is ongoing and you have choices about treatment, it may be helpful to get a second opinion, discuss your treatment options with more than one doctor, and learn about clinical trials for DCIS.
Source: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Additional Materials (33)
Lobules and ducts of the breast
Lobules and lactiferous ducts of the breast.
Image by Mikael Häggström, M.D. Author info - Reusing images- Conflicts of interest: None
Mikael Häggström, M.D./Wikimedia
Diagram showing lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
Diagram showing lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS).
Image by Cancer Research UK / Wikimedia Commons
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Ductal carcinoma in situ
Diagram showing ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
Image by Cancer Research UK / Wikimedia Commons
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Ductal Carcinoma in situ
Title: Anatomy: Breast Cancer, Ductal Carcinoma in Situ. Description: Breast duct: Shown is a drawing of a breast duct containing ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).
Image by Don Bliss (artist) National Cancer Institute / NIH
Side view of the breast
Diagram showing the side view of the breast.
Image by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Anatomy of the breast
Inside the breast
Image by NCI NIH
Front view of the breast
Diagram showing the front view of the breast.
Image by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Mammogram microcalcifications in carcinoma in situ, MLO, details
Mammogram microcalcifications in ductal carcinoma in situ, MLO. Details.
Image by Jmarchn/Wikimedia
Mammogram microcalcifications in carcinoma in situ, CC, details
Mammogram microcalcifications in ductal carcinoma in situ, CC
Image by Jmarchn/Wikimedia
Treatment Options for DCIS or Non-Invasive Breast Cancer (Stage 0)
Video by Yerbba – Breast Cancer/YouTube
DCIS Breast Cancer: Learn What You Need To Know
Video by Breast Cancer School for Patients/YouTube
I Was Diagnosed With DCIS What Does That Mean?
Video by Cleveland Clinic/YouTube
Post Lumpectomy DCIS Probability, Can DCIS Return After A Lumpectomy?
Video by Breast Cancer Answers®/YouTube
DCIS (Stage 0) Breast Cancer and the Oncotype DX DCIS Score
Video by Oncotype IQ/YouTube
What is DCIS Breast Cancer?
Video by Breast Cancer Answers®/YouTube
How Serious is DCIS Breast Cancer?
Video by Breast Cancer Answers®/YouTube
High-Grade DCIS, What Is It? -Dr. Jay Harness
Video by Breast Cancer Answers®/YouTube
Distinguishing DCIS from invasive breast cancers | Dr. VK Gadi
Video by Seattle Cancer Care Alliance/YouTube
The DCIS Dilemma
Video by Lee Health/YouTube
DCIS
Video by Dr. Susan Love Foundation/YouTube
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of the Breast (Brown Skin)
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS); drawing shows a lobe, ducts, and fatty tissue in a cross section of the breast. The inset shows a normal duct and a duct with abnormal cells.
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Abnormal cells are found in the lining of a breast duct.
DCIS - A Pathologist's Perspective | 2023 Ductal Carcinoma In Situ Patient Forum
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/YouTube
3:43
Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) explained
Breast Cancer Network Australia/YouTube
6:07
What is Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS)?
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/YouTube
9:05
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): Mayo Clinic Radio
Mayo Clinic/YouTube
0:34
Unanswered questions in DCIS progression
VJOncology/YouTube
1:51
AI in the Diagnosis of Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS)
Mayo Proceedings/YouTube
1:15
Common Types of Breast Cancer - Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic/YouTube
7:27
Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) Treatment Options
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/YouTube
21:27
Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: Clinical trial for ductal carcinoma in situ vaccine
Mayo Clinic/YouTube
2:01
Differences Between DCIS and Invasive Breast Cancer
Hartford HealthCare/YouTube
10:42
Deescalating DCIS Experts Discuss New Data From SABCS
Medscape/YouTube
Gynecomastia
Gynecomastia
Image by David Andrew Copeland, Dr. Mordcai Blau
Gynecomastia
Adolescent with gynecomastia.
Image by David Andrew Copeland, Dr. Mordcai Blau
Gynecomastia
Enlargement of the breast in the males, caused by an excess of estrogen. Physiological gynecomastia is normally observed in newborns; adolescent; and aging males.
Source: National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)
Additional Materials (9)
Male with very severe gynecomastia.
Male with very severe gynecomastia.
Image by Own work
Gynecomastia
Gynecomastia Frontal Asym Severe : 22 year old patient before and after gynecomastia surgery (frontal view). The excision of the gland and the liposuction were both done through one small incision only in the bottom of each areola(as opposed to around the entire areola).This resulted in a smaller areola with a tiny incision. This patient was featured on The Learning Channel
Image by Dr. Mordcai Blau
Gynecomastia in Bodybuilder
Grade I gynecomastia in a bodybuilder. Corrected with a direct excision surgery protocol developed to minimize scarring
Image by David Andrew Copeland, Dr. Mordcai Blau http://gynecomastia-md.com/Wikimedia
Gynecomastia Documentary - Andrew's Journey - Austin Gynecomastia Center
Video by Westlake Plastic Surgery Center/YouTube
GYNECOMASTIA, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.
Video by Medical Centric/YouTube
Gynecomastia (Male breasts/'man boobs') | Healthy Male
Breastfeeding is hard. Getting mastitis makes it even harder
Image by StoryMD
Breastfeeding is hard. Getting mastitis makes it even harder
Mastitis is an inflammation or infection of the breast tissue, and it affects up to 1 out of 10 breastfeeding mamas.
Image by StoryMD
What Is Mastitis?
Every breastfeeding experience is different. Some mothers have small challenges that become bigger with time. It is important to be aware of breast changes because sometimes they are signs of a breastfeeding challenge that is about to become a bigger issue.
Mastitis is inflammation or swelling of the breast tissue that may or may not include a bacterial infection. Mastitis can occur anytime during lactation, but usually happens in the first six weeks of breastfeeding.
Source: Arizona Department of Health Services
Additional Materials (5)
Mastitis
Mastitis is an inflammation or infection of the breast tissue, and it affects up to 1 out of 10 breastfeeding mamas.
Image by StoryMD
Mastitis: Recognition and Treatment
Video by WSU Spokane/YouTube
Causes of Mastitis
Video by AllHealthGo/YouTube
Mastitis & New Moms
Video by Lee Health/YouTube
Mastitis
Video by Learning in 10/YouTube
Mastitis
StoryMD
19:38
Mastitis: Recognition and Treatment
WSU Spokane/YouTube
2:26
Causes of Mastitis
AllHealthGo/YouTube
1:54
Mastitis & New Moms
Lee Health/YouTube
6:16
Mastitis
Learning in 10/YouTube
What Is Mastitis?
Mastitis
Image by FritziHausen/Wikimedia
Mastitis
Mastitis and spread of infection tracked by hospital staff
Image by FritziHausen/Wikimedia
Breastfeeding Challenge: Breast Infection (Mastitis)
Mastitis (mast-EYE-tiss) is soreness or a lump in the breast. It can cause symptoms such as:
Fever and/or flu-like symptoms, such as feeling run down or very achy
Nausea
Vomiting
Yellowish discharge from the nipple that looks like colostrum
Breasts that feel warm or hot to the touch and appear pink or red
A breast infection can happen when other family members have a cold or the flu. It usually happens in only one breast. It is not always easy to tell the difference between a breast infection and a plugged duct, because both have similar symptoms and can get better within 24 to 48 hours. Some breast infections that do not get better on their own need to be treated with prescription medicine from a doctor.
What you can do
Breastfeed on the infected side every two hours or more often. This will keep the milk moving freely and your breast from becoming too full.
Massage the area, starting behind the sore spot. Move your fingers in a circular motion and massage toward the nipple.
Apply heat to the sore area with a warm, wet cloth.
Rely on others to help you get extra sleep, or relax with your feet up to help speed healing. Often a breast infection is a sign that you are doing too much and becoming overly tired.
Wear a well-fitting, supportive bra that is not too tight, since a tight bra can constrict milk ducts.
Ask your doctor for help if you do not feel better within 24 hours of trying these tips, if you have a fever, or if your symptoms get worse. You might need medicine. See your doctor right away if:
You have a breast infection in which both breasts look affected
There is pus or blood in your breastmilk
You have red streaks near the affected area of the breast
Your symptoms came on severely and suddenly
Source: Office on Women's Health in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Additional Materials (10)
Mastitis in breast
Breast with mastitis
Image by JayneLut/Wikimedia
Sensitive content
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Female Breast Revealing Mammary Tissue and Gland
Medical visualization of an anteriolateral view of healthy breast tissue. The most common type of breast cancer is infiltrating ductal carcinoma (over 70%) which begins in the lining of the ducts, followed by inflitrating lobular carcinoma (over 10%) which orginates in the lobules, medullary carcinoma, tubular carcinoma, mucinous carcinoma, and inflammatory breast cancer. Breast cancer affects approximately one in 93 women by the age of 45, and over the course of a lifetime one in eight women will be diagnosed with the disease. Early detection is critical - survival rates for those diagnosed at early stages is greater than 90 percent. Annual mammograms are recommended for women over 40, as are regular self-exams and clinical exams for all women. Women with a family history of breast cancer, especially premenopausal occurrence, as well as those who test positive for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, are at a higher lifetime risk for developing breast cancer and should start detection screening earlier. Men comprise one percent of breast cancer patients. 1 of 2.
Image by TheVisualMD
21 Mastitis
Video by Intermountain Healthcare/YouTube
Your breastfeeding questions: What is mastitis?
Video by Nestlé/YouTube
Common Breast Complications during Lactation
Video by SickKidsInteractive/YouTube
Mastitis & New Moms
Video by Lee Health/YouTube
What's the difference between a clogged milk duct and mastitis?
Video by IntermountainMoms/YouTube
Husband Nurses Away Mom’s Mastitis
Video by The Doctors/YouTube
Mastitis (Breast Infection)
Mastitis occurs in about 10% of mothers who breastfeed.
Document by publichealth.lacounty.gov
Mastitis
Mastitis is inflammation or swelling of the breast tissue that may or may not include a bacterial
infection. Mastitis can occur anytime during lactation, but usually happens in the first six weeks of
breastfeeding.
Document by Arizona Department of Health Services
Mastitis in breast
JayneLut/Wikimedia
Sensitive content
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Female Breast Revealing Mammary Tissue and Gland
TheVisualMD
0:58
21 Mastitis
Intermountain Healthcare/YouTube
1:18
Your breastfeeding questions: What is mastitis?
Nestlé/YouTube
10:39
Common Breast Complications during Lactation
SickKidsInteractive/YouTube
1:54
Mastitis & New Moms
Lee Health/YouTube
1:56
What's the difference between a clogged milk duct and mastitis?
IntermountainMoms/YouTube
3:56
Husband Nurses Away Mom’s Mastitis
The Doctors/YouTube
Mastitis (Breast Infection)
publichealth.lacounty.gov
Mastitis
Arizona Department of Health Services
Anatomy of the Breast
Breast
Breast
Breast
Breast
Breast
Breast
Breast
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Breast Milk
Interactive by TheVisualMD
Breast
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Breast Milk
Breast Anatomy : Breast tissue is made up of a variety of cells and includes fat blood vessels lymph vessels ligaments and nerves. The mammary glands are made up of multiple lobes which are subdivided into smaller lobules. Each lobule contains 10-100 raspberry-shaped alveoli connected in a branching network to larger milk ducts. The alveoli are the site of milk production and consist of clusters of specialized cells called lactocytes. Components are breast milk including proteins carbohydrates and milk fat globules are absorbed from the mother's blood stream and packaged in these lactocytes to become part of her breast milk.
Interactive by TheVisualMD
Anatomy of the Breast
Whereas the breasts are located far from the other female reproductive organs, they are considered accessory organs of the female reproductive system. The function of the breasts is to supply milk to an infant in a process called lactation. The external features of the breast include a nipple surrounded by a pigmented areola, whose coloration may deepen during pregnancy. The areola is typically circular and can vary in size from 25 to 100 mm in diameter. The areolar region is characterized by small, raised areolar glands that secrete lubricating fluid during lactation to protect the nipple from chafing. When a baby nurses, or draws milk from the breast, the entire areolar region is taken into the mouth.
Breast milk is produced by the mammary glands, which are modified sweat glands. The milk itself exits the breast through the nipple via 15 to 20 lactiferous ducts that open on the surface of the nipple. These lactiferous ducts each extend to a lactiferous sinus that connects to a glandular lobe within the breast itself that contains groups of milk-secreting cells in clusters called alveoli. The clusters can change in size depending on the amount of milk in the alveolar lumen. Once milk is made in the alveoli, stimulated myoepithelial cells that surround the alveoli contract to push the milk to the lactiferous sinuses. From here, the baby can draw milk through the lactiferous ducts by suckling. The lobes themselves are surrounded by fat tissue, which determines the size of the breast; breast size differs between individuals and does not affect the amount of milk produced. Supporting the breasts are multiple bands of connective tissue called suspensory ligaments that connect the breast tissue to the dermis of the overlying skin.
During the normal hormonal fluctuations in the menstrual cycle, breast tissue responds to changing levels of estrogen and progesterone, which can lead to swelling and breast tenderness in some individuals, especially during the secretory phase. If pregnancy occurs, the increase in hormones leads to further development of the mammary tissue and enlargement of the breasts.
Source: CNX OpenStax
Additional Materials (11)
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Breast Anatomy
Breast Anatomy; observe lobes, lobules, ducts, areola, nipple, fat, lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels.
Image by National Cancer Institute / Don Bliss (Illustrator)
Anatomy of the breast
Inside the breast
Image by NCI NIH
Side view of the breast
Diagram showing the side view of the breast.
Image by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Sensitive content
This media may include sensitive content
Female Breast with Exposed Internal Structure
The breast is made up of a variety of tissues and structures, including fat, blood vessels, lymph vessels, ligaments, and nerves. The mammary gland, which is embedded in the breast's fatty tissue, consists of lobes containing clusters of alveoli and a system of ducts to convey breast milk to the nipple.
Image by TheVisualMD
Front view of the breast
Diagram showing the front view of the breast.
Image by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Breast Anatomy - Mayo Clinic
Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube
Breast anatomy and lactation | Reproductive system physiology | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
Video by khanacademymedicine/YouTube
Breast Anatomy
Video by khanacademymedicine/YouTube
Breast Anatomy
Video by Covenant Health/YouTube
Human Physiology - Lactation
Video by Janux/YouTube
The Marvel of the Breast
The breast is a mass of glandular, fatty, and fibrous tissues positioned over the pectoral muscles of the chest wall. Each breast contains several milk glands with ducts that carry milk to the nipples.
Image by TheVisualMD
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Breast Anatomy
National Cancer Institute / Don Bliss (Illustrator)
Anatomy of the breast
NCI NIH
Side view of the breast
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Sensitive content
This media may include sensitive content
Female Breast with Exposed Internal Structure
TheVisualMD
Front view of the breast
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
0:57
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Dense Breasts: Answers to Commonly Asked Questions
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Breast Density
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Breast Density
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Dense Breasts: Answers to Commonly Asked Questions
What are dense breasts?
Breasts contain glandular tissue, fibrous connective tissue, and fatty breast tissue. Breast density is a term that describes the relative amount of these different types of breast tissue as seen on a mammogram. Dense breasts have relatively high amounts of glandular tissue and fibrous connective tissue and relatively low amounts of fatty breast tissue.
Are dense breasts common?
Yes, dense breasts are common. Nearly half of all women who are 40 and older who get mammograms are found to have dense breasts.
What factors influence breast density
Breast density is often inherited, but other factors can influence it.
Factors associated with higher breast density include using menopausal hormone therapy and having a low body mass index.
Factors associated with lower breast density include increasing age and having children.
How do I know if I have dense breasts?
Dense breast tissue cannot be felt by a woman, such as during a breast self-exam, or by her doctor during a clinical breast exam. Only a radiologist looking at a mammogram can tell if a woman has dense breasts. Dense breasts are sometimes called mammographically dense breasts.
How is breast density categorized in a mammogram report?
Doctors use the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) to classify breast density. This system, developed by the American College of Radiology, helps doctors interpret and report back mammogram findings. Doctors who review mammograms are called radiologists. BI-RADS classifies breast density into four categories:
Entirely fatty breast tissue: There is almost all fatty breast tissue. It is found in about 10% of women.
Scattered fibroglandular breast tissue: There is mostly fatty tissue with some areas of dense glandular and fibrous connective tissue. It is found in about 40% of women.
Heterogeneously dense breast tissue: There are many areas of dense glandular and fibrous connective tissue, with some areas of fatty tissue. It is found in about 40% of women
Extremely dense breast tissue: There is almost all dense glandular and fibrous connective tissue. It is found in about 10% of women.
If your mammogram report letter says you have dense breasts, it means that you have either heterogeneously dense breast tissue or extremely dense breast tissue.
Does having dense breast tissue affect a mammogram?
Dense breasts can make a mammogram more difficult to interpret. That's because dense breast tissue and some abnormal breast changes, such as calcifications and tumors, both appear as white areas in the mammogram, whereas fatty tissue appears as dark areas.
As a result, mammography is less sensitive in women with dense breasts—that is, it is more likely to miss cancer. Women with dense breasts may be called back for follow-up testing more often than women with fatty breasts.
Are dense breasts a risk factor for breast cancer?
Dense breasts are not considered an abnormal breast condition or a disease. However, dense breasts are a risk factor for breast cancer. That is, women with dense breasts have a higher risk of breast cancer than women with fatty breasts. This risk is separate from the effect of dense breasts on the ability to read a mammogram.
In most states, mammography providers are required to inform women if they have dense breasts.
Should women with dense breasts have additional screening for breast cancer?
The value of additional, or supplemental, imaging tests such as ultrasound or MRI to screen for breast cancer in women with dense breasts is not yet clear, according to the Recommendation Statement on Breast Cancer Screening by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). Talk with your doctor or nurse to learn what is recommended for you, based on your personal medical history and family medical history.
Are breast cancer patients with dense breasts more likely to die from breast cancer?
No. Research has found that breast cancer patients who have dense breasts are no more likely to die from breast cancer than breast cancer patients who have fatty breasts, after accounting for other health factors and tumor characteristics.
Questions to consider asking your doctor or nurse
Ask these questions to get information that’s specific to you, based on your personal medical history:
What are the dense breast-related findings in my recent mammogram?
Do you recommend additional screening or diagnostic tests for me?
What is my overall personal risk of breast cancer, given my risk and protective factors?
Are there clinical trials for women with dense breasts?
Yes, there are ongoing and completed clinical trials related to dense breasts that are studying better ways to detect breast cancer in women with dense breasts.
What are researchers studying about the relationship between breast density and breast cancer?
Here are some questions that researchers are working to answer:
Can imaging tests such as 3-D mammography, MRI, ultrasound, or other imaging procedures help provide a clearer picture of breast density?
Are there certain patterns or areas of dense breast tissue that are particularly “risky”?
Why do some women with dense breasts develop breast cancer, whereas others do not?
What biologic mechanisms explain the association between high breast density and increased breast cancer risk?
Can biomarkers be identified that may help predict whether breast cancer will develop in a woman with dense breasts?
Are changes in breast density over time associated with changes in breast cancer risk?
Can women reduce their breast density, and potentially their risk of developing or dying from breast cancer, by taking medicines or by applying topical agents on their breasts?
Source: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Additional Materials (2)
What Are Dense Breasts? | FAQ with Dr. Kelly Myers
Video by Johns Hopkins Medicine/YouTube
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Dense Breasts and Cancer
Among U.S. women age 40-74, 40% to 50% have dense breasts. Women with dense breasts have a higher risk of breast cancer.
Image by National Cancer Institute (NCI)
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What Are Dense Breasts? | FAQ with Dr. Kelly Myers