Types of Cancer

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Breast cancer is the most common cancer in all U.S. women, and the second-leading cause of cancer death.

At this time there are over 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. (This includes women still being treated and those who have completed treatment.) And Martha Jefferson's five-year survival rate for breast cancer is superior to state and national averages.

As women age, their risk for breast cancer increases. Almost 80% of women diagnosed with breast cancer are older than age 50 when they are diagnosed. In women ages 35 to 54, the death rate from breast cancer is nearly as high as the death rate from heart disease.

The lifetime risk—between birth and age 75—of getting breast cancer is approximately 1 in 8; however, the lifetime risk of dying from breast cancer is much lower, at 1 in 35.

Signs and Symptoms
A new lump or mass is the most common sign of breast cancer. Usually these masses are painless and hard with irregular edges, but they may also be tender, soft or rounded.

Other possible signs of breast cancer may include:

  • breast swelling
  • skin irritation
  • pain in the breast or nipple
  • retraction (turning inward) of the nipple
  • changes of the nipple or breast skin
  • a discharge other than breast milk

How is it diagnosed?
A monthly breast self-exam and annual breast checkup are key, especially for those over 40. An annual mammogram—a breast x-ray that can detect cancerous tumors early—increases the cancer survival rate by 30%. Your healthcare provider can help you assess your individual risk based on your family history, dietary, drinking and smoking habits and other factors.

Other tests used in diagnosis may include additional imaging tests to evaluate the disease such as MRI and breast ultrasound or biopsies of any masses that may have been found.

How is it treated?
At Martha Jefferson Hospital, we know that everyone is unique, and we treat each person's illness as such. What may work for one person may not work for you. Your treatment will be tailored to your needs, and may include the following:

  • Medical treatments, such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy or immunotherapy
  • Surgery, such as lumpectomy or mastectomy
  • Radiation therapy, including Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) or short-course Mammosite catheter breast brachytherapy
  • Clinical research trials for eligible patients

Where can I get more information?
You should be sure to ask your doctors for their assessment and recommendations for your particular disease. For more information online, we recommend the following websites:

American Cancer Society National Breast Cancer Coalition Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Y-ME National Breast Cancer Hotlines Young Survival Coalition BreastCancer.org