What Is Breast Cancer?

Next to skin cancer, breast cancer is the most-commonly diagnosed cancer in women in the United States.

Breast cancer is cancer that begins with the formation of a malignant tumor in the breast.
A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that can grow into nearby tissues or spread (metastasize) to other areas of the body.

Prevalence

After skin cancer, breast cancer is the most-commonly diagnosed cancer in women in the United States.
One in eight women will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

The ACS also reports that breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, with lung cancer being the first.

Male Breast Cancer

While breast cancer almost entirely affects women, it can also occur in men.

In fact, the National Cancer Institute reports that there about 2,300 new cases of breast cancer in men each year in the United States, compared with about 230,000 new cases in women.

Male breast cancer makes up less than 1 percent of all cases of breast cancer, and men of any age can develop the disease. However, it’s usually found in men between 60 and 70 years old.

Breast cancer in men is sometimes caused by inherited genetic mutations. Other risk factors include radiation exposure, high levels of estrogen, and a family history of the disease.

Talk to a Medical Professional

If you are wanting to learn more about the signs and your risk of breast cancer, schedule your appointment with Integra Urgent Care today. Our highly knowledgeable medical staff are well equipped to answer your questions. If it is an emergency situation, as always, you should call 911 or your local emergency services.

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