Some breast cancers are sensitive to hormones such as estrogen and/or progestero

ne , which makes it possible to treat them by blocking the effects of these horm
ones. Worldwide, breast cancer comprises 22.9% of all cancers (excluding non-mel
anoma skin cancer s) in women. 2008, breast cancer caused 458,503 deaths worldwi
de (13.7% of cancer deaths in women).
Breast cancer is more than 100 times more common in women than in men , although
men tend to have poorer outcomes due to delays in diagnosis.
Prognosis and survival rates for breast cancer vary greatly depending on the can
cer type, stage, treatment, and geographical location of the patient. Survival r
ates in the Western world are high; for example, more than 8 out of 10 women (84
%) in England diagnosed with breast cancer survive for at least 5 years.
In developing countries, however, survival rates are much poorer.
Breast cancer Signs and symptoms
The first noticeable symptom of breast cancer is typically a lump that feels dif
ferent from the rest of the breast tissue. More than 80% of breast cancer cases
are discovered when the woman feels a lump.
The earliest breast cancers are detected by a mammogram.
Lumps found in lymph nodes located in the armpits can also indicate breast cance
r.
Indications of breast cancer other than a lump may include thickening different
from the other breast tissue, one breast becoming larger or lower, a nipple chan
ging position or shape or becoming inverted, skin puckering or dimpling, a rash
on or around a nipple, discharge from nipple/s, constant pain in part of the bre
ast or armpit, and swelling beneath the armpit or around the collarbone.
Pain ( mastodynia ) is an unreliable tool in determining the presence or absence o
f breast cancer, but may be indicative of other breast health issues.