Overview
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK. Most women diagnosed with breast cancer are over 50, but younger women can also get breast cancer.
About 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. There's a good chance of recovery if it's detected in its early stages.
For this reason, it's vital that women check their breasts regularly for any changes and always get any changes examined by their GP.
In rare cases, men can also be diagnosed with breast cancer. Read about breast cancer in men.
Symptoms of breast cancer
Breast cancer can have several symptoms, but the first noticeable symptom is usually a lump or area of thickened breast tissue.
Most breast lumps are not cancerous, but it's always best to have them checked by a doctor.
You should also see your GP if you notice any of these symptoms:
- a change in the size or shape of one or both breasts
- discharge from either of your nipples, which may be streaked with blood
- a lump or swelling in either of your armpits
- dimpling on the skin of your breasts
- a rash on or around your nipple
- a change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast
Breast pain is not usually a symptom of breast cancer.
Causes of breast cancer
The exact causes of breast cancer are not fully understood. However, there are certain factors known to increase the risk of breast cancer.
These include:
- age – the risk increases as you get older
- a family history of breast cancer
- a previous diagnosis of breast cancer
- a previous non-cancerous (benign) breast lump
- being tall, overweight or obese
- drinking alcohol
Diagnosing breast cancer
After examining your breasts, a GP may refer you to a specialist breast cancer clinic for further tests. This might include breast screening (mammography) or taking a small sample of breast tissue to be examined under a microscopea biopsy.
Types of breast cancer
There are several different types of breast cancer, which develop in different parts of the breast.
Breast cancer is often divided into:
- non-invasive breast cancer (carcinoma in situ) – found in the ducts of the breast (ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS) which has not spread into the breast tissue surrounding the ducts. Non-invasive breast cancer is usually found during a mammogram and rarely shows as a breast lump.
- invasive breast cancer – where the cancer cells have spread through the lining of the ducts into the surrounding breast tissue. This is the most common type of breast cancer.
Other, less common types of breast cancer include:
It's possible for breast cancer to spread to other parts of the body, usually through the blood or the axillary lymph nodes. These are small lymphatic glands that filter bacteria and cells from the mammary gland.
If this happens, it's known as secondary, or metastatic, breast cancer.
Breast cancer screening
Mammographic screening, where X-ray images of the breast are taken, is the most commonly available way of finding a change in your breast tissue (lesion) at an early stage.
However, you should be aware that a mammogram might fail to detect some breast cancers.
It might also increase your chances of having extra tests and interventions, including surgery, even if you're not affected by breast cancer.
Women with a higher-than-average risk of developing breast cancer may be offered screening and genetic testing for the condition.
As the risk of breast cancer increases with age, all women who are 50 to 70 years old are invited for breast cancer screening every 3 years.
Women over the age of 70 are also entitled to screening and can arrange an appointment through Breast Test Wales.
The NHS is in the process of extending the programme as a trial, offering screening to some women aged 47 to 73.
Find out more about breast cancer screening.
Treating breast cancer
If cancer is detected at an early stage, it can be treated before it spreads to other parts of the body.
Breast cancer is treated using a combination of:
Surgery is usually the first type of treatment you'll have, followed by chemotherapy or radiotherapy or, in some cases, hormone or targeted treatments.
The type of surgery and the treatment you have afterwards will depend on the type of breast cancer you have. Your doctor should discuss the best treatment plan with you.
In a small proportion of women, breast cancer is discovered after it's spread to other parts of the body (metastatic breast cancer).
Secondary cancer, also called advanced or metastatic cancer, is not curable, so the aim of treatment is to relieve symptoms.
Living with breast cancer
Being diagnosed with breast cancer can affect daily life in many ways, depending on what stage it's at and the treatment you're having.
How people cope with their diagnosis and treatment varies from person to person. There are several forms of support available, if you need it.
Forms of support may include:
- family and friends, who can be a powerful support system
- communicating with other people in the same situation
- finding out as much as possible about your condition
- not trying to do too much or overexerting yourself
- making time for yourself
Preventing breast cancer
As the causes of breast cancer are not fully understood, at the moment it's not possible to know if it can be prevented.
If you have an increased risk of developing the condition, some treatments are available to reduce the risk.
Studies have looked at the link between breast cancer and diet. Although there are no definite conclusions, there are benefits for women who:
- maintain a healthy weight
- exercise regularly
- have a low intake of saturated fat
- do not drink alcohol
It's been suggested that regular exercise can reduce your risk of breast cancer by as much as a third. Regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle can also improve the outlook for people affected by breast cancer.
If you've been through the menopause, it's particularly important that you try to get to, and maintain, a healthy weight.
This is because being overweight or obese causes more oestrogen to be produced, which can increase the risk of breast cancer.
Who can get it
The causes of breast cancer are not fully understood, making it difficult to say why one woman may develop breast cancer and another may not.
However, there are risk factors known to affect your likelihood of developing breast cancer. Some of these you cannot do anything about, but there are some you can change.
Age
The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age. The condition is most common among women over 50 who have been through the menopause. About 8 out of 10 cases of breast cancer occur in women over 50.
All women who are 50 to 70 years of age should be screened for breast cancer every 3 years as part of the NHS Breast Screening Programme.
Women over the age of 70 are still eligible to be screened and can arrange this through Breast Test Wales.
Find out more about breast screening.
Family history
If you have close relatives who have had breast cancer or ovarian cancer, you may have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
However, because breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, it's possible for it to occur in more than one family member by chance.
Most cases of breast cancer do not run in families, but genes known as BRCA1 and BRCA2 can increase your risk of developing both breast and ovarian cancer. It's possible for these genes to be passed on from a parent to their child.
The genes TP53 and CHEK2, are also associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.
Speak to a GP if breast or ovarian cancer runs in your family and you're worried you may get it too. They may refer you for an NHS genetic test, which will tell you if you have inherited one of the cancer-risk genes.
Previous breast cancer or lump
If you have previously had breast cancer or early non-invasive cancer cell changes in breast ducts, you have a higher risk of developing it again, either in your other breast or in the same breast.
A benign breast lump does not mean you have breast cancer, but certain types of lump may slightly increase your risk of developing cancer.
Some benign changes in your breast tissue, such as cells growing abnormally in ducts (atypical ductal hyperplasia), or abnormal cells inside your breast lobes (lobular carcinoma in situ), can make getting breast cancer more likely.
Dense breast tissue
Your breasts are made up of thousands of tiny glands (lobules) that produce milk. This glandular tissue contains a higher concentration of breast cells than other breast tissue, making it denser.
Women with dense breast tissue may have a higher risk of developing breast cancer as there are more cells that can become cancerous.
Dense breast tissue can also make a breast scan (mammogram) difficult to read, as any lumps or areas of abnormal tissue are harder to spot.
Younger women tend to have denser breasts. As you get older, the amount of glandular tissue in your breasts decreases and is replaced by fat, so your breasts become less dense.
Hormones and hormone medicine
Exposure to oestrogen
The female hormone oestrogen can sometimes stimulate breast cancer cells and cause them to grow.
The ovaries, where your eggs are stored, begin to produce oestrogen when you start puberty, to regulate your periods.
Your risk of developing breast cancer may rise slightly with the amount of oestrogen your body is exposed to.
For example, if you started your periods at a young age and experienced the menopause later than average, you will have been exposed to oestrogen over a longer period of time.
In the same way, not having children or having children later in life may slightly increase your risk of developing breast cancer because your exposure to oestrogen is not interrupted by pregnancy.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
All types of HRT can increase the risk of breast cancer, except for vaginal oestrogen.
There is no increased risk of breast cancer if you take HRT for less than 1 year.
But if you take HRT for longer than 1 year, you have a higher risk of breast cancer than women who never use HRT.
The increased risk of breast cancer falls after you stop taking HRT, but some increased risk remains for more than 10 years compared to women who have never used HRT.
Contraceptive pill
Research has shown that women who use the contraceptive pill have a slightly increased risk of developing breast cancer.
However, the risk starts to decrease once you stop taking the pill, and your risk of breast cancer is back to normal 10 years after stopping.
The Cancer Research UK website has more information about the contraceptive pill and cancer risk.
Lifestyle factors
Being overweight or obese
If you've experienced the menopause and are overweight or obese, you may be more at risk of developing breast cancer.
This is thought to be linked to the amount of oestrogen in your body, as being overweight or obese after the menopause causes more oestrogen to be produced.
Alcohol
Drinking alcohol increases the risk of getting breast cancer.
People who drink even small amounts of alcohol on a regular basis have a greater risk of getting breast cancer than people who do not drink alcohol at all. The more alcohol you drink, the more your risk of getting breast cancer increases.
Radiation
Certain medical procedures that use radiation, such as X-rays and CT scans, may slightly increase your risk of developing breast cancer.
If you had radiotherapy to your chest area for Hodgkin lymphoma you should have already received a letter from the Department of Health and Social Care inviting you for a consultation with a specialist to discuss your increased risk of developing breast cancer.
See your GP if you were not contacted or if you did not attend a consultation. You're usually entitled to having your breast checked with an MRI scan.
If you currently need radiotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma, your specialist should discuss the risk of breast cancer before your treatment begins.
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Diagnosis
You may be diagnosed with breast cancer after routine breast screening, or you may have symptoms that you've seen your GP about.
Seeing your GP
See your GP as soon as possible if you notice any symptoms of breast cancer, such as an unusual lump in your breast or any change in the appearance, feel or shape of your breasts.
Your GP will examine you. If they think your symptoms need further assessment, they'll refer you to a specialist breast cancer clinic.
Read the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines on suspected cancer: recognition and referral.
Tests at the breast cancer clinic
If you have suspected breast cancer, either because of your symptoms or because your mammogram has shown an abnormality, you'll be referred to a specialist breast cancer clinic for further tests.
Mammogram and breast ultrasound
If you have symptoms and have been referred to a specialist breast unit by your GP, you'll probably be invited to have a mammogram, which is an X-ray of your breasts. You may also need an ultrasound scan.
If your cancer was detected through the NHS Breast Screening Programme, you may need another mammogram or ultrasound scan.
Your doctor may suggest that you only have a breast ultrasound scan if you're under the age of 35. This is because younger women have denser breasts, which means a mammogram isn't as effective as ultrasound in detecting cancer.
Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to produce an image of the inside of your breasts, showing any lumps or abnormalities.
Your breast specialist may also suggest a breast ultrasound if they need to know whether a lump in your breast is solid or contains liquid.
Biopsy
A biopsy is where a sample of tissue cells is taken from your breast and tested to see if it's cancerous.
You may also need a scan and a needle test on lymph nodes in your armpit (axilla) to see whether these are also affected.
Biopsies can be taken in different ways, and the type you have will depend on what your doctor knows about your condition.
Different methods of carrying out a biopsy are discussed below.
Needle aspiration may be used to test a sample of your breast cells for cancer or drain a small fluid-filled lump (benign cyst).
Your doctor will use a small needle to extract a sample of cells, without removing any tissue.
Needle biopsy is the most common type of biopsy. A sample of tissue is taken from a lump in your breast using a large needle.
You'll have a local anaesthetic, which means you'll be awake during the procedure, but your breast will be numb.
Your doctor may suggest that you have a guided needle biopsy, usually guided by ultrasound or X-ray, but sometimes MRI, to obtain a more precise and reliable diagnosis of cancer.
This also can distinguish it from any non-invasive change, particularly ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).
Vacuum-assisted biopsy, also known as mammotome biopsy, is another type of biopsy.
During the procedure, a needle is attached to a gentle suction tube, which helps to obtain the sample and clear any bleeding from the area.
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Further tests for breast cancer
If a diagnosis of breast cancer is confirmed, more tests will be needed to determine the stage and grade of the cancer, and work out the best method of treatment.
Scans and X-rays
Computerised tomography (CT) scans or chest X-ray and liver ultrasound scans may be needed to check whether the cancer has spread.
An MRI scan of the breast may be needed to clarify the results or assess the extent of the condition within the breast.
If your doctor thinks the cancer could have spread to your bones, you may need a bone scan.
Before having a bone scan, a substance containing a small amount of radiation known as an isotope will be injected into a vein in your arm.
This will be absorbed into your bone if it's been affected by cancer. The affected areas of bone will show up as highlighted areas on the bone scan, which is carried out using a special camera.
Tests to determine specific types of treatment
You'll also need tests that show whether the cancer will respond to specific types of treatment.
The results of these tests can give your doctors a more complete picture of the type of cancer you have and how to treat it.
In some cases, breast cancer cells can be stimulated to grow by hormones that occur naturally in your body, such as oestrogen and progesterone.
If this is the case, the cancer may be treated by stopping the effects of the hormones or by lowering the level of these hormones in your body. This is known as hormone therapy.
During a hormone receptor test, a sample of cancer cells will be taken from your breast and tested to see if they respond to either oestrogen or progesterone.
If the hormone is able to attach to the cancer cells using a hormone receptor, they're known as hormone-receptor positive.
While hormones can encourage the growth of some types of breast cancer, other types are stimulated by a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2).
These types of cancers can be diagnosed using a HER2 test and are treated with medicine that blocks the effects of HER2. This is known as targeted therapy.
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Stage and grade of breast cancer
Stage of breast cancer
When your breast cancer is diagnosed, the doctors will give it a stage. The stage describes the size of the cancer and how far it has spread, and helps to predict the outlook.
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is sometimes described as stage 0. Other stages of breast cancer describe invasive breast cancer:
- stage is – the tumour is "in situ" and there's no evidence of invasion (pre-invasive)
- stage 1 – the tumour measures less than 2cm and the lymph nodes in the armpit aren't affected; there are no signs that the cancer has spread elsewhere in the body
- stage 2 – the tumour measures 2-5cm, the lymph nodes in the armpit are affected, or both; there are no signs that the cancer has spread elsewhere in the body
- stage 3 – the tumour measures 2-5cm and may be attached to structures in the breast, such as skin or surrounding tissues, and the lymph nodes in the armpit are affected; there are no signs that the cancer has spread elsewhere in the body
- stage 4 – the tumour is of any size and the cancer has spread to other parts of the body (metastasis)
This is a simplified guide. Each stage is divided into further categories: A, B and C. If you're not sure what stage you have, ask your doctor.
TNM staging system
The TNM staging system may also be used to describe breast cancer, as it can provide accurate information about the diagnosis:
- T – the size of the tumour
- N – whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes
- M – whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body
Grade of breast cancer
The grade describes the appearance of the cancer cells.
- low grade (G1) – the cells, although abnormal, appear to be growing slowly
- medium grade (G2) – the cells look more abnormal than low-grade cells
- high grade (G3) – the cells look even more abnormal and are more likely to grow quickly
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Treatment
If you have cancer, you should be assigned a multidisciplinary team (MDT), a team of specialists who work together to provide the best treatment and care.
The main treatments for breast cancer are:
You may have one of these treatments, or a combination. The type or combination of treatments you have will depend on how the cancer was diagnosed and the stage it's at.
Breast cancer diagnosed at screening may be at an early stage, but breast cancer diagnosed when you have symptoms may be at a later stage and require a different treatment.
Your healthcare team will discuss with you which treatments are most suitable.
Choosing the right treatment for you
When deciding what treatment is best for you, your doctors will consider:
- the stage and grade of your cancer (how big it is and how far it's spread)
- your general health
- whether you have experienced the menopause
You should be able to discuss your treatment with your care team at any time and ask questions.
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Treatment overview
Surgery is usually the first type of treatment for breast cancer. The type of surgery you undergo will depend on the type of breast cancer you have.
Surgery is usually followed by chemotherapy or radiotherapy or, in some cases, hormone or biological treatments.
Again, the treatment you'll have will depend on the type of breast cancer.
Your doctor will discuss the most suitable treatment plan with you. Chemotherapy or hormone therapy will sometimes be the first treatment.
Secondary breast cancer
Most breast cancers are discovered in the condition's early stages. But a small proportion of women discover that they have breast cancer after it's spread to other parts of the body (metastasis).
If this is the case, the type of treatment you have may be different. Secondary cancer, also called "advanced" or "metastatic" cancer, isn't curable.
Treatment aims to achieve remission, where the cancer shrinks or disappears, and you feel normal and able to enjoy life to the full.
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Surgery
There are 2 main types of breast cancer surgery:
- breast-conserving surgery – the cancerous lump (tumour) is removed
- mastectomy – surgery to remove the whole breast
In many cases, a mastectomy can be followed by reconstructive surgery to try to recreate a replacement breast.
Studies have shown that breast-conserving surgery followed by radiotherapy is as successful as total mastectomy at treating early-stage breast cancer.
Breast-conserving surgery
Breast-conserving surgery ranges from a lumpectomy or wide local excision, where just the tumour and a little surrounding breast tissue is removed, to a partial mastectomy or quadrantectomy, where up to a quarter of the breast is removed.
If you have breast-conserving surgery, the amount of breast tissue you have removed will depend on:
- the type of cancer you have
- the size of the tumour and where it is in your breast
- the amount of surrounding tissue that needs to be removed
- the size of your breasts
Your surgeon will always remove an area of healthy breast tissue around the cancer, which will be tested for traces of cancer.
If there's no cancer present in the healthy tissue, there's less chance that the cancer will return.
If cancer cells are found in the surrounding tissue, more tissue may need to be removed from your breast.
After having breast-conserving surgery, you'll usually be offered radiotherapy to destroy any remaining cancer cells.
Mastectomy
A mastectomy is the removal of all the breast tissue, including the nipple.
If there are no obvious signs that the cancer has spread to your lymph nodes, you may have a mastectomy, where your breast is removed, along with a sentinel lymph node biopsy.
If the cancer has spread to your lymph nodes, you'll probably need more extensive removal (clearance) of lymph nodes from the axilla under your arm.
Reconstruction
Breast reconstruction is surgery to make a new breast shape that looks like your other breast as much as possible.
Reconstruction can be carried out at the same time as a mastectomy (immediate reconstruction), or it can be carried out later (delayed reconstruction).
It can be done either by inserting a breast implant or by using tissue from another part of your body to create a new breast.
Lymph node surgery
To find out if the cancer has spread, a procedure called a sentinel lymph node biopsy may be carried out.
The sentinel lymph nodes are the first lymph nodes that the cancer cells reach if they spread. They're part of the lymph nodes under the arm (axillary lymph nodes).
The position of the sentinel lymph nodes varies, so they're identified using a combination of a radioisotope and a blue dye.
The sentinel lymph nodes are examined in the laboratory to see if there are any cancer cells present. This provides a good indicator of whether the cancer has spread.
If there are cancer cells in the sentinel nodes, you may need further surgery to remove more lymph nodes from under the arm.
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Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy uses controlled doses of radiation to kill cancer cells. It's usually given after surgery and chemotherapy to kill any remaining cancer cells.
If you need radiotherapy, your treatment will begin about a month after your surgery or chemotherapy to give your body a chance to recover.
You'll probably have radiotherapy sessions 3 to 5 days a week, for 3 to 5 weeks. Each session will last a few minutes.
The types available are:
- breast radiotherapy – after breast-conserving surgery, radiation is applied to the whole of the remaining breast tissue
- chest wall radiotherapy – after a mastectomy, radiotherapy is applied to the chest wall
- breast boost – some women may be offered a boost of high-dose radiotherapy in the area where the cancer was removed; however, the boost may affect the appearance of the breast, particularly if you have large breasts, and can sometimes have other side effects, including hardening of the breast tissue (fibrosis)
- radiotherapy to the lymph nodes – where radiotherapy is aimed at the armpit (axilla) and the surrounding area to kill any cancer that may be present in the lymph nodes
The side effects of radiotherapy include:
- irritation and darkening of the skin on your breast, which may lead to sore, red, weepy skin
- extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- excess fluid build-up in your arm caused by blockage of the lymph nodes under your arm (lymphoedema)
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Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy involves using anti-cancer (cytotoxic) medication to kill the cancer cells.
It's usually used after surgery to destroy any cancer cells that haven't been removed. This is called adjuvant chemotherapy.
In some cases, you may have chemotherapy before surgery, which is often used to shrink a large tumour. This is called neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.
Several different medications are used for chemotherapy, and 3 are often given at once.
The choice of medication and the combination will depend on the type of breast cancer you have and how much it's spread.
Chemotherapy is usually given as an outpatient treatment, which means you won't have to stay in hospital overnight.
The medications are usually given through a drip straight into the blood through a vein.
In some cases, you may be given tablets that you can take at home. You may have chemotherapy sessions once every 2 to 3 weeks, over a period of 4 to 8 months, to give your body a rest in between treatments.
The main side effects of chemotherapy are caused by their influence on normal, healthy cells, such as immune cells.
Side effects include:
- infections
- loss of appetite
- nausea and vomiting
- tiredness
- hair loss
- sore mouth
Many side effects can be prevented or controlled with medicines that your doctor can prescribe.
Chemotherapy medication can also stop the production of oestrogen in your body, which is known to encourage the growth of some breast cancers.
If you haven't experienced the menopause, your periods may stop while you're undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
After you have finished the course of chemotherapy, your ovaries should start producing oestrogen again.
But this doesn't always happen and you may enter an early menopause. This is more likely in women over 40, as they're closer to menopausal age.
Your doctor will discuss the impact any treatment will have on your fertility with you.
Chemotherapy for secondary breast cancer
If your breast cancer has spread beyond the breast and lymph nodes to other parts of your body, chemotherapy won't cure the cancer, but it may shrink the tumour, relieve your symptoms and help lengthen your life.
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Hormone treatment
Some breast cancers are stimulated to grow by the hormones oestrogen or progesterone, which are found naturally in your body.
These types of cancer are known as hormone receptor-positive cancers. Hormone therapy works by lowering the levels of hormones in your body or by stopping their effects.
The type of hormone therapy you'll have will depend on the stage and grade of your cancer, which hormone it's sensitive to, your age, whether you have experienced the menopause, and what other type of treatment you're having.
You'll probably have hormone therapy after surgery and chemotherapy, but it's sometimes given before surgery to shrink a tumour, making it easier to remove.
Hormone therapy may be used as the only treatment for breast cancer if your general health prevents you having surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
In most cases, you'll need to take hormone therapy for up to 5 years after having surgery.
If your breast cancer isn't sensitive to hormones, hormone therapy will have no effect.
Tamoxifen
Tamoxifen stops oestrogen from binding to oestrogen-receptor-positive cancer cells. It's taken every day as a tablet or liquid.
It can cause several side effects, including:
- tiredness
- changes to your periods
- nausea and vomiting
- hot flushes
- aching joints
- headaches
- weight gain
Aromatase inhibitors
If you have experienced the menopause, you may be offered an aromatase inhibitor.
This type of medication works by blocking aromatase, a substance that helps produce oestrogen in the body after the menopause. Before the menopause, oestrogen is made by the ovaries.
Three aromatase inhibitors may be offered. These are anastrozole, exemestane and letrozole. These are taken as a tablet once a day.
Side effects include:
- hot flushes and sweats
- lack of interest in sex (loss of libido)
- nausea and vomiting
- tiredness
- aching joints and bone pain
- headaches
- skin rashes
Ovarian ablation or suppression
In women who haven't experienced the menopause, oestrogen is produced by the ovaries.
Ovarian ablation or suppression stops the ovaries working and producing oestrogen.
Ablation can be carried out using surgery or radiotherapy. It stops the ovaries working permanently and means you'll experience the menopause early.
Ovarian suppression involves using a medication called goserelin, which is a luteinising hormone-releasing hormone agonist (LHRHa).
Your periods will stop while you're taking it, although they should start again once your treatment is complete.
If you're approaching the menopause (around the age of 50), your periods may not start again after you stop taking goserelin.
Goserelin is taken as an injection once a month and can cause menopausal side effects, including:
- hot flushes and sweats
- mood swings
- trouble sleeping
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Biological therapy (targeted therapy)
Some breast cancers are stimulated to grow by a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). These cancers are called HER2-positive.
Biological therapy works by stopping the effects of HER2 and helping your immune system to fight off cancer cells.
If you have high levels of the HER2 protein and are able to have biological therapy, you'll probably be prescribed a medicine called trastuzumab.
Trastuzumab, also known by the brand name Herceptin, is usually used after chemotherapy.
Trastuzumab
Trastuzumab is a type of biological therapy known as a monoclonal antibody.
Antibodies occur naturally in your body and are made by your immune system to destroy harmful cells, such as viruses and bacteria.
The trastuzumab antibody targets and destroys cancer cells that are HER2-positive.
Trastuzumab is usually given intravenously, through a drip. It's also sometimes available as an injection under the skin (a subcutaneous injection).
You'll have the treatment in hospital. Each treatment session takes up to 1 hour, and the number of sessions you need will depend on whether you have early or more advanced breast cancer.
On average, you'll need a session once every 3 weeks for early breast cancer, and weekly sessions if your cancer is more advanced.
Trastuzumab can cause side effects, including heart problems. This means that it's not suitable if you have a heart problem, such as angina, uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension), or heart valve disease.
If you need to take trastuzumab, you'll have regular tests on your heart to make sure it's not causing any problems.
Other side effects of trastuzumab may include:
- an initial allergic reaction to the medication, which can cause nausea, wheezing, chills and fever
- diarrhoea
- tiredness
- aches and pains
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Bisphosphonates
If you have been through the menopause, you may be offered bisphosphonates (zoledronic acid or sodium clodronate).
Recent research has shown they may help to reduce the risk of breast cancer spreading to your bones and elsewhere in your body.
Bisphosphonates will probably be given to you at the same time as chemotherapy, either directly into a vein or as tablets.
Rarely, they can cause kidney problems and osteonecrosis of the jaw (when bone in the jaw dies).
Your doctor will explain the benefits and possible side effects before starting this treatment.
Psychological help
Dealing with cancer can be a huge challenge for both patients and their families. It can cause emotional and practical difficulties.
Many women have to cope with the removal of part or all of a breast, which can be very upsetting.
It often helps to talk about your feelings or other difficulties with a trained counsellor or therapist. You can ask for this kind of help at any stage of your illness.
There are various ways to find help and support. Your hospital doctor, specialist nurse or GP can refer you to a counsellor.
If you're feeling depressed, talk to your GP. A course of antidepressant drugs may help, or your GP can arrange for you to see a counsellor or psychotherapist.
It can help to talk to someone who's been through the same thing as you. Many organisations have helplines and online forums.
They can also put you in touch with other people who have had cancer treatment.
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Clinical trials
A great deal of progress has been made in breast cancer treatment, and more women now live longer and have fewer side effects from treatment.
These advances were discovered in clinical trials, where new treatments and treatment combinations are compared with standard ones.
All cancer trials in the UK are carefully overseen to ensure they're worthwhile and safely conducted.
In fact, participants in clinical trials can do better overall than those in routine care.
If you're asked to take part in a trial, you'll be given an information sheet and, if you want to take part, you'll be asked to sign a consent form.
You can refuse or withdraw from a clinical trial without it affecting your care.
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Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies are holistic therapies that can promote physical and emotional wellbeing.
They're given alongside conventional treatments and include:
- relaxation techniques
- massage
- aromatherapy
- acupuncture
Complementary therapy can help some women cope with diagnosis and treatment, and provide a break from the treatment plan.
Your hospital or breast unit may be able to provide access to complementary therapies or suggest where you can get them.
It's important to speak to your breast cancer specialist nurse about any complementary therapy you wish to use to make sure it doesn't interfere with your conventional treatment.
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Will the NHS fund an unlicensed medication?
It's possible for your doctor to prescribe a medication outside the uses it's licensed for if they're willing to take personal responsibility for this "off-licence" use of treatment.
Your local health board will need to be involved, as it would have to decide whether to support your doctor's decision and pay for the medication from NHS budgets.
Living with
Breast cancer can affect your daily life in different ways, depending on what stage it's at and the treatment you're receiving.
How women cope with their diagnosis and treatment varies from person to person, but there are several forms of support if you need it. Not all of them work for everybody, but one or more of them should help.
You could:
- talk to your friends and family – they can be a powerful support system
- communicate with other people in the same situation
- find out as much as possible about your condition
- avoid doing too much or overexerting yourself
- make time for yourself
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Recovery and follow-up
Recovery
Most women with breast cancer have an operation as part of their treatment. Getting back to normal after surgery can take some time. It's important to take things slowly and give yourself time to recover.
During this time, avoid lifting things – for example, children or heavy shopping bags – and avoid heavy housework. You may also be advised not to drive.
Some other treatments, particularly radiotherapy and chemotherapy, can make you very tired.
You may need to take a break from some of your normal activities for a while. Don't be afraid to ask for practical help from family and friends.
Follow-up
After your treatment has finished, you'll be invited for regular check-ups, usually every three months for the first year.
If you've had early breast cancer, your healthcare team will agree a care plan with you after your treatment has finished.
This plan contains the details of your follow-up. You'll receive a copy of the plan, which will also be sent to your GP.
During the check-up, your doctor will examine you and may carry out blood tests or X-rays to see how your cancer is responding to treatment.
You should also be offered a mammogram every year for the first five years after your treatment.
Long-term complications
Although it's rare, your treatment for breast cancer may cause new problems, such as:
- pain and stiffness in your arms and shoulders may occur after surgery, and the skin in these areas may be tight
- a build-up of excess lymph fluid that causes swelling (lymphoedema) – this may occur if surgery or radiotherapy damages the lymphatic drainage system in the armpit
Talk to your healthcare team if you experience these or any other long-term effects of treatment.
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Your body and breasts after treatment
Dealing with changes to your body
A diagnosis of breast cancer may change how you think about your body. All women react differently to the bodily changes that happen as a result of breast cancer treatment.
Some women react positively, but others find it more difficult to cope. It's important to give yourself time to come to terms with any changes to your body.
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Early menopause
Although most cases of breast cancer occur in women over 50 who have experienced the menopause, some younger women have to cope with an early menopause brought on by cancer treatment.
Symptoms can include:
- hot flushes
- vaginal dryness
- loss of sexual desire
Talk to your healthcare team about any symptoms you have and they'll be able to help.
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Prosthesis
An external breast prosthesis is an artificial breast, which can be worn inside your bra to replace the volume of the breast that's been removed.
Soon after a mastectomy, you'll be given a lightweight foam breast to wear until the area affected by surgery or radiotherapy has healed.
After it's healed, you'll be offered a silicone prosthesis. Prostheses come in many different shapes and sizes, and you should be able to find one that suits you.
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Reconstruction
If you didn't have immediate breast reconstruction carried out when you had a mastectomy, you can have reconstruction later. This is called a delayed reconstruction.
There are two main methods of breast reconstruction:
- reconstruction using your own tissue
- reconstruction using an implant
The type that's most suitable for you will depend on many factors, including the treatment you've had, any ongoing treatment, and the size of your breasts. Talk to your healthcare team about which reconstruction is suitable for you.
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Relationships and sex
Relationships with friends and family
It's not always easy to talk about cancer, either for you or your family and friends. You may sense that some people feel awkward around you or avoid you.
Being open about how you feel and what your family and friends can do to help may put them at ease. However, don't be afraid to tell them that you need some time to yourself if that's what you need.
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Your sex life
Breast cancer and its treatment can affect your sex life. It's common for women to lose interest in sex after breast cancer treatment.
Your treatment may leave you feeling very tired. You may feel shocked, confused or depressed about being diagnosed with cancer.
You may be upset by the changes to your body, or grieve the loss of your breasts or, in some cases, fertility.
It's understandable that you may not feel like having sex while coping with all this. Try to share your feelings with your partner.
If you have problems with sex that aren't getting better with time, you may want to speak to a counsellor or sex therapist.
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Money and financial support
If you have to reduce or stop work because of your cancer, you may find it difficult to cope financially.
If you have cancer or you're caring for someone with cancer, you may be entitled to financial support.
For example:
- if you have a job but can't work because of your illness, you're entitled to Statutory Sick Pay from your employer
- if you don't have a job and can't work because of your illness, you may be entitled to Employment and Support Allowance
- if you're caring for someone with cancer, you may be entitled to Carer's Allowance
- you may be eligible for other benefits if you have children living at home, or if you have a low household income
Find out what help is available to you as soon as possible. The social worker at your hospital will be able to give you the information you need.
Free prescriptions
People being treated for cancer are entitled to apply for an exemption certificate, giving them free prescriptions for all medication, including medicine for unrelated conditions.
The certificate is valid for five years, and you can apply for it through your GP or cancer specialist.
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Talk to other people
Your GP or nurse may be able to answer any questions you have about your cancer or treatment.
You may find it helpful to talk to a trained counsellor or psychologist, or someone at a specialist helpline. Your GP surgery will have information on these.
Some people find it helpful to talk to other people who have breast cancer, either at a local support group or on an internet chatroom.
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Prevention
As the causes of breast cancer aren't fully understood, it's not known if it can be prevented altogether.
Some treatments are available to reduce the risk in women who have a higher risk of developing the condition than the general population.
Diet and lifestyle
Regular exercise and a healthy, balanced diet are recommended for all women, as they can help prevent many conditions, including heart disease, diabetes and many forms of cancer.
Studies have looked at the link between breast cancer and diet, and although there are no definite conclusions, there are benefits for women who:
- maintain a healthy weight
- exercise regularly
- have a low intake of saturated fat
- do not drink alcohol
Use our body mass index (BMI) calculator to check if you're a healthy weight.
It's also been suggested that regular exercise can reduce your risk of developing breast cancer by almost as much as a third.
If you've been through the menopause, it's particularly important that you're not overweight or obese. This is because being overweight causes more oestrogen to be produced by your body, which can increase your risk of some types of breast cancer.
Breastfeeding
Studies have shown women who breastfeed are statistically less likely to develop breast cancer than those who do not.
The reasons are not fully understood, but it could be because women do not ovulate as regularly while they're breastfeeding and oestrogen levels remain stable.
Treatments to reduce your risk
Your level of risk is determined by factors such as your age, your family's medical history, and the results of genetic tests.
If you have an increased risk of developing breast cancer, treatment is available to reduce your risk.
You'll usually be referredfor specialist genetic testing if it's thought you have an increased risk of breast cancer. Healthcare professionals working at these services should discuss treatment options with you.
The 2 main treatments are surgery to remove the breasts (mastectomy) or medicine.
Mastectomy
A mastectomy is surgery to remove the breasts. It can be used to treat breast cancer, and can reduce the chances of developing the condition in the small number of women who have a high risk.
By removing as much breast tissue as possible, a mastectomy can reduce your risk of breast cancer by up to 90%.
However, like all operations, there's a risk of complications, and having your breasts removed can have a significant effect on your body image and sexual relationships.
If you want to, you can usually choose to have a breast reconstruction either during the mastectomy operation, or at a later date.
During breast reconstruction surgery, your original breast shape is recreated using either breast implants or tissue from elsewhere in your body.
An alternative is to use breast prostheses. These are artificial breasts that can be worn inside your bra.
An alternative to mastectomy is a nipple-sparing mastectomy, where the whole mammary gland is removed, but the skin envelope is preserved. This isn't widely available at the moment, but it's being used more often and can achieve excellent results.
Medicine
There are 3 medicines available on the NHS for women who have an increased risk of breast cancer:
- tamoxifen – for women who either have or have not been through the menopause
- anastrozole – for women who have been through the menopause
- raloxifene – for women who have been through the menopause
These medicines are usually taken once a day for 5 years. They can reduce your risk of breast cancer while you're taking them and possibly for several years afterwards.
Side effects of these medicines can include:
- hot flushes
- sweating
- feeling sick
- tiredness
- leg cramps
There's also a small risk of more serious problems, such as weak bones (osteoporosis), blood clots or womb cancer.
If your doctor suggests taking medicine to reduce your risk of breast cancer, ask them about the benefits and risks of each medicine.
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