Breast cancer is a common disease. Each year, approximately 200,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer, and one in nine American women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in breast tissues. Each breast has 15 to 20 sections called lobes, which have many smaller sections called lobules. Breast cancer is 100 times more common in women than in men. Most cases of male breast cancer are detected in men between the ages of 60 and 70, although the condition can develop in men of any age.

Breast cancer is not only a serious physical disease, but it is often an emotionally draining disease as well. Issues regarding sexuality (especially if a mastectomy has been performed) often surround breast cancer. Breast cancer is identified by different names, depending on where it starts in the woman's breast. A woman's breast is made up of breast tissue, blood vessels, nerves, ducts, lobes and lobules. Breast cancer is highly detectable through mammography screening. The earlier it is discovered, the greater it is for a woman to survive the disease. It is recommended that women over 40 years of age receive yearly mammograms.

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women, although men get breast cancer too. Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast. It is considered a heterogeneous disease, meaning that it is a different disease in different women, a different disease in different age groups and has different cell populations within the tumor itself. Breast cancer is diagnosed by the examination of surgically removed breast tissue. A number of procedures can obtain tissue or cells prior to definitive treatment for histological or cytological examination. There are two types of surgery to remove the malignant tumor. Lumpectomy is the removal of the tumor and part of the surrounding breast tissue. Second type of surgery is a mastectomy which is the removal of the entire breast and breast tissue.

Breast cancer is a disease in which certain cells in the breast become abnormal and multiply without control or order to form a tumor. The most common form of breast cancer begins in cells lining the ducts that carry milk to the nipple (ductal cancer). Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among American women, with over 200,000 new cases a year and about 46,000 annual deaths. Breast cancer can also occur in men, but the numbers are much less than in women. It is very important for women to perform monthly self breast examination. If a woman feels any lumps or anything abnormal in her breast, she must see a doctor immediately.