Breast Cancer
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Breast Cancer Treatment Plan
Breast cancer is a group of diseases that affects breast tissue. Both women and men can get breast cancer, though it is much more common in women. Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States. Some women are at higher risk for breast cancer than others because of their personal or family medical history or because of certain changes in their genes.
Getting mammograms regularly can lower the risk of dying from breast cancer. The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends that average-risk women who are 50 to 74 years old should have a screening mammogram every two years. Average-risk women who are 40 to 49 years old should talk to their doctor about when to start and how often to get a screening mammogram.
Mammograms are covered by most health insurance programs. You can get a screening mammogram without any out-of-pocket costs. If you are worried about the cost or don’t have health insurance, CDC offers free or low-cost mammograms and education about breast cancer. Find out if you qualify.
Next: Basic Information
CDC’s Latest Research
- Differences in breast cancer incidence among young women aged 20–49 years by stage and tumor characteristics, age, race, and ethnicity, 2004–2013
- Communicating with daughters about familial risk of breast cancer: individual, family, and provider influences on women’s knowledge of cancer risk
- Mammography use among women aged 18–39 years in the United States
Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy
Many women who have a mastectomy (surgery to remove an entire breast to treat or prevent breast cancer) have the option of having the shape of the removed breast rebuilt. Learn more.
Featured Resources
Our “Breast Cancer: What You Need to Know” fact sheet [PDF-234KB] lists risk factors, symptoms, and screening recommendations.
“The key is getting the right treatment for the right woman at the right time,” says Dr. Miller in this blog post.
The Know:BRCA tool can help you learn about BRCA genes and assess your risk of having a change in your BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.
Share our new breast cancer images on your Web site, social network profile, or blog!
“Because of my family history, I’m at high risk.” Breast cancer survivor Pam shares her story in this podcast.
This article about breast cancer [PDF-87KB] is free to use in any publication.
- Page last reviewed: February 20, 2018
- Page last updated: February 20, 2018
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