Many women with breast cancer have no symptoms. That’s why regular breast cancer screening is so important. This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, act now with one of the most important ways to find breast cancer early: get a mammogram.
How breast cancer starts
Breast cancer occurs almost entirely in women, but men can get breast cancer, too.
Cancer starts when cells begin to grow out of control. (To learn more about how cancers start and spread, see What Is Cancer?)
It’s important to understand that most breast lumps are benign and not cancer (malignant). Non-cancer breast tumors are abnormal growths, but they do not spread outside of the breast. They are not life threatening, but some types of benign breast lumps can increase a woman’s risk of getting breast cancer.
Any breast lump or change needs to be checked by a health care professional to find out if it is benign or malignant (cancer) and if it might affect your future cancer risk. See Non-cancerous Breast Conditions to learn more.