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Whether you’ve just been diagnosed, or your friend or loved one has received a diagnosis, going through breast cancer can be a worrying, overwhelming time, with a lot of information to process. We’re here to help break down important information about breast cancer and provide the important information you need to understand your diagnosis, including where to access support for yourself or your loved ones.
Our team is here to listen and support you.
Breast cancer can be invasive (meaning the cancer has spread from the breast ducts or lobules into surrounding breast tissue) or non-invasive, but most of the time breast cancers are found when they are invasive. Invasive breast cancer can be categorised as either early, locally advanced or advanced (metastatic).
The main types of invasive breast cancer are:
The main types of non-invasive breast cancers are:
There are a number of lifestyle, medical and genetic factors that can increase your risk of breast cancer, but it’s important to remember even if you have more than one risk factor, it does not mean you will go on to develop the disease.
Risk factors for developing breast cancer can include:
Sometimes, the first sign of breast cancer is when it is found on a routine mammogram, which is a breast cancer screening tool that uses a low-dose x-ray of the breast. There mightn’t have been any symptoms beforehand.
If you do notice symptoms, these might include:
If you’re concerned about any of these symptoms, it’s important to see your GP for a full examination. If you have noticed visible breast changes over time, taking pictures to show your doctor could also be helpful. Usually, they’ll take a thorough family history, ask you questions about your lifestyle, and perform an examination where they’ll check your lymph nodes and breast tissue.
Depending on the outcome of this visit, your GP might refer you to a specialist for further testing. These might include:
You might need these tests once, or doctors might repeat them at various stages of your treatment to check how your body is responding. For a lot of people going through cancer, waiting for the results of tests can be a challenging and stressful time. It can resurface the trauma of when you were first diagnosed and can make friends and loved ones feel incredibly anxious.
When it comes to treating breast cancer, whether it is early, locally advanced or advanced, there is no one-stop solution to suit everyone. Everyone is as different as their circumstances, so your treatment plan will be tailored to you, possibly with several steps of breast cancer treatment.
Some of the deciding factors on how doctors treat your cancer are:
That said, here are some treatment options you might encounter:
It can be a daunting word to use, and one that causes a lot of anxiety in people going through cancer, but in its simplest terms, ‘prognosis’ just means the outcome of the disease.
Remember, over time, breast cancer survival rates have increased significantly. Australian breast cancer statistics have shown this is because the quality of testing has improved, allowing earlier detection. Treatment options have also increased with further research and technology. Most people with early or locally advanced breast cancer can now be treated successfully.
While it’s understandable to want some certainty in such a vulnerable process, it’s important to remember doctors can’t predict the outcome of your treatment or your disease. They can, however, give you information on the likely outcomes of various options, and how the type of breast cancer you have typically progresses in certain situations.
Yes, they can, however, breast cancer is uncommon in men. In Australia, it is estimated approximately 221 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024. The average age at diagnosis is 71 years. Symptoms of breast cancer in men are like those for women.
A breast cancer tumour often feels like a lump, lumpiness, or thickening, especially in just one in one breast. However, not all lumps are cancerous. Benign tumours usually grow slowly and don’t spread, while cancerous (malignant) tumours can spread to other parts of the body.
Regular self-checks are important, but breast cancer can sometimes show no symptoms. That’s why women aged 40 and over should prioritise regular screenings. BreastScreen Queensland offer free breast screening for women in this age group who haven’t noticed any breast changes.
Breast cancer may not always show visible symptoms, so it’s important to remember that not only what we see, but also what we feel, can indicate you should see a doctor.
However, breast cancer sometimes has no symptoms, so regular screening is important for women aged 40 and over. BreastScreen Queensland provide free breast screening to women who are 40 and over and haven’t noticed any changes to their breasts.
Breasts come in all shapes and sizes, and it’s normal for them to have differences, like lumpiness or one being larger than the other. You don’t need a special technique to check your breasts. Simply get to know how they normally look and feel during everyday activities, like showering, dressing, or applying lotion. This will help you notice any unusual changes.
Be sure to check all areas, including your armpits and up to your collarbone. You can do this while looking in the mirror with your arms by your sides or raised, or by feeling your breasts in the shower. Choose a method that feels right for you and see a doctor if you notice any changes that seem unusual.
Most breast cancer cases are not linked to a strong family history. However, some people may inherit a gene mutation that increases their risk.
The most common mutations are in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which raise the risk of breast and ovarian cancers in women, and breast and prostate cancers in men. Other genes, like ATM, PALB2, and TP53, are also linked to breast cancer, and more are being discovered.
If you’re concerned about inherited risk, talk to your doctor or a breast cancer nurse about genetic testing. A referral to a family cancer clinic or genetic oncologist may help. Medicare covers genetic testing for certain groups, so ask your doctor if you’re eligible.
