Breast cancer has become one of the most common forms of cancer in the world, estimating more than 300,000 Americans per year are affected, with a majority of cases coming from late diagnoses.

Understanding breast cancer, as well as early awareness, is key to mitigate deaths and improve life quality for those diagnosed. Here is a full breakdown of the types of breast cancer, their symptoms and how to better handle diagnoses for both men and women. 

What It Is

It develops when cells in the breast grow in abnormal ways and form a tumor. These tumors can stay in the breast or spread to other parts of the body through blood or lymph vessels.

There are two separate types of breast cancer, depending on how the condition spreads throughout the body. When it goes beyond its starting point, it is called invasive breast cancer. If it spreads to other organs such as the bones, lungs or liver, it is called metastatic breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.

How It Affects People

According to the Centers for Disease Control, breast cancer can change the way the breast looks and feels. Common signs include a lump, swelling, changes in breast size or shape, skin dimpling or unusual discharge. In rare cases, such as inflammatory breast cancer, the breast may appear red, swollen and warm instead of forming a distinct lump.

If left untreated, breast cancer cells may invade nearby tissue and spread through the lymph nodes to other parts of the body, leading to invasive or metastatic breast cancer. Treatment often involves surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or hormone therapy, which can affect daily life, energy and overall health. 

Survival rates are strongly linked to how early the cancer is found. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, the five-year relative survival rate for localized breast cancer is 99% but drops to 31% once the cancer has spread to other distant parts of the body.

Women and Breast Cancer

In the United States, breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women, after skin cancer. About 1 in 8 women will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society.

In 2025, an estimated over 300,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer and over 50,000 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) — a non-invasive form of breast cancer — are expected to be diagnosed in women. Around 42,250 women are expected to die from the disease of the projected number of diagnoses.

Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death among women, after lung cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Still, more than 4 million women in the U.S. are currently living with a breast cancer diagnosis.

Men and Breast Cancer

Although breast cancer is most often associated with women, men can also develop it. 

Men account for less than 1% of all breast cancer cases in the United States. In 2025, an estimated 2,800 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, and about 510 men will die from it, according to Breastcancer.org. A man’s lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is about 1 in 726, said the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Because men are not routinely screened and awareness is low, they are often diagnosed at later stages, which can make treatment more difficult and outcomes less favorable.

The Importance of Awareness

Breast cancer affects hundreds of thousands of people each year, with a clear impact on both women and men. While the disease is far more common among women, the fact that men can also be affected highlights the importance of awareness for everyone. Detecting changes early and seeking medical evaluation remain critical steps in improving survival.