Breast Cancer Medical Reference

Many experts agree that it's a good idea to get a second opinion after you find out you have breast cancer. But when should you get it? How does it work?

Not everyone with breast cancer needs chemotherapy. Learn the pros and cons so you can consider them with your doctor.

If you can get some activity -- even a little bit -- it may help you feel better during breast cancer treatment. Find out what the benefits are and how much to aim for.

Breast cancer can spread to other parts of your body, and there are a few places where it usually goes. Find out more about how it spreads and what that means for your symptoms and treatment.

Weight gain is common during treatment for breast cancer. But is the drug tamoxifen to blame?

Most of the biggest effects to your body from breast cancer come from the treatment, not from the disease. Find out what to expect.

Invasive and metastatic mean different things when it comes to breast cancer.

What foods should you eat or avoid if you have metastatic breast cancer? A healthy balanced diet can help you stay strong and prevent infections as you treat cancer. Find out why it’s important to drink more water and less alcohol, and if soy foods are good or bad for breast cancer risk.

Phyllodes tumors are a rare type of breast tumor that can keep coming back, even if it’s benign. Learn more about the causes, risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and outlook for phyllodes tumors.

You might wonder if it’s safe or even possible to nurse your baby when you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer. In general, it depends on the type of treatment you need and when you’ll have it.

After a mastectomy, you may want to have breast reconstruction surgery. With DIEP flap reconstruction surgery, your doctor uses your tissue instead of implants to rebuild a natural breast.

Mirena is an intrauterine device (IUD) for birth control. Because it's a type of hormonal contraception, it could slightly increase your chances of getting breast cancer. Find out about the risks and benefits.

The FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) test checks the DNA of your cancer cells and can help your doctor choose treatments that will work best for you. FInd out how it's done and what its results mean.

Lumps are the best know breast cancer symptoms, but they aren’t the only ones. From breast changes to nipple discharge, learn the signs to look for.

Tomosynthesis is a kind of 3D mammogram. It uses 3-dimensional imaging used to look for breast cancers.

HER2-negative and HER2-positive are types of breast cancer that share some things in common but have plenty of differences, too. Which kind you have can affect the treatment you get.

You may think of vaccines as a way to prevent disease, but researchers are testing a new kind that might help treat breast cancer. It works by activating the immune system -- your body's defense against germs -- to find and kill cancer cells.

Peau d’orange is not a disease. Rather, it's a symptom. Its name means "skin of an orange." Find out what can cause it.

Remission doesn’t always mean your breast cancer is gone for good. Learn about the different types and how long they might last.

Studies show that drinking alcohol can raise your chances of breast cancer. So how much alcohol is “safe” to drink? And what counts as “a drink?” Find out what you need to know.

Breast cancer treatment can affect your appetite and sense of taste. Juicing may help you get some of the nutrients you need.

HER2+ breast cancer survival rates tell you how many women survive for a certain time after their diagnosis. But that’s just part of the picture. Find out what this statistic means and what other things you should know.

Treatments kill cancer cells, but they can also change the way you feel. Here’s how to keep those symptoms in check.

In some breast cancer cases, the HER2 gene doesn’t work correctly and causes cells to grow out of control. Learn why it’s important to know your HER2 status, how your doctor will test for it, and what the results mean for your treatment.

When you're in good shape physically and mentally, treatment takes less of a toll. Here's how self-care looks when you have advanced breast cancer.