Discusses recurrent breast cancer. Covers symptoms and tests that diagnose cancer that has come back or spread. Discusses treatment with medicine or surgery. Offers home treatment tips for drug side effects or pain. Covers addressing emotional needs.

Guides you through testing and treatment choices if you're at high risk for breast cancer. Covers extra checkups, medicines, and surgery. Lists reasons for and against for each option. Includes interactive tool to help you make your decision.

Decision Points are designed to guide you through key health decisions, combining medical information with your personal information to make a wise health decision. Click on a link below to learn more about the medical test you are considering: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Should I Get a Screening Test? Breast Cancer...

Guides through decision to have a breast cancer (BRCA) gene test. Includes reasons your doctor might recommend a BRCA gene test. Lists next steps for a positive test. Covers benefits and risks. Includes an interactive tool to help you make your decision.

Briefly discusses breast changes during puberty, noncancerous breast changes, and when problems may need follow-up care. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

Interactive tool guides you through questions to determine what health screenings you might need to prevent or diagnose diseases. Provides links to more extensive info on early disease detection and immunizations.

A clinical breast examination (CBE) is a physical examination of the breast done by a health professional. During this exam, your doctor will carefully feel your breasts and under your arms to check for lumps or other changes. Clinical breast exams...

Medicare is health insurance that the United States government provides for people ages 65 and older. It also covers some people younger than 65 who have disabilities and people who have long-term (chronic) kidney failure who need dialysis or a transplant. Medicare helps pay for most hospital services and doctor visits...

Complete this form if you are seeing this health professional for the first time. Although you may have to complete a similar form when you arrive at the office, completing this form will help you organize your thoughts and provide more complete information. Complete Section 2 at the end of your appointment if you have...

It's a good idea to keep copies of your medical records. You'll need them if you change doctors, move, get sick when you're away from home, or end up in an emergency room. If any of these things happen and you have your records, you may get treatment more quickly, and it will be safer. Here are some steps to get your...

People with early-stage breast cancer who have breast-conserving surgery ( lumpectomy) followed by radiation treatments live just as long as people who have mastectomy. Some people with early-stage cancer choose to have both the affected breast and the breast without cancer removed. Removing both breasts is called a...

What is radiation? Radiation is energy that travels as a wave or particle. Some types of radiation can be harmful. This is called ionizing radiation. Radioactivity is ionizing radiation that is given off by things like uranium as they decay. About half of the ionizing radiation we're exposed to comes from nature. It's...

What is gynecomastia? Gynecomastia is the overdevelopment of the male breast. A breast has both glandular tissue and fatty tissue. With gynecomastia, the glands in the breast become enlarged. The enlarged glands may feel like a rubbery disk beneath the nipple area. Both breasts are often affected. What causes it...

In breast enlargement surgery, the doctor makes the breasts larger by putting an implant under the breast tissue and often under the chest muscle. An implant is a soft silicone shell filled with a saltwater solution or a gel. Your doctor will make a cut, called an incision. Then the doctor will put in the implant and...

With fibrocystic breast changes, your breasts may feel lumpy, thick, and tender, especially right before your period. They are also called cyclic breast changes, because they come and go with your menstrual cycle. Fibrocystic breast changes are...

An intraductal papilloma is a noncancerous (benign) small growth inside a milk duct in the breast. It may appear on the skin near the nipple as a growth that looks like a wart. Single intraductal papillomas often occur in women nearing menopause. They can produce a bloody or sticky nipple discharge. Multiple intraductal...

Discusses doing regular self-checks to help find breast lumps or changes early. Covers how it is done and what to look for. Also discusses when you should see a doctor.

What is male breast cancer? Breast cancer is the growth of abnormal cells in one or both breasts. Male breast cancer usually develops in the breast tissue found behind the nipple. Male breast cancer is often a type called invasive ductal carcinoma. What causes it? The exact cause of male breast cancer isn't known, but...

Experts believe that one-third to one-half of all cancers can be prevented. That's because certain daily habits can make us more likely to get cancer. Changing these habits may help prevent cancer. For example, it may help to quit smoking, stay active, stay at a healthy weight, and get regular checkups and screenings...

Breast lumps are common, especially from ages 30 to 50. A number of conditions can result in a lump or lumps in your breast. Most of these conditions are harmless or of minor concern. Generalized breast lumpiness usually feels like lots of little...

A cyst is a fluid-filled sac. Breast cysts usually do not contain cancer cells (are benign). Some women who have lumpy breasts also have benign breast cysts that are surrounded by fibrous tissue. Some cysts cause lumps that can be seen or felt (palpable). A cyst that can be felt may move about under the fingers. Its...

Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) is a type of abnormal cell change found in the milk glands (lobules) of the breast. LCIS is not cancer and the abnormal cells don't spread beyond the lobules. But having LCIS makes you more likely to develop breast cancer later in life. LCIS usually doesn't cause any symptoms or show up...