Breast cancer

Overview

Breast cancer is cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts.

After skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States. Breast cancer can occur in both men and women, but it's far more common in women.

Public support for breast cancer awareness and research funding has helped improve the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Breast cancer survival rates have increased, and the number of deaths has been declining, thanks to a number of factors such as earlier detection, new treatments and a better understanding of the disease.

Why choose Mayo Clinic

• Teamwork. At Mayo Clinic, breast health specialists, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, surgeons, plastic surgeons, pathologists and radiologists work as a multidisciplinary team to diagnose and treat breast cancer. Other professionals are included as needed.
• Experience. Mayo Clinic doctors have extensive experience diagnosing and treating breast cancer.
• The latest in diagnostic technology. Mayo Clinic offers advanced breast cancer screening and diagnostic services, including digital mammography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, stereotactic breast biopsies, image-guided breast biopsies and surgical biopsies. Mayo Clinic's breast specialists understand the anxiety associated with a breast concern or condition and work to give you a prompt, accurate diagnosis.
• A full range of treatment options to consider. Mayo Clinic doctors will work with you to review all of your treatment options and choose the treatment that best suits your needs and goals. The range of treatments offered to women with breast cancer includes chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy and many types of surgical procedures, such as sentinel lymph node biopsy, lumpectomy, mastectomy and a variety of reconstruction options.
• Comprehensive cancer center. Mayo Clinic Cancer Center meets strict standards for a National Cancer Institute comprehensive cancer center, which recognizes scientific excellence and a multidisciplinary approach to cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., is ranked among the Best Hospitals for cancer by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., and Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., are ranked high performing for cancer by U.S. News & World Report.

Mayo Clinic: Answers you can trust

At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

Why Choose Mayo Clinic
What Sets Mayo Clinic Apart