Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK. Most women diagnosed with breast cancer are over the age of 50 but young women can also be diagnosed with breast cancer.

Please select a box below for more information. Your Consultant or Cancer Nurse Specialist will be able to talk to you about your cancer in more detail.

The exact causes of breast cancer are not fully understood. However, there are certain factors which are known to increase the risk of breast cancer. These include:

  • age – the risk increases as you get older
  • a family history of breast cancer
  • a previous diagnosis of breast cancer
  • a previous non-cancerous (benign) breast lump
  • being tall, overweight or obese
  • drinking alcohol

Click here to find out more breast cancer in women.

Breast cancer can have several symptoms, but the first noticeable symptom is often a lump or area of thickened breast tissue. Click on the link below for more information

Common symptoms

  • Breast lump or area of thickened breast
  • a change in the size or shape of one or both breast
  • a lump or swelling in either of your armpits
  • a change in the look or feel of your skin, such as puckering or dimpling, a rash or redness
  • a rash like eczema, crusting, scaly or itchy skin, or any redness on or around the nipple
  • discharge or bleeding from one or both nipples
  • a change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast

It is worth noting that Breast pain without other symptoms is not usually a symptom of breast cancer.

Useful websites

Stage and grade of breast cancer

When breast cancer is diagnosed, your doctors work out what stage it is. The stage means the size of the cancer and how far it has spread. We use staging information to help us plan the right treatment and understand what the aim of treatment is how well treatment may work.

TNM staging system

The TNM staging system describes breast cancer, providing information about the diagnosis:T – the size of the tumourN – whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodesM – whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body

This information is then summarised as a stage

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is sometimes described as stage 0. Other stages of breast cancer describe invasive breast cancer and include:

  • stage 1 – the tumour measures less than 2cm and the lymph nodes in the armpit are not affected. There are no signs that the cancer has spread elsewhere in the body
  • stage 2 – the tumour measures 2 to 5cm, the lymph nodes in the armpit are affected, or both. There are no signs that the cancer has spread elsewhere in the body
  • stage 3 – the tumour measures 2 to 5cm and may be attached to structures in the breast, such as skin or surrounding tissues, and the lymph nodes in the armpit are affected. There are no signs that the cancer has spread elsewhere in the body
  • stage 4 – the tumour is of any size and the cancer has spread to other parts of the body (metastasis)

This is a simplified guide. Each stage is divided into further categories: A, B and C. If you're not sure what stage you have, talk to your doctor or cancer nurse specialist.

Grades of breast cancer

The grade describes the appearance of the cancer cells, this often tells us how useful different treatments may be.

  • low grade (G1) – the cells, although abnormal, appear to be growing slowly
  • medium grade (G2) – the cells look more abnormal than low-grade cells
  • high grade (G3) – the cells look even more abnormal and are more likely to grow quickly

Breast Cancer specific tests

Once a diagnosis of Breast cancer is made there are additional tests that are done to the cancer specimen in the laboratory to understand better how your cancer may respond to treatment. The results of these tests can give your doctors a more complete picture of the type of cancer you have and how to treat it.

Hormone receptors

In some cases, breast cancer cells can be encouraged to grow by hormones that occur naturally in your body, such as oestrogen and progesterone. We may say that your Breast cancer is 

  • ER positive – which means your cancer has receptors that are sensitive to oestrogen 
  • ER negative – which means your cancer does not have any of these oestrogen receptors
  • Or mildly ER positive – in that your cancer has receptors and responds to oestrogen to only a small extent.
  • PR positive – which means your cancer has receptors that are sensitive to oestrogen 
  • PR negative – which means your cancer does not have any of these oestrogen receptors
  • Or mildly PR positive – in that your cancer has receptors and responds to oestrogen to only a small extent.

If your Cancer is ER or PR positive, we may talk to you about hormone manipulation treatment. If your cancer is mildly ER / PR positive we may still talk about whether this may be a treatment option for you.

HER2 testing

Another test that is done in the laboratory looks to see if your cancer has HER2 receptors, meaning that your cancer may be encouraged to grow by a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). 

If your cancer is HER2 positive we may recommend a treatment with a medicine that blocks the HER2 receptors so that the HER2 protein is stopped from encouraging your cancer to grow. This is known as targeted therapy.

Click here to read more on diagnostics.

Genetic Testing in Breast Cancer

These links tell you about genetic testing in breast cancer. If you would like further information, please contact the Institute of Genetic Medicine at Centre for Life Telephone 0191 2418600 or email geneticcounsellorenquiries@nhs.net

Breast Cancer Now -Genetic testing for altered breast cancer genes

Macmillan Cancer Support -Family history, genes and cancer risk ​​

Breast self-examination is the best way to find any changes in the breast. While many changes in the breast are not cancer you should discuss any changes with your cancer team (or GP if you do not have a breast cancer diagnosis) who will decide if further tests are needed.

How should I check my breasts?There's no right or wrong way to check your breasts. But it's important to know how your breasts usually look and feel. That way, you can spot any changes quickly and report them to a GP or your cancer team.

Be breast aware

Every woman's breasts are different in terms of size, shape and consistency. It's also possible for one breast to be larger than the other.Get used to how your breasts feel at different times of the month. This can change during your menstrual cycle. For example, some women have tender and lumpy breasts, especially near the armpit, around the time of their period. After the menopause, normal breasts feel softer, less firm and not as lumpy. The NHS Breast Screening Programme has produced a 5-point plan for being breast aware.

  • know what's normal for you
  • look at your breasts and feel them

See a GP or your cancer team if you notice any of the following changes:

  • a change in the size, outline or shape of your breast
  • a change in the look or feel of the skin on your breast, such as puckering or dimpling, a rash or redness
  • a new lump, swelling, thickening or bumpy area in one breast or armpit that was not there before
  • a discharge of fluid from either of your nipples
  • any change in nipple position, such as your nipple being pulled in or pointing differently
  • a rash (like eczema), crusting, scaly or itchy skin or redness on or around your nipple
  • any discomfort or pain in one breast, particularly if it's a new pain and does not go away (although pain is only a symptom of breast cancer in rare cases)

Always see a GP or your cancer team if you are concerned.

Breast changes can happen for many reasons, and most of them are not serious. Lots of women have breast lumps, and most breast lumps are not cancerous. However, if you find changes in your breast that are not normal for you, it's best to see a GP or your cancer team as soon as possible. This is because it's important to rule out breast cancer. If cancer is detected, then appropriate treatment should be planned as quickly as possible.

Woman between the ages of 50 and 70 years are invited to take part in the National Breast screening programme receiving Mammograms every three years. This is an important test that can diagnose Breast cancer at an early stage

If you have been diagnosed with Breast cancer, depending upon the surgery that you have had you may have additional breast screening every year for the first five years after your surgery or until you are aged 50. After that time you will be invited to go back into the national breast screening programme. Your Cancer nurse specialist will be able to tell you more about your individual screening plan post breast cancer. Click on the links below to get further information and support.

About 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime.

There is a good chance of recovery particularly if it is detected at an early stage. For this reason, it's vital that women check their breasts regularly for any changes and always have any changes examined by a GP.

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