Breast cancer

Cancer of the breast
Cancer care
cancer diagnosis

Cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts and can occur in both men and women, but it's far more common in women.

Share article

How common is breast cancer?

Below are a series of statistics on breast cancer giving an indication on how common the disease is.

1 in 27
1 in 27
1 in 27
risk for women aged 15 years and older.

Other types of cancer

Below you can find information on other types of cancer screenings that you might be interested in.

Bladder cancer

Cancer of the bladder

The fourth most common cancer in men and the twelfth most common cancer in women.

Breast cancer

Cancer of the breast

Cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts and can occur in both men and women, but it's far more common in women.

Cervical cancer

Cancer of the cervix

If detected early, cancer of the cervix can be one of the most successfully treatable cancers...

Colorectal cancer

Cancer of the rectum or colon

Colon cancer and rectal cancer are often grouped together because they have many features in common.

Sarcoma

Cancerous tumours of the soft tissues

A broad term for cancers that start in soft tissues like muscle, tendons, fat, lymph and blood vessels, and nerves.

Throat cancer

Cancer of the throat

A fast-growing cancer; therefore early treatment is key to having a good quality of life.

Lung Cancer

Caner of the lung

People who smoke are at a greater risk of getting lung cancer, though lung cancer can also occur in people who have never smoked.

Melanoma

A type of skin cancer

The primary known cause of melanoma, as well as all other types of skin cancer, is exposure to ultraviolet radiation contained in sunlight.

Lymphoma

Cancer of lymphocytes

Lymphoma can be divided broadly into 2 types of lymphoma: Hodgkins Lymphoma or Hodgkins Disease (HD) and Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (NHL).

Head and neck cancers

Cancer of the head and neck

These cancers, that could include oesophageal cancer, usually begin in the cells that line the moist surfaces (mucosal membranes) inside the...

Ovarian cancer

Cancer of the ovary

Recent evidence suggests that many ovarian cancers may actually start in the cells in the far end of the fallopian...

Prostate cancer

Cancer of the prostate gland

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. The lifetime risk for prostate cancer in men in South Africa, is 1 in 18.

Stomach cancer

Also known as gastric cancer

Most cancers of the stomach are adenocarcinomas. These cancers develop from the gland cells in the innermost lining of the stomach.

Thyroid cancer

Cancer of the thyroid gland

The thyroid gland makes hormones that help regulate your metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.

Uterine cancer

Cancer of the uterus or womb

Most uterine cancer begins in the layer of cells that form the lining (endometrium) of the uterus.

 
 
 

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts and can occur in both men and women, but it's far more common in women. Male breast cancer is not uncommon and must be taken seriously.

Approximately 19.4 million women aged 15 years and older live at-risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer – the cancer affecting women in South Africa the most.

What is breast cancer?

The first sign of breast cancer often is a breast lump or an abnormal mammogram. Breast cancer stages range from early, curable breast cancer to metastatic breast cancer, with a variety of breast cancer treatments.

In recent years breast cancer survival rates have increased, and the number of deaths associated with this disease is steadily declining, largely due to factors such as earlier detection, a new personalized approach to treatment and a better understanding of the disease.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer may include:

  • A breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue
  • Change in the size, shape or appearance of a breast
  • Changes to the skin over the breast, such as dimpling
  • A newly inverted nipple
  • Peeling, scaling, crusting or flaking of the pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple (areola) or breast skin
  • Redness or pitting of the skin over your breast, like the skin of an orange
 

Causes

Doctors know that breast cancer occurs when some breast cells begin to grow abnormally. These cells divide more rapidly than healthy cells do and continue to accumulate, forming a lump or mass. Cells may spread (metastasize) through your breast to your lymph nodes or to other parts of your body.

Breast cancer most often begins with cells in the milk-producing ducts (invasive ductal carcinoma).

Breast cancer may also begin in the glandular tissue called lobules (invasive lobular carcinoma) or in other cells or tissue within the breast.

Hormonal, lifestyle and environmental factors may increase your risk of breast cancer. It's not clear why some people who have no risk factors develop cancer, yet other people with risk factors never do. It's likely that breast cancer is caused by a complex interaction of your genetic makeup and your environment.

 

Doctors know that breast cancer occurs when some breast cells begin to grow abnormally. These cells divide more rapidly than healthy cells do and continue to accumulate, forming a lump or mass. Cells may spread (metastasize) through your breast to your lymph nodes or to other parts of your body.

Breast cancer most often begins with cells in the milk-producing ducts (invasive ductal carcinoma).

Breast cancer may also begin in the glandular tissue called lobules (invasive lobular carcinoma) or in other cells or tissue within the breast.

Hormonal, lifestyle and environmental factors may increase your risk of breast cancer. It's not clear why some people who have no risk factors develop cancer, yet other people with risk factors never do. It's likely that breast cancer is caused by a complex interaction of your genetic makeup and your environment.

Risk factors

A breast cancer risk factor is anything that makes it more likely you'll get breast cancer. But having one or even several breast cancer risk factors doesn't necessarily mean you'll develop breast cancer. Many women who develop breast cancer have no known risk factors other than simply being women.

Factors that are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer include:

  • Being female as women are much more likely than men are to develop breast cancer.
  • Increasing age as your risk of breast cancer increases as you age.
  • A personal history of breast cancer. If you've had breast cancer in one breast, you have an increased risk of developing cancer in the other breast.
  • A family history of breast cancer. If your mother, sister or daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer, particularly at a young age, your risk of breast cancer is increased. Still, the majority of people diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease.
  • Inherited genes that increase cancer risk. Certain gene mutations that increase the risk of breast cancer can be passed from parents to children. The most well-known gene mutations are referred to as BRCA1 and BRCA2. These genes can greatly increase your risk of breast cancer and other cancers, but they don't make cancer inevitable.
    • Radiation exposure. If you received radiation treatments to your chest as a child or young adult, your risk of breast cancer is increased.
    • Obesity. Being obese increases your risk of breast cancer.
    • Beginning your period at a younger age. Beginning your period before age 12 increases your risk of breast cancer.
    • Beginning menopause at an older age. If you began menopause at an older age, you're more likely to develop breast cancer.
    • Having your first child at an older age. Women who give birth to their first child after age 30 may have an increased risk of breast cancer.
    • Having never been pregnant. Women who have never been pregnant have a greater risk of breast cancer than do women who have had one or more pregnancies.
    • Postmenopausal hormone therapy. Women who take hormone therapy medications that combine oestrogen and progesterone to treat the signs and symptoms of menopause have an increased risk of breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer decreases when women stop taking these medications
    • Drinking alcohol. Drinking alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer.
  • Radiation exposure. If you received radiation treatments to your chest as a child or young adult, your risk of breast cancer is increased.
  • Obesity. Being obese increases your risk of breast cancer.
  • Beginning your period at a younger age. Beginning your period before age 12 increases your risk of breast cancer.
  • Beginning menopause at an older age. If you began menopause at an older age, you're more likely to develop breast cancer.
  • Having your first child at an older age. Women who give birth to their first child after age 30 may have an increased risk of breast cancer.
  • Having never been pregnant. Women who have never been pregnant have a greater risk of breast cancer than do women who have had one or more pregnancies.
  • Postmenopausal hormone therapy. Women who take hormone therapy medications that combine oestrogen and progesterone to treat the signs and symptoms of menopause have an increased risk of breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer decreases when women stop taking these medications
  • Drinking alcohol. Drinking alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer.
 

Hormonal, lifestyle and environmental factors that may increase your risk of breast cancer.

Find care for breast cancer?

Find healthcare providers and facilities that specialise in treating breast cancer.

View Healthcare Providers View Healthcare Facilities