General Information About Breast Cancer
Key Points for This Section
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Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells
form in the tissues of the breast.
The breast is made up of lobes and ducts. Each breast has 15 to 20 sections called
lobes, which have many smaller sections called lobules. Lobules end in dozens of tiny bulbs that
can produce milk. The lobes, lobules, and bulbs are linked by thin tubes called
ducts. Enlarge | | ![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090509150408im_/http://www.cancer.gov/images/spacer.gif) | Anatomy of the breast, showing lymph nodes and lymph vessels. |
Each breast also has blood
vessels and lymph
vessels. The lymph vessels carry an almost colorless fluid called lymph. Lymph
vessels lead to organs called lymph
nodes. Lymph nodes are small bean-shaped structures that are
found throughout the body. They filter lymph and store white blood cells that help fight infection and disease. Clusters of lymph nodes are found near the breast in the axilla (under the arm), above the
collarbone, and in the chest.
See the following PDQ summaries for more information about breast cancer:
Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer
in American women.
Women in the United States get breast cancer more than any other
type of cancer except skin cancer. The number of new cases has increased every year
over the last 30 years. Breast cancer is second to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in American women. However, deaths from breast cancer have decreased a little bit every year for the past several years. Breast cancer also occurs in men, but the number of new
cases is small.
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