Breast cancer
Breast cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK. Over 100 women are diagnosed with the cancer every day. Men also get breast cancer but it is rare. Of the 46,000 cases diagnosed each year in the UK, around 300 are in men. Thanks to a combination of screening and improved treatment, death rates from breast cancer have fallen by a third since the 1980s.
Breast cancer risk increases with age, and around four out of five women diagnosed with the disease are over 50 years old. Having a strong family history of breast cancer or a previous diagnosis of the disease increases the risk. Other well-established risk factors include having no or few children, having children later in life and not breast feeding. Obesity after the menopause, regularly drinking alcohol and taking HRT also increase the risk of breast cancer.
Cancer Research UK is one of the largest funders of breast cancer research in the UK, investigating all aspects of the disease, from prevention to treatment. Our scientists have led the world in finding many of the genetic variations that influence breast cancer risk.
Browse content about Breast cancer
- Breast cancer - UK incidence statistics
- Breast cancer - UK mortality statistics
- Breast cancer - UK survival statistics
- Breast cancer - molecular biology and genetics
- Breast cancer - prevention
- Breast cancer - risk factors
- Breast cancer - symptoms and treatment
- Breast cancer in young women
- Breast cancer research
- Breast cancer statistics - Key Facts
- Breast screening - definition of terms
- Breast screening - performance of mammography
- Breast screening - potential effects
- Breast screening - statistics
- Breast screening and HRT
- Breast screening in the UK - a brief history
- Breast screening statistics
- Briefing - cancer screening
- Commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide
- Dr Jason Carroll
- Dr Joan Austoker
- Dr John Stingl
- Dr Paul Pharoah
- Dr Ros Eeles
- Dr Simak Ali
- Issues around breast screening
- October 2007 podcast transcript
- October 2009 podcast transcript
- Our progress and achievements from 1902 to 1959
- Our progress and achievements in the 1960s
- Our progress and achievements in the 1980s
- Our progress and achievements in the 1990s
- Our progress and achievements in the 2000s
- Prof Alan Ashworth
- Prof Amanda Ramirez
- Prof Bruce Ponder
- Prof Carlos Caldas
- Prof Charles Coombes
- Prof David Phillips
- Prof Doug Easton
- Prof Glyn Elwyn
- Prof Helen Hurst
- Prof Jack Cuzick
- Prof Judith Bliss
- Prof Julian Peto
- Prof Nazneen Rahman
- Prof Paul Harkin
- Prof Peter Selby
- Prof Robert Leonard
- Prof Stephen Duffy
- Prof Valerie Beral
- Prof Valerie McCormack
- September 2007 podcast transcript
- Spot breast cancer early
- Tamoxifen as a preventative therapy
Browse news and press releases about Breast cancer
- "Research needed" to develop breast cancer prevention drug
- 'Breast cancer' gene linked to prostate cancer
- 'Cut and Paste' clue to breast cancer
- 'Kingpin' gene controls breast tumour growth and spread
- 'No evidence' for breast cancer deodorant link
- 'Think pink' with Peacocks’ 2009 breast cancer awareness range for Cancer Research UK
- 10,000 'at risk' women in trials for early breast screening
- Alcohol, smoking and breast cancer: the definitive answer
- Aromatase inhibitors improve breast cancer prospects says study
- Aspirin for forty somethings could cut cancer risk
- Athritis drug may reduce breast cancer risks, claims study
- BRCA1 gene points way to targeting breast cancer treatment
- Biological marker predicts chemotherapy response
- Black women get breast cancer two decades earlier than white women
- Breast Cancer Awareness Month celebrity designed ducks
- Breast cancer blood test in development say researchers
- Breast cancer deaths almost halved after screening
- Breast cancer fall may be linked to HRT
- Breast cancer four times more likely in women with strong family history
- Breast cancer gene linked to other cancers
- Breast cancer rates fall as women abandon HRT
- Breast cancer saliva test a long way off says Cancer Research UK
- Breast cancer screening cuts mortality by half
- Breast cancer screening saves lives, says report
- Breast cancer spread may be detected by blood tests say researchers
- Breast cancer survival is up but poor still lag behind the rich
- Breast density linked to cancer recurrence
- Breastfeeding could cut breast cancer risk for older mothers
- Britain's 100 year war against cancer
- Broccoli molecule could curb breast cancer says study
- Cancer Research UK cautious over breast cancer genetic predictor
- Cancer Research UK cautious over new breast cancer drug combo
- Cancer Research UK discounts uneven breast cancer risk
- Cancer Research UK launches breast cancer drug study
- Cancer Research UK reassures women over breast cancer chemicals study
- Cancer Research UK scientists help narrow the search for BRCA1 carriers
- Cancer Research UK urges caution over BRCA gene/X-ray link
- Cancer Research UK welcomes new breast cancer drug approval
- Cancer charities launch "triple negative" breast cancer trial
- Cannabis compound may stop breast cancer progression
- Charity concerned that one third of women ignore breast screening invite
- Chemotherapy advances improve breast cancer survival
- Compounds from olive oil may lead to new breast cancer drugs
- Concentrated doses of radiotherapy shown to be better in treating breast cancer
- DCIS breast cancer patients 'overestimate risk'
- Dame Judi Dench designs a Cancer Research UK collectible duck
- Dearth of bowel cancer surgeons in the North
- Depression and anxiety affects one in two breast cancer patients
- Dietary fat and breast cancer
- Diving treatment offers new hope for cancer patients
- "Virtual cancer patient" predicts how breast cancer patients respond to treatment
- 'Chemo gel' could provide therapy and cosmetic reconstruction claim researchers
- 'Gene hunters' find two new breast cancer genes
- 'Kylie effect' can confuse women over breast cancer risk
- 'Protective' breast cancer gene may lead to new treatments
- 'Vigorous activity' may protect against breast cancer
- Alcohol cancer risks "underestimated" say researchers
- Antibody extends breast cancer survival in mice
- Asian community less likely to attend cancer screening
- Aspirin may protect against breast cancer and assist treatment
- BRCA1 breast cancer gene finding 'is an important piece of science'
- Barts Hospital stages art exhibition and fundraising sale
- Biopsy still most effective for diagnosing breast cancer, say researchers
- Blood test may predict breast cancer treatment response
- Breast cancer blood test 'remains on the horizon'
- Breast cancer cases in UK top 40,000 for first time
- Breast cancer drug could further reduce mortality
- Breast cancer farm work link study too small to be definitive says Cancer Research UK
- Breast cancer gene carriers' risk 'amplified' by additional genes
- Breast cancer prevention study reaches 2,000 participants mark, but more still needed
- Breast cancer risk declines after women stop taking HRT
- Breast cancer screening "saves lives" says Cancer Research UK
- Breast cancer screening for women up to 75 years of age 'is effective'
- Breast cancer screening trials for under 50s does not show significant effect
- Breast cancer subtypes are different diseases
- Breast density crucial cancer indicator says study
- Breast screening survival figures "exceptionally good news"
- Breastfeeding provides major protection against breast cancer
- Brittle bone drug combination may slow breast cancer
- Canadian team identifies possible new drug target for breast cancer
- Cancer Research UK cautious over grapefruit breast cancer link
- Cancer Research UK cautious over red meat link to breast cancer
- Cancer Research UK funds new breast cancer trials
- Cancer Research UK moves to reassure over breast cancer increase
- Cancer Research UK scientist receives inaugural AACR award
- Cancer Research UK to fund breast cancer pain research
- Cancer Research UK voices caution on HRT report
- Cancer Research UK welcomes new contraceptive pill
- Cancer trial confirms tamoxifen as breast cancer prevention drug
- Charity begins 'At Home'
- Charity to make breast cancer (BRCA2) gene freely available across Europe
- Company claims new 'mouth swab' gene test will lead to personalised breast screening
- Computers could assist doctors in screening for breast cancer
- Conclusive proof that tamoxifen can prevent breast cancer
- DNA repair runs by the biological clock
- Dark-field x-rays hold hope for breast cancer diagnosis
- Denmark compensates women who develop cancer after working night shifts
- Diet and exercise could improve breast cancer survival, regardless of weight
- Differences in breast cancer risk in South Asian women
- Doctors asked to 'double' check family breast cancer link
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