This infographic serves as a flash card with current key takeaways about female breast cancer. As usual, consult your doctor for any medical advice.

1. The most common tumor and 2nd-leading cause of cancer-related death in US women has a good prognosis.
The average 5-year survival rate is 89.7% for female breast cancer (BC subtypes: non- and invasive disease;
Phyllodes Tumor; Paget's Disease; BC during Pregnancy; inflammatory BC). Because up to 50% of patients
may develop resistance to a therapeutic mainstay, hormones, it may impact health-related quality of life.
1. Definition
Stage 0 tumors can grow in the lobules or milk ducts or breasts ie, lobular and ductal carcinoma (LCIS and
DCIS), respectively. Early stage BCs (I and II) are localized to the ducts or fatty tissues (with the involvement of
none or a few lymph nodes). Advanced BC reflects disease spread from a palpable or non-palpable primary
neoplasm to involve the lymph nodes and other organs (III and IV). Overall, CDC statistics show that black
women were more likely to die from BC than other races in the USA (1999–2013).
2. Diagnosis
In addition to physical examinations, blood, tissue, and imaging tests, immunohistochemical and other
biomarkers have enabled doctors to capture individual tumor variability, stratify patients for treatment, and
to predict the risk of recurrence. For instance, up to 75% of BCs express estrogen receptor (ER) and/or the
progesterone receptor (PR). One study showed that ER) positivity predicted response to endocrine therapy
such as antiestrogen (tamoxifen) and trastuzumab therapy (Herceptin)
3. Familial BC
Up to 90% of hereditary BC cases are due to mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Cowden syndrome,
Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, and ataxia-telangiectasia are among the other clinical
genetic predispositions. Data from the METABRIC (Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International
Consortium) group revealed a total of 10 different subgroups with distinct prognoses (see Treatment
section for further detail).
4. Treatment
Chemotherapy, hormones, surgeries, and reconstructions, radiation, targeted therapies, and follow-up
care form the backbone of any plan. Clinical implications of these treatments in 5 molecular subtypes
of BC (Luminal A, Luminal B, HER-2 enriched, Basal-like and Claudin-low, and a normal breast-like group)
range from 10-year outcomes for HER2+ or HER2- luminal A or B subtypes (regardless of systemic
treatment) to a prediction that grouping TNBC into basal-like and non-basal-like subtypes may enable
better clinical responses following polychemotherapy.
5. Emerging Therapies
More cost-effective anti-HER2 therapies such as biosimilars of trastuzumab for
HER2+ metastatic BC may be on the horizon. In addition to recently approved
targeted therapies, anti-PD-1/PD-L1 agents (eg, Keytruda® [Pembrolizumab],
Tecentriq® [Atezolizumab], and Opdivo® [Nivolumab]), vaccines, oncolytic viruses,
ribociclib and abemaciclib) are being evaluated for BC.
6. Follow-Up Care
Monitoring the long-term effects of treatment is a key component of follow-up care eg, looking
for lymphedema, cognitive or thought-process changes, depression and anxiety,
fatigue, bone health, pain and neuropathy, fertility for pre-menopausal women, sexual health,
intimacy, and body image, hot flashes, and early menopause.
7. Screening
Mammographies (and magnetic resonance imaging as needed) are integral to preventive care. These
studies are also commonly performed in carriers of BRCA pathogenic variants and in individuals at increased
risk of breast cancer. Advancing age, dense breasts, genetics, reproductive factors, nulliparity, and alcohol
consumption may place individuals in higher-risk categories.Sources
National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). Breast Cancer (evidence blocks). Version 2. 2017. https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/breast.pdf;
National Institutes of Health. National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER);Cancer Stat Facts: Female Breast Cancer. 2017;
https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/breast.html; Thull DL, Vogel VG. Oncologist. 2004;9(1):13-24; Zardavas D, Piccart-Gebhart M. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book. 2015:e183-190;
Prat A, Pineda E, Adamo B, et al. Breast.2015;24 Suppl 2:S26-35; Cancer.Net. Follow-Up Care for Breast Cancer. 2015;