Breast cancer is the most common cancer found in women today. It affects one in every nine women. Although rare, breast cancer can also develop in men. Breast cancers can arise from the ducts (ie ductal carcinoma) and mammary lobules (i.e. lobular carcinoma), and infiltrate the skin (i.e. inflammatory breast carcinoma). Ductal carcinoma in situ also is a premalignant lesion which can transform into ductal carcinoma if untreated.

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

• NCI Pamphlet - What You Need to Know About™ Breast Cancer
• NCI Pamphlet - Understanding Breast Cancer Treatment: A Guide for Patients
• NCI - Cancer Facts - Inflammatory Breast Cancer
• NCI - Cancer Facts - Adjuvant Therapy for Breast Cancer: Questions and Answers

NCI/PDQ® Breast Cancer: Treatment

• Patient - Consumer level
• Health Professional - Written in medical language. Includes more information & gives references

American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)

• Overview of the diagnosis & treatment of Breast Cancer

National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)

• Breast Cancer Treatment Guidelines for Patients Version VI,September 2004 - Treatment guidelines on breast cancer agreed upon by representatives of comprehensive cancer centers.