University of Minnesota Cancer Center

What's Inside

Quick Links for:

Cancer Information Line
Ask about cancer, clinical trials, and how to make an appointment:
ccinfo@umn.edu
612-624-2620
Toll-free in IA, MN, ND, SD, WI: 1-888-CANCER MN
(1-888-226-2376)

A Comprehensive Cancer Center Designated by the National Cancer Institute
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Breast Cancer

Dr. Douglas Yee

Breast cancer specialist Douglas Yee, M.D., is director of the University of Minnesota Cancer Center.

Breast cancer — a malignant tumor in breast — is the most common cancer among women. There are several types of breast cancer (also called carcinoma), but almost all of it is from the lining cells of breast ducts. Each year more than 180,000 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S. In Minnesota, as elsewhere, breast cancer accounts for almost 1 out of 3 new cancers, and about 1 in 5 cancer deaths among women.

 On this page:

Risk Factors

Age: Risk for developing breast cancer increases throughout lifespan

Genetic predisposition: Higher risk if personal or family history of breast cancer or if there is a personal history of ovarian or endometrial cancer; although the majority of patients have no family history of breast cancer. For more information, see the Familial Cancer Clinic section.

Reproductive history: Risk increases if there is an early age at onset of menstruation, later age at menopause, no children or first birth after age 30.

History of benign breast disease: Higher risk is associated with hyperplasia (over growth), a condition diagnosed on breast biopsy.

Radiation Exposure:  History of previous radiation to the chest and breast area. 

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Screening and Diagnosis

The common clinical presentations of breast cancer are a painless lump or an abnormality on mammogram. Sometimes there is discharge with blood from the nipple or some change in color, texture, or shape in the breast or nipple. Self-examination can be used to maintain breast health. If any lump is found in the breast, a physician should be consulted for evaluation. He or she might perform a biopsy to determine a clear diagnosis. The American Cancer Society recommends: 

  • Monthly breast self-exam beginning at age 20 
  • Clinical breast exam for women between the ages 20 to 39 every three years. For women age 40 and older, a clinician should do a breast exam every year. 
  • Mammography for women age 40 and older every year. For women at high risk for breast cancer because of a history of breast cancer in close relatives, screening mammograms and clinical examinations should begin at an earlier age. 

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Types of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer may be classified into two major types, invasive and non-invasive. Non-invasive breast cancer means that cancer cells are confined to the ducts or lobules of the breast, and it is the early stage of breast cancer. In invasive breast cancer the cells extend into the surrounding tissue and may have gained the capacity to spread elsewhere in the body. Each major type has many subtypes based on the characteristics of cells that compose them. They have different behaviors and prognoses.

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Treatment

According to the stage of breast cancer (extent of spread) and status of a patient, doctors may choose different treatment methods. For localized tumors, mastectomy (removal of the whole breast) and breast-conserving surgery (removal of the tumor and some surrounding tissue, sometimes called lumpectomy) followed by local radiation are equally effective. Either procedure may be followed by chemotherapy, radiation, or hormone-blocking therapy. In some cases chemotherapy before surgery may be appropriate. 

Removal of axillary (arm pit) lymph nodes has been an integral part of breast cancer treatment to get staging information and to eliminate disease. It is now possible to gain the needed information by sampling one or two lymph nodes (called Sentinel Nodes) guided by a radioactive lymphatic tracer and/or blue dye injected at the site of the tumor. Thus, most women are able to avoid more extensive axillary surgery.

To learn more about breast cancer risk factors, screening, diagnosis, and treatment, see the National Cancer Institute's Breast Cancer PDQ®.

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Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are studies that evaluate the effectiveness of new interventions. There are different types of cancer clinical trials, such as prevention trials, early detection trials, and treatment trials. If you take part in a clinical trial, you may or may not benefit from a new drug, procedure, or symptom-control method.  Participation in a clinical trial advances treatment for breast cancer.

The breast cancer clinical team is actively engaged in national, regional, and institutional clinical trials for breast cancer.

If you have questions about clinical trials, contact Julie Gay, R.N., O.C.N., coordinator for breast cancer clinical research, 612-625-2956.

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Current Research

Current breast cancer research conducted by Cancer Center members includes: 

  • Clinical trials to evaluate effectiveness of new treatments for both early and late stage cancer.
  • Prevention trials testing the effectiveness of hormone blocking or dietary interventions in preventing cancer.
  • Basic science research into causes and treatment of breast cancer. 
  • Quality of life research into issues such as decision making for breast conserving surgery or mastectomy and sentinel lymph node sampling for evaluation of early spread of cancer cells. 
  • New non-invasive imaging methods to detect breast cancer (MRI).
  • Evaluation of breast cancer vaccines.

Read more about the breast cancer research conducted at the University of Minnesota Cancer Center.

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Cancer Care Program

The University of Minnesota Cancer Center and University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview, offer women with breast cancer a comprehensive approach to screening, diagnosis, treatment and after-treatment support. Services after diagnosis and basic treatment include reconstructive surgery, lymphedema management and support groups.

Our team of specialists includes surgeons, radiation and medical oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, genetic counselors, nurses, rehabilitation therapists, and social workers. They meet weekly to discuss patients' plans of care, bringing the latest knowledge in each specialty area. A nurse program coordinator orchestrates all aspects of a patient's care and is the communications link for the patient and family.

Visit the Breast Cancer Care Team page for more information about the specialists and how to make an appointment.

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Support groups

Breast Cancer Information Support Group
For patients and families
Meets 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month
Noon-1:30 p.m.
Hope Lodge
2500 University Ave., S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55414
Contact:  Ann Cummings, 612-273-2151 or Susan Pappas-Varco, 612-273-6434

Twin Cities Young Survivor Group
For people in their 20s to early 40s.
 Meets 3rd Thursday of each month.
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Normandale Lutheran Church, Edina
Contact: Susan Pappas-Varco, 612-273-6434 or Ann Cummings, 612-273-2151

Additional support groups:
Contact the Cancer Information Line
ccinfo@umn.edu
612-624-2620
Toll-free in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas:
1-888-CANCER MN (1-888-226-2376)

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Feature Stories

Cancer Center Presentations

Web Resources

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