You shouldn’t need a medical degree to understand your breast cancer diagnosis. Komen’s Know More series brings you what you need to know about your breast cancer diagnosis and empowers you to face it head on.

We are continuously updating this page with new information, check back soon for more!

What is breast cancer and what causes it?

Breast Cancer is Not One-Size-Fits-All

All breast cancers are different, and your treatment plan will reflect your unique breast cancer, stage and biology. Read more on 4 reasons why your breast cancer experience isn’t one-size-fits-all.

Cancer is a Case of Uncontrolled Cell Division

Our cells contain a system of checks and balances that keep healthy cells around and sick cells away. Cancer is when these systems malfunction.

Mutations: A Key Cause of Breast Cancer

Cancer is caused by mutations in your cell’s DNA. These mutations upset the system of checks and balances that keep cells healthy. Read more on 3 reasons to ask about gene mutations if you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Diagnosing Breast Cancer is a Multi-Step Process

Learn how the tests used to diagnose breast cancer give your doctors insight into how to treat your breast cancer.

Biomarkers Provide Crucial Information About Your Breast Cancer

Biomarkers are one thing doctors look for when determining your treatment plan. Biomarkers can tell us how a tumor might behave and what treatments might work best to fight it.

Treating Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is treated with some combination of surgery, radiation therapy and drug therapy.

Beyond the basics: Take charge of your breast cancer diagnosis

Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer

Estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancers are fueled by the naturally occurring hormone estrogen, but they can be treated with hormone therapies that block the action of the estrogen receptor.

HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Too much HER2 protein can cause uncontrolled cell division in breast cancer cells. This type of cancer can be treated with drugs that target HER2.

Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Breast cancers that lack the biomarkers estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and HER2 are known as triple negative. Triple negative breast cancers are treated with chemotherapy and new targeted therapies.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Inflammatory breast cancer is a less common type of breast cancer that is challenging to diagnose and treated aggressively.

Recurrence: When Breast Cancer Comes Back

Recurrence happens when some breast cancer cells have avoided all breast cancer treatments and hide within the body until they re-emerge, which can occur years or decades later.

Metastatic Breast Cancer

Breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body is called metastatic breast cancer.

Learn More and Get Involved

You’ve now learned more about your breast cancer diagnosis, so what are some ways you can stay involved and informed throughout your experience and beyond?