Breast Health

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common non-cutaneous, malignant disease among women worldwide, accounting for 24% of new cancer cases in 2018. Approximately 645,000 premenopausal and 1.4 million postmenopausal breast cancer cases were diagnosed worldwide in 2018 [1]. Globally, breast cancer cases will increase to over 2 million new cases/year by 2030 [2]. Nearly half of this burden is observed in highresource countries, many of which have established screening programs. There is a 11-13% chance a woman will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Breast cancer is a heterogenous disease with many associated risk factors, including environment, reproductive history, genetics, and trends in western-based lifestyle. Breast cancer originates in the ducts (85%), lobules (15%), or the epithelium. When the cancer is limited to the duct or lobule, it is classified as in situ disease. Once it invades the surrounding tissues, it is referred to as invasive disease.