Breast cancer

Breast cancer, malignant growth in the breast or mammary gland. Breast cancer—carcinoma of the breast—is the most common malignancy among women and has the highest fatality rate of all cancers affecting them. The annual mortality rate since 1950 has remained at about 25 in every 100,000 women. Breast cancer in men is rare and tends not to be recognized until late, thus the results of treatment are poor. In women, breast carcinoma is rarely seen before the age of 30, and the incidence rises rapidly after menopause.

See also: Cancer.