Any cancer starting in the breast tissues is known as breast cancer. But breast cancer is subdivided further by category according to exactly where in the breast it started, and the course it took. Each kind has a unique set of risks and chances of survival. Thus, it's inaccurate to equate breast cancer with any specific survival risk without knowing much more about it. Answering the question, "what is breast cancer?" demands deeper understanding of complicated risk factors in its development.

The American Cancer Society's statistics show that one of every eight women, or about 12 percent, will learn she has breast cancer. Breast cancer is not as common as heart disease, but it is an illness that more people fear. There are many factors that can heighten the risk of developing breast cancer. Not all of the relationships between these factors are understood yet.

Risk factors for breast cancer are much like those for other diseases with genetic components. Such factors include age, family history, individual variations in genetics, and prior personal history of the disease. Lesser factors are environmental exposure to particular chemicals or radiation, history of childbearing, and obesity. Numerous other factors play a part in the development of breast cancer and breast cancer symptoms. But 70% of the women diagnosed with this disease do not have any clear risk factors.

The complex causes of breast cancer remain a subject of considerable research. New information regarding the risks for developing breast cancer are regularly uncovered and reported to health professionals, as well as the general public. A woman can now receive a personalized risk profile by using tools available online through major institutions studying the disease. The same sites offer important advice regarding risk reduction, the breast cancer symptoms to watch for, and other important breast cancer information.

As many people already know, lumps are the most common symptoms of breast cancer. Luckily, most of the lumps people find in breast tissue are non-cancerous, benign groups of cell tissue. They may be referred to as tumors, even if they are benign. But people should not jump to negative conclusions simply upon hearing the word "tumor."

Regardless, it is very possible that a newly found lump in the breast could be cancerous. The danger of breast cancer spreading to other parts of the body over time is very real. Any abnormality that you detect yourself warrants an immediate visit to a doctor.