Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that has developed from cells at that site. The disease occurs most frequently in women, and rarely in men.

There are many types of breast tumors. Most breast tumors are benign (not cancerous). Benign breast tumors such as fibroadenomas or papillomas do not spread outside of the breast and are not life-threatening.Other tumors are malignant, which is another word for cancerous, and may become life-threatening.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, exceeded only by lung cancer. It is the leading cause of cancer death among women aged 40 to 55.

In 1997, it is estimated that there will be about 44,190 deaths from breast cancer in the United States (43,900 women, 290 men).

The most recent data indicate that death rates have begun to decline in white women, and, for the first time, are also declining in younger African-American women. These decreases are attributed to earlier detection and improved treatment of breast cancer.

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