Understanding Breast Cancer

A gentle, step-by-step path through what breast cancer is, how it is found and staged, the treatments used, and how people live well afterward.

11 stepsAbout 62 min total

This learning path is educational only. It is not a treatment plan. Your healthcare team can help you understand what applies to your situation.

Your progress

Read6 min
What is breast cancer?
The basics of breast cancer, in plain language.
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Read5 min
Signs and symptoms
Changes people notice and when to talk with a doctor.
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Read5 min
Mammograms and screening
How breast cancer is looked for before symptoms appear.
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Read5 min
Getting a diagnosis
How a diagnosis is confirmed after something is found.
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Read5 min
What a biopsy involves
The test that confirms whether cells are cancer.
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Read6 min
Understanding staging
What stage means and why it guides care.
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Read7 min
Treatment overview
The main kinds of treatment and how they fit together.
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Read6 min
Coping with side effects
Common side effects and ways they are managed.
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Tool5 min
Questions to ask your team
Build a personalized list for your next appointment.
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Clinical trials6 min
Breast cancer clinical trials
How research studies fit into breast cancer care.
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Read6 min
Living well afterward
Survivorship, follow-up care, and everyday life.
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Helpful words to know

Plain-language definitions in our glossary.

Build a personalized list of questions to bring to your next appointment.

Read the source material at the National Cancer Institute (cancer.gov).