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New hope for women

	Turn to ConsumerReportsHealth.org for in-depth information on the treatments that are allowing today’s women a better chance of surviving breast cancer than their mothers’ generation.
	Subscribe to ConsumerReportsHealth.org to learn about the differences between the two main breast cancer treatment types: local treatment (such as surgery) and whole-body treatment (such as chemotherapy).

If you or someone you know is diagnosed with breast cancer, you're not alone. Consumer Reports Health can help with the best research about breast cancer, and expert evidence and advice about treatment options.

Key points about breast cancer

• More women live with breast cancer than die from it.
• Each generation of women has a better chance of surviving breast cancer than their mothers' generation.
• Different women will have different treatments, depending on what type of breast cancer they have.
• There are two main types of treatment for breast cancer: local treatment, such as surgery and radiation therapy, and whole-body treatment, such as chemotherapy and hormone treatment.
• Breast-conserving surgery (which removes only some of your breast) often works just as well as a mastectomy (which removes all of your breast).

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the United States. Although breast cancer does happen in men, it is rare. Unless you are one of the very few women who get breast cancer because of inherited genes, for most women, no cause for the cancer can be found.

If you have breast cancer, your doctor will find out how serious it is. Doctors call this staging. It will help your doctor decide which treatment is appropriate for you. We encourage you to read our entire condition report and to consult with your doctor to learn more about breast cancer. As a Consumer Reports Health subscriber, you’ll have access to our expert research and recommendations, and you’ll be more confident and knowledgeable about which treatments are best for you.