What is breast cancer?

Breast cancer forms in tissues of the breast, usually the ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple) and lobules (glands that make milk). It occurs in both men and women, although male breast cancer is rare.

How do members experience breast cancer?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with breast cancer*

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
Lump on right breast
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Nothing reported yet
Common symptom
Fatigue
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Modafinil Amphetamine-Dextroamphetamine Methylphenidate
Common symptom
Stress
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Cigarettes Deep breathing and relaxation Listen to Music
Common symptom
Pain
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen Tramadol Gabapentin
Common symptom
Pain in hip(s)
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Reiki therapy Total Hip Replacement Tramadol

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for breast cancer*

Treatment
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
1,974
Tried for
breast cancer (9)
Treatment

(Total Skin Electron Beam Therapy (TSEBT))
Type
Procedures
How many have tried
2,042
Tried for
breast cancer (5)
Treatment

(Modified radical mastectomy)
Type
Surgery
How many have tried
1,706
Tried for
breast cancer (4)
Treatment
Type
Surgery
How many have tried
1,751
Tried for
breast cancer (3)
Treatment

(Mediastinal Lymph Node Dissection)
Type
Surgery
How many have tried
1,729
Tried for
breast cancer (1)

*Data from patients with breast cancer, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with breast cancer*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
for breast cancer (6 evaluations)
Side effects
hair loss constipation 12 more
Total evaluations
6
Tried for
breast cancer (9)
Treatment

(Total Skin Electron Beam Therapy (TSEBT))
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
breast cancer (5)
Treatment

(Modified radical mastectomy)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
breast cancer (4)
Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
for breast cancer (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
breast cancer (3)
Treatment

(Mediastinal Lymph Node Dissection)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
breast cancer (1)

*Data from patients with breast cancer, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has breast cancer on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 5
20s 77
30s 272
40s 634
50s 1,625
60s 2,003
70+ 1,230

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 195
Female 5,673