Breast cancer

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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.

Common symptoms reported by people with breast cancer

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Capsaicin topical Cigarettes Deep breathing and relaxation
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Acupuncture Bench chair GEMOX protocol
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Modafinil Amphetamine-Dextroamphetamine Methylphenidate
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen Gabapentin Tramadol
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Clonazepam Lorazepam Alprazolam
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Venlafaxine Sertraline Duloxetine
Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, insomnia, fatigue, and pain) regardless of condition.
Last updated:

Treatments taken by people with breast cancer

Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment name(s)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
98
Tried for
breast cancer (98)
Treatment name(s)

(Bilateral mastectomy)
Type
Surgery
How many have tried
67
Tried for
breast cancer (67)
Treatment name(s)
Type
Surgery
How many have tried
58
Tried for
breast cancer (58)
Treatment name(s)

(Intensity-Modulated Radiation)
Type
Procedures
How many have tried
57
Tried for
breast cancer (57)
Treatment name(s)
Type
Surgery
How many have tried
40
Tried for
breast cancer (40)
Treatment name(s)

(Nolvadex)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
34
Tried for
breast cancer (34)
Treatment name(s)
Type
Surgery
How many have tried
30
Tried for
breast cancer (30)
Treatment name(s)

(Arimidex)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
29
Tried for
breast cancer (29)
Treatment name(s)

(Femara)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
16
Tried for
breast cancer (16)
Treatment name(s)

(Neurontin)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
9
Tried for
pain (8) anxious mood (1)
Data from patients with breast cancer, who reported starting treatments within the last 5 years.
Last updated:

Compare treatments taken by people with breast cancer

Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
for breast cancer (58 evaluations)
Side effects
fatigue hair loss 69 more
Total evaluations
58
Tried for
breast cancer (98)
Treatment name(s)

(Bilateral mastectomy)
Perceived effectiveness
for breast cancer (21 evaluations)
Side effects
Hospitalization pain 14 more
Total evaluations
22
Tried for
breast cancer (67)
Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
for breast cancer (15 evaluations)
Side effects
Hospitalization breast soreness 16 more
Total evaluations
17
Tried for
breast cancer (58)
Treatment name(s)

(Intensity-Modulated Radiation)
Perceived effectiveness
for breast cancer (24 evaluations)
Side effects
fatigue burn 24 more
Total evaluations
23
Tried for
breast cancer (57)
Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
for breast cancer (10 evaluations)
Side effects
limited range of motion numbness 10 more
Total evaluations
10
Tried for
breast cancer (40)
Treatment name(s)

(Nolvadex)
Perceived effectiveness
for breast cancer (15 evaluations)
Side effects
hot flashes excessive sweating 29 more
Total evaluations
18
Tried for
breast cancer (34)
Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
for breast cancer (11 evaluations)
Side effects
pain Hospitalization 11 more
Total evaluations
11
Tried for
breast cancer (30)
Treatment name(s)

(Arimidex)
Perceived effectiveness
for breast cancer (19 evaluations)
Side effects
hot flashes joint pain 14 more
Total evaluations
20
Tried for
breast cancer (29)
Treatment name(s)

(Femara)
Perceived effectiveness
for breast cancer (9 evaluations)
Side effects
hot flashes joint pain 9 more
Total evaluations
9
Tried for
breast cancer (16)
Treatment name(s)

(Neurontin)
Perceived effectiveness
for pain (13 evaluations)
Side effects
edema (fluid retention) edema in lower extremities 2 more
Total evaluations
14
Tried for
pain (8) anxious mood (1)
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None
Data from patients with breast cancer, who reported starting treatments within the last 5 years.
Last updated:

Who has breast cancer on PatientsLikeMe?

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 1
20s 68
30s 256
40s 874
50s 1,574
60s 1,227
70+ 350
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 5
20-29 years 38
30-39 years 92
40-49 years 176
50-59 years 144
60-69 years 58
70+ years 8

Sex

Distribution of sex

97% Female
3% Male
Types
Condition Types Proportion # of patients
Angiosarcoma of the breast 43
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) 1,071
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) 116
Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) 1,501
Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) 328
Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) 108
Paget's disease of the nipple 22
Phyllodes tumor of the breast 19
Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 3,613
Not Diagnosed 118
These charts show data from breast cancer patients who have completed their condition history
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