Breast Cancer

Oct. 1, 2026 | An estimated 321,910 cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year. That’s a little more than 15 percent of all new cancer cases. And according to the National Cancer Institute, more than 42,000 Americans will die of this disease, accounting for more than six percent of all cancer deaths in 2026. There are more than four million breast cancer survivors in the U.S., including women still being treated and those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer in the past. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer. The chance that any woman will die from breast cancer is about 1 in 43, or 2.3 percent. Breast cancer death rates have been decreasing steadily since 1989, for an overall decline of 44 percent through 2023. This is most likely the result of finding breast cancer earlier through screening and increased awareness, as well as better treatments.

Oct. 1, 2026 | There are certain factors that can increase a woman’s chance of developing breast cancer. Overall, the average risk that a woman in the US will develop breast cancer sometime in her life is about 13 percent. This means about 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer. But each woman’s risk of breast cancer varies based on her age, race and ethnicity, and other factors. According to the American Cancer Society, white women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than Black women, but Black women have the highest death rate from breast cancer. At every stage, Black women are more likely to die from breast cancer than any other race or ethnic group. White, Asian, and Pacific Islander women are more likely to be diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer than Black, Hispanic, American Indian, and Alaska Native women. Asian and Pacific Islander women have the lowest death rate from breast cancer.

Oct. 1, 2026 | October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, set aside each year to support those dealing with the disease. Dr. Gwendolyn Bryant-Smith, director of the Breast Center at UAMS’ Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, says every woman should undergo a risk assessment for breast cancer by the time they are 25. If it’s determined that you are at high risk for breast cancer, you need to have regular screenings at the age of 30. This includes having a mammogram and a breast MRI scan. Women considered at average risk for breast cancer should have a mammogram yearly starting when they are 40. Dr. Bryant-Smith urges all women to be attentive to any changes in their breasts, whether it’s a new lump or mass, bloody or clear nipple discharge, skin changes, or localized pain. Any changes should be evaluated by an experienced health care professional so the cause can be found and treated, if needed.

Oct. 1, 2026 | If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, your cancer care team will talk to you about your treatment options. It’s important to weigh the benefits of each treatment option against the possible risks and side effects. One surgical procedure, a mastectomy, involves removal of the whole breast, while another, a lumpectomy, involves removing the cancer and some normal tissue around it but not the breast itself. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are other choices, as is hormone therapy, which blocks cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow. Targeted therapy is the use of medicines that are directed at certain proteins on cancer cells that help the cancer cells grow, spread, and live longer. Immunotherapy uses medicines to boost your immune system so it can better recognize and destroy cancer cells. It’s important to ask your care team any questions if you are unsure about anything.

Oct. 1, 2026 | For patients who have undergone surgery for breast cancer, breast reconstruction can be done in several ways. It often involves more than one surgery. If you’re thinking about reconstruction, it’s important to talk with your surgical oncologist and a plastic surgeon BEFORE your mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery. This gives the surgical team time to plan out your options, even if you decide to wait until later to have reconstruction. If you need radiation, your reconstruction options may be more limited, so it’s also important to talk to your doctors about this timing. Some people choose to wait, especially if they don’t want to make decisions during treatment or don’t want extra surgery right away. But keep in mind that the results of your reconstruction may be different depending on whether you have it right away or wait until later. Your surgeon can help you understand your options and what to expect.