Breast Cancer

More information

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in the United States. More then 180,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year; more than 1,000 men are diagnosed each year. Much of the information on symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and living with the disease applies to men as well.


Resources and Support

Here are some helpful breast cancer-related resources, including group and one-on-one counseling, printed and online support materials, and telephone hotlines.

  • Reach to Recovery is a rehabilitation program for men and women who have or have had breast cancer. The program helps breast cancer patients meet the physical, emotional, and cosmetic needs related to their disease and its treatment.
  • The Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) is an educational organization that aims to empower women with breast cancer to live as long as possible with the best quality of life. The LBBC offers an interactive message board and information about upcoming conferences and teleconferences on its Web site. In addition, the organization has a toll-free Survivors’ Helpline, a Young Survivors Network for women diagnosed with breast cancer who are age 45 or younger, and outreach programs. The LBBC also offers a quarterly educational newsletter and a book for African American women living with breast cancer.
  • The National Breast Cancer Coalition  (NBCC) is a breast cancer advocacy group that educates and trains individuals to become advocates who effectively influence public policies that affect breast cancer research and treatment. It also promotes breast cancer research, and works to improve access to high-quality breast cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment for all women.
  • Sisters Network seeks to increase local and national attention to the impact that breast cancer has in the African American community. All chapters are run by breast cancer survivors and receive volunteer assistance from community leaders and associate members. The services provided by Sisters Network include individual/group support, community education, advocacy, and research. The national headquarters serves as a resource for survivors, holding teleconferences and distributing a African American breast cancer survivors newsletter.
  • The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation’s mission is to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening, and treatment. This organization operates a national toll-free breast cancer helpline (1–800–I’M AWARE®) that is answered by trained volunteers whose lives have been personally touched by breast cancer. Breast health and breast cancer materials, including pamphlets, brochures, booklets, posters, videos, CD-ROMs, fact sheets, and community outreach materials are available.
  • The Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization provides information and support to anyone who has been touched by breast cancer. Y-ME serves women with breast cancer and their families through their national hotline (available 24 hours a day), open-door groups, early detection workshops, and support programs. Numerous local chapter offices are located throughout the United States.

For additional cancer information, see the general cancer Support section of this Web site or call the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER.