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
Right arm contracture
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
Shortness of breath with exertion
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Nothing reported yet
Common symptom
Pain
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen Tramadol Gabapentin

*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
1,980
Tried for
breast cancer (11)
Treatment

(Total Skin Electron Beam Therapy (TSEBT))
Type
Procedures
How many have tried
2,045
Tried for
breast cancer (7)
Treatment
Type
Surgery
How many have tried
1,756
Tried for
breast cancer (5)
Treatment

(Modified radical mastectomy)
Type
Surgery
How many have tried
1,707
Tried for
breast cancer (5)
Treatment

(Mediastinal Lymph Node Dissection)
Type
Surgery
How many have tried
1,730
Tried for
breast cancer (2)

*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 (5 evaluations)
Side effects
dry eyes dry mouth 6 more
Total evaluations
5
Tried for
breast cancer (11)
Treatment

(Total Skin Electron Beam Therapy (TSEBT))
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
breast cancer (7)
Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
for breast cancer (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
breast cancer (5)
Treatment

(Modified radical mastectomy)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
breast cancer (5)
Treatment

(Mediastinal Lymph Node Dissection)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
breast cancer (2)

*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 3
20s 90
30s 280
40s 631
50s 1,633
60s 2,054
70+ 1,345

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 197
Female 5,825