Breast cancer is a cancer that develops from breast cells. Breast cancer usually originates in the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply them with milk.
According to the Canadian Cancer Statistics, 2025, around 31,600 females will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 5,400 will die. When it comes to males, 290 will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 55 will die from it. Breast cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer in Canada in 2025, and 1 in 8 females is expected to receive a breast cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. Breast cancer survival is generally high at 85% or more for females diagnosed prior to 85 years of age (survival declines to 73% after 85).
Source: Canadian Cancer Statistics 2025
About this Cancer
According to the Canadian Cancer Statistics, 2025, around 31,600 females will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 5,400 will die. When it comes to males, 290 will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 55 will die from it. Breast cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer in Canada in 2025, and 1 in 8 females is expected to receive a breast cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. Breast cancer survival is generally high at 85% or more for females diagnosed prior to 85 years of age (survival declines to 73% after 85).
Source: Canadian Cancer Statistics 2025
Symptoms of breast cancer depend on the sub-type and stage of the cancer and can include:
- A mass in the armpit
- Changes in the shape or size of the breast
- An inverted nipple (pointing inward) or discharge/blood from it
- Bone pain
- Nausea
- Weight loss
- Jaundice
- Risk factors for breast cancer include:
- A personal or family history of breast cancer
- BRCA gene mutations
- Having dense breasts
- Genetic conditions (such as Li-Fraumeni or Cowden syndrome)
- Reproductive history (early menstruation, late menopause, late or no pregnancy)
- Exposure to ionizing radiation
- Alcohol, obesity, physical inactivity
Diagnosis options for breast cancer include:
- Health history and physical exam
- A diagnostic mammography
- Imaging tests: Ultrasound, X-rays, Bone scan, MRI
- Biopsy
- Lymph node biopsy
- Hormone receptor status testing
- HER2 status testing
- CBC
- Blood chemistry tests
- Tumour marker tests
- Scintimammography
- Ductography
Treatment options vary widely depending on many factors (the stage, where the cancer has spread, your menopause status, etc.). Options include:
- Chemotherapy
- Hormone therapy
- Targeted therapy
- Surgery (such as removing breast tissue or lymph nodes)
- Radiation therapy
From Mayo Clinic
Stories from Survivors
Angela the Pink Tiger (Breast Cancer Survivor)
Breast Cancer? But Doctor….I hate pink!
Breast Surgeon with Breast Cancer
Chrissy’s Alliance (Facebook)
Cyndi’s A Day In A Life With Life
Dancing with Cancer: Living with METS, The New Normal
Entering a World of Pink – a male breast cancer blog
Feisty Blue Gecko – a tail of the unexpected
Journeying Beyond Breast Cancer
Laura Louise and her naughty disease
Lovely, With a Side of Terrible
My Journey Past Breast Cancer and into Cardiomyopathy
Silverlupus: life thru cancer and other hiccups
SUE – a breast cancer survivor
Resources
A Nutrition Guide for Women with Breast Cancer
Breast cancer in men (YouTube)
Breast Cancer Treatment (YouTube)
Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book — Newly Revised 7th Edition
How to do a breast cancer self-examination – BBC News (YouTube)
Understanding Breast Cancer (YouTube)
5 Signs of Breast cancer | 3D Animation (YouTube)
December 13th, 2024 – AI Shaping the Future of Breast Cancer Risk Prediction – University of Adelaide
December 13th, 2024 – New Study Shows Mobile Mammography Reach is Highest in Underserved Groups with Low Breast Cancer Screening Adherence – Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute
December 11th, 2024 – Breast Cancer Alert: Study Finds Post-35 Weight Gain Raises Risk – Chinese Academy of Sciences
December 11th, 2024 – Battling Breast Cancer: New Insights Into Angiogenesis and Drug Resistance – Chinese Academy of Sciences
December 4th, 2024 – Analyzing Multiple Mammograms Improves Breast Cancer Risk Prediction – Washington University in St. Louis
November 20th, 2024 – Healthy Women Have Cells That Resemble Breast Cancer, Study Finds – University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
November 11th, 2024 – Study Sheds Light on How BRCA1 Gene Mutations Fuel Breast Cancer – Harvard Medical School
November 8th, 2024 – Cleveland Clinic Announces Updated Findings in Preventive Breast Cancer Vaccine Study – Cleveland Clinic
November 5th, 2024 – BRCA only explains a fraction of breast cancers — genes tied to metabolism may also up risk – Live Science
October 31st, 2024 – The Breadth of Breast Cell Types – University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center
October 30th, 2024 – Curbing Late-Stage Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Innovative Mobile Diagnostic Kit Aims to Improve Early Detection in Uganda? – Vanderbilt University Medical Center
October 29th, 2024 – Computational Tool Developed to Predict Immunotherapy Outcomes for Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer – Johns Hopkins Medicine
October 22nd, 2024 – Surgical Innovations Help Personalize Breast Cancer Treatment, Improve Quality of Life – Mayo Clinic
September 28th, 2024 – ESMO 2024: Risk for Recurrence High for HR-Positive/HER2-Negative High-Risk Node-Negative Early Breast Cancer – Oncology
September 13th, 2024- Antibody-Drug Conjugate Found Effective Against Brain Metastases in Patients with HER2-Positive Breast Cancer – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
September 12th, 2024 – Overcoming Drug Resistance in Breast Cancer Treatment – College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
August 29th, 2024 – False-positive mammogram results discourage some women from future screenings – UC Davis Health
August 19th, 2024 – Preliminary study shows potential of Manuka honey as a nutraceutical for breast cancer – University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences
August 14, 2024 – Tracing the evolutionary history of breast cancer – nature reviews cancer
August 13th, 2024 – Decoding calcifications in breast cancer: towards personalized medicine – Chinese Academy of Sciences
August 5th, 2024 – Early Menopause Linked to Increased Breast Cancer Risk – Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah
July 25th, 2024 – BRCA1/2: Why men should be screened for the ‘breast cancer gene’ – Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
January 25, 2024 – Patient-derived organoids: a promising tool for breast cancer research – Frontiers
January 17, 2024 – Recent advances in breast cancer cell line research – Wiley
October 5, 2023 – Early-Stage Breast Cancer Detection in Breast Milk – AACR Journals
August 11, 2023 – Omics technologies improving breast cancer research and diagnostics – MDPI
May 29, 2023 – Recent Advancement in Breast Cancer Research: Insights from Model Organisms—Mouse Models to Zebrafish – MDPI
2021 – Exploring Women’s Experiences After Breast Cancer Diagno-Sis. A Qualitative Study – Michael Rovithis
2018 – The self-reported perceptions of the repercussions of the disease and its treatments on daily life for young women with breast cancer and their partners – Journal of Psychosocial Oncology
January 6th, 2017 – Abstract P1-11-10: Young women with breast cancer: Needs and experiences – Punam Rana
Feburary 3rd, 2015 – Moving Forward: A Qualitative Research Inquiry to Inform the Development of a Resource Pack for Women Following Primary Breast Cancer Treatment – Journal of Psychosocial Oncology
March 2015 – Quality of Life of Women with Breast Cancer-Emotional and Social Aspects – American Journal of Cancer Prevention
Breast Cancer Groups
“After BREAST CANCER is Dedicated to Supporting and Celebrating those Affected by breast cancer through research and development, direct support and support for the future.” Visit afterbreastcancer to learn more.
“Breast Cancer Canada is a national charity dedicated to saving lives through breast cancer research. With a focus on precision oncology (personalized care), it is the only national breast cancer organization in Canada that has a clear mandate to raise money for research and advocate and educate on the progress of new research evidence.” Visit Breast Cancer Canada to learn more.
Kelly Shires Foundation was “founded to offer financial support to people across Canada who are facing a breast cancer diagnosis.” To learn more about how they help, visit Kelly Shires Foundation.
“Rethink Breast Cancer educates, empowers and advocates for system changes to improve the experience and outcomes of those with breast cancer, focusing on historically underserved groups: women diagnosed at a younger age, those with metastatic breast cancer and people systemically marginalized due to other factors within the social determinants of health.” Visit Rethink Breast Cancer to learn more.
CURE “gives hope by spearheading a nationwide support system for breast cancer patients and their families.They do this through: CURE’s Financial Assistance Program which provides financial aid to women in active treatment; investing in programs for prevention and early detection; funding cutting-edge treatment, innovative research, and breakthrough projects to improve outcomes; and through supporting a range of services for patients and their families.” Visit them at Cure Foundation.