• Just the Facts … Breast Cancer (pdf)
• Breast Cancer Basics (pdf)
• Pregnancy & Cancer I Español (pdf)
• Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer I Español (pdf)
• A Guide for Jewish Women: What You Need to Know About Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (pdf)
• Inflammatory Breast Cancer
• Breast Cancer & Sexuality - Frequently asked questions.

Patients are treated in our Nellie B. Connally Breast Center, one of the largest multidisciplinary breast centers in the United States. Patients with Inflammatory Breast Cancer are treated at the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Clinic. Breast reconstruction surgery is performed in our Plastic Surgery Center.

• Diagnostic Guidelines (select Diagnostic Guidelines, then Breast)
• Practice Guidelines (select Breast, then Invasive or Noninvasive)

M. D. Anderson's Screening Guidelines
(Updated February 2006)

• All women should be familiar with their breasts so that they will notice any changes and report them to their doctor without delay
• Age 20–39, clinical breast exam (an examination of your breasts by your doctor) every one to three years
• Age 40 and older, yearly mammograms and clinical breast exams, continuing for as long as a woman is in good health

More on Prevention & Screening

• Breast Self-Awareness
• Breast Evaluation Clinic
• Breast & Ovarian Cancer Genetic Risk Assessment
• Mobile Mammography

Genetics & Breast Cancer
For people with a family history of cancer, genetic testing can help assess their individual risk. Counseling is an important part of the genetic testing process. A genetic counselor can evaluate your personal and family history to determine if it merits testing for hereditary cancers. The counselor can also discuss the risks, benefits and limitations of genetic testing, and help develop preventive strategies.

Hereditary Cancer Syndromes
There are many inherited genetic syndromes that significantly raise the risk of cancer in individuals and families who have them. M. D. Anderson provides genetic counseling, genetic testing and medical management for hereditary syndromes and the types of cancer associated with them:

• Cowden Syndrome (pdf)
• Hereditary Breast & Ovarian Cancer (HBOC)
• Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (pdf)

Genetic testing and counseling is done by our Clinical Cancer Genetics program. For more information on this topic, go to Genetics & Cancer.

Patient Stories

• "I can't say that I'm glad I had cancer, but I'm grateful for what I've learned from cancer." Read Lourdes Hernandez' Story.
• “It’s better to be a cancer survivor than a cancer sufferer.” Read Janis Haase's Story.
• “I never thought breast cancer would ever attack me, because I believed I was Superwoman.” Read Jennie Bennett's Story.
• "I wasn't much of a risk-taker before cancer. Now, if I want something, I go for it!" Read Mildred Teitelbaum's Story.

Survivor Support

• Anderson Network - Call 1-800-345-6324 to speak with another breast cancer patient.
• Cancer Survivor Message Board - Share concerns and experiences with other cancer survivors
• Young Breast Cancer Survivors' Program - Educating the public and healthcare professionals about issues facing women diagnosed with breast cancer under the age of 45.

Breast Reconstruction

• Breast Reconstruction CD-ROM - M. D. Anderson plastic surgeons have created an interactive CD-ROM to help women choose the surgical procedure that's right for them.
• Reconstructive Breast Surgery Book Published - New source gives M. D. Anderson breast cancer patients details.

Other M. D. Anderson Educational Resources

• Breast Cancer: Myths & Facts - Free Online Book Debunks Myths About Breast Cancer Risk, Diagnosis & Treatment.
• Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy - A new procedure that uses lymph node mapping to determine which nodes are cancerous, making biopsies much more accurate.
• M. D. Anderson Cancer Care Series: Breast Cancer - A comprehensive clinical guidebook for health care professionals written by M. D. Anderson physicians.

Breast Cancer Media

• Breast Cancer During Pregnancy (mp3) Researchers at M. D. Anderson offer hope to women diagnosed with breast cancer during pregnancy that they and their children can survive the disease.
• Breast Cancer Awareness (wmv) - Watch a video clip with Dr. Bevers on Breast Cancer Awareness.
• SPIRIT Program - Peer counseling program for African-American breast cancer survivors. Watch the video:
• Windows Media: 256K / 56K
• QuickTime: 256K / 56K

Body Mass Index Linked to Some Breast Cancers

MRI Emerges as Breast Cancer Tool

Mammography May Be Beneficial To All Women, Regardless of Age

Weight-Loss Trial Targets Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Web Sites Not Always Accurate

Laura Bush Launches Partnership in Mexico to Eliminate Breast Cancer, Empower Women

HostGator Gives $100,000 to M. D. Anderson's Breast Center

More...

NOTE: Pages will open in a new browser window. M. D. Anderson does not endorse external sites.

American Cancer Society - All about breast cancer.

National Cancer Institute - Breast cancer home page.

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation - Dedicated to raising money for breast cancer research, treatment and screening.

MedicineWorld.org - Breast cancer information page.