Breast cancer is an abnormal growth of cells in the breast. The cancer may grow into surrounding tissues and spread to other organs of the body.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting Australian women. A small number of men (1 in 556) are also diagnosed each year.

Breast cancer can develop at any age, but the risk increases significantly with age. More than 75% of breast cancers in Australia occur in women aged over 501. You can learn more about risk factors for breast cancer here.

Most breast cancers are not caused by known genetic factors. Most women who develop breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease.

There are several types of breast cancer, depending on where the cancer is within the breast and whether the cancer has spread outside the breast. You can read more about the different types of breast cancer on the Cancer Australia website.

It is important for women of all ages to know what they can do to help find breast cancer early. Early detection of breast cancer improves treatment options and health outcomes for women.

All women should be breast aware and get to know the normal look and feel of their breasts, so that they can detect any new breast changes. You can learn more about what to look out for and the symptoms of breast cancer here.