Breast cancer is a malignancy arising from the epithelial cells of the breast, most often within the ducts or lobules of the glandular tissue, and is among the most common cancers affecting women worldwide. It is a biologically heterogeneous disease shaped by the interplay of genetic, hormonal, reproductive, lifesty…
Breast cancer is a malignancy arising from the epithelial cells of the breast, most often within the ducts or lobules of the glandular tissue, and is among the most common cancers affecting women worldwide. It is a biologically heterogeneous disease shaped by the interplay of genetic, hormonal, reproductive, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Inherited mutations in genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 confer substantially elevated risk in a subset of cases, while most arise sporadically. Tumors are classified by histological type, by stage reflecting size and spread, and by molecular characteristics, particularly the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors and the HER2 protein, which together define clinically important subtypes and guide therapy. Hormone receptor-positive tumors depend on estrogen signaling and respond to endocrine therapy, whereas HER2-positive and triple-negative subtypes require distinct approaches. Detection relies on clinical examination, mammographic and other imaging-based screening, and confirmatory biopsy, with early identification strongly improving outcomes. Treatment is typically multimodal, combining surgery, radiation, and systemic options including chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, HER2-targeted agents, and immunotherapy according to subtype and stage. Research continues into risk prediction, screening optimization, molecular profiling, and novel targeted treatments. Awareness, timely evaluation of breast changes, and access to screening and care remain central to reducing the burden of the disease among women.
5 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 5 articles above have been cited 10 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Women s Health Breast Cancer, linking to each citing work.