Researchers around the world are working to find better ways to prevent, detect and treat breast cancer and to improve the quality of life of patients and survivors.

There are many different types of Breast Cancer. Men and women can develop all types. 

Current guidance on preventing and treating breast cancer as well as what might cause it (among other things) has come mainly from information discovered from research studies. Research studies can range from studies done in the lab to clinical trials done with hundreds of thousands of people. Clinical trials are carefully controlled studies that can gather specific information about certain diseases as well as explore promising new treatments.

Clinical trials are one way to get the latest cancer treatments that are being investigated. Still, they are not right for everyone. If you would like to learn more about clinical trials that might be right for you, start by asking your doctor if your clinic or hospital conducts clinical trials.

BREAST CANCER CAUSES

Studies continue to look at how certain lifestyle factors, habits, and other environmental factors, as well as inherited gene changes, might affect breast cancer risk. Here are a few examples:

• Several studies are looking at the effects of physical activity, weight gain or loss, and diet on breast cancer risk.
• Some breast cancers run in families, but many of the gene mutations (changes) that cause these breast cancers are not yet known. Research is being done to identify these gene changes.
• Several studies are focusing on the best uses of genetic, testing for inherited breast cancer gene mutations.
• Possible environmental causes of breast cancer have also received more attention in recent years. While much of the science on this topic as still in its earliest stages, this is an area of active research.