Types of cancer
Breast cancer
Helping you to understand more about breast cancer, its symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.
Last updated: 11 March 2026
Sources and references 
Breast cancer
If you’re affected by early or locally advanced breast cancer, you may have many questions about how it is diagnosed, treatment options, side effects and how to stay well.
About breast cancer
Find out about the different types of breast cancer and how common it is.
Symptoms, risks and screening
Learn about the common symptoms and risk factors for breast cancer, and the BreastScreen Australia screening program
Diagnosing breast cancer
Information about the tests for breast cancer, how breast cancer is diagnosed and staged, and who will provide your care.
Treatments for breast cancer
Treatment for breast cancer may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
Managing side effects of breast cancer
It can take time to recover from the physical and emotional changes caused by treatment. Side effects can vary with some people affected more than others.
Life during and after treatment
Cancer can cause physical and emotional strain, so it’s important to look after your wellbeing.
Personal Stories
Sources and references
This information has been developed by Cancer Council NSW on behalf of all other state and territory Cancer Councils and Cancer Council Australia as part of a National Cancer Information Subcommittee initiative. We thank the reviewers of this content: Dr Diana Adams, Medical Oncologist, Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre, NSW; Prof Bruce Mann, Specialist Breast Surgeon and Director, Breast Cancer Services, The Royal Melbourne and The Royal Women’s Hospitals, VIC; Dr Shagun Aggarwal, Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Prince of Wales, Sydney Children’s and Royal Hospital for Women, NSW; Andrea Concannon, consumer; Jenny Gilchrist, Nurse Practitioner Breast Oncology, Macquarie University Hospital, NSW; Monica Graham, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Natasha Keir, Nurse Practitioner Breast Oncology, GenesisCare, QLD; Dr Bronwyn Kennedy, Breast Physician, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse and Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, NSW; Lisa Montgomery, consumer; A/Prof Sanjay Warrier, Specialist Breast Surgeon, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Dr Janice Yeh, Radiation Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC. We also thank the health professionals, consumers and editorial teams who have worked on previous editions of this title.
Photographs have been reproduced with permission from A/Prof James French, Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, NSW; Prof Elisabeth Elder, Westmead Breast Cancer Institute and The University of Sydney, NSW; and Breast Cancer: Taking Control, breastcancertakingcontrol.com © Boycare Publishing, 2010.
Cancer Council 13 11 20
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Guide to best cancer care
This breast cancer guide explains the standard of high-quality cancer care that all Australians can expect, from diagnosis, to treatment, recovery, and living with cancer.