FEATURED MEDICAL EDUCATION TOPIC: Breast Cancer

What is the problem?

About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 13%) will develop invasive breast cancer throughout their lifetime. In 2026, an estimated 321,910 new invasive breast cancer diagnoses are expected in women in the U.S., along with 60,730 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and 2,670 invasive cases in men. An estimated 42,140 women and 530 men will die of the disease in 2026. For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than those for other cancers besides lung cancer. In 2021, according to the World Health Organization, breast cancer became the most common cancer globally. Physicians should understand the latest guidelines and treatment options to answer patients’ questions and coordinate care with specialists effectively.

Proposed Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Assess modifiable and non-modifiable breast cancer risk factors, including hormone replacement therapy, germline genetic mutations, reproductive history, and breast density
• Describe the pathophysiology and epidemiology of breast cancer, including molecular subtypes
• Identify prognostic and predictive indicators that inform treatment selection
• Follow AJCC clinical and pathologic TNM staging guidelines and choose appropriate evidence-based treatment and management (surgical and nonsurgical) options
• Summarize current and future research studies and clinical trials

If your medical staff needs an update on breast cancer, consider contacting our office to book a speaker at 714-505-4777 or info@speakersnetwork.com.

REFERENCES

https://www.breastcancer.org/facts-statistics

https://gis.cdc.gov/Cancer/USCS/DataViz.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482286

https://www.uptodate.com/contents/ductal-carcinoma-in-situ-treatment-and-prognosis

https://www.nccn.org/guidelines/guidelines-detail?category=1&id=1419

Sources: American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures 2026; Key Statistics for Breast Cancer (ACS, 2026)