Breast Cancer In 2026: How Far We've Come

Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer and cause of death among women in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Men can develop it too, although male breast cancer accounts for just 1% of cases in the US occur in men. Thanks to community awareness, recent medical advancements and advanced screening methods, the five-year survival rate among female breast cancer patients is 92%.

To better understand breast cancer in America, including new treatment and early detection methods, we invited EvergreenHealth General Surgeon Dr. Analisa Armstrong and Breast Surgeon Dr. Marion Johnson to join our podcast, Check-Up Chat.

"If Breast Cancer Is Caught Early, It's Completely Treatable"

According to Dr. Armstrong, "Thanks to screening mammograms, the majority of breast cancers are diagnosed at an early stage. If it's caught early, it's completely treatable." She said that yearly mammograms are recommended after age 40 and it's important to regularly perform self-examinations. "If you feel an abnormality," she said, "then the next step is to present to your primary care doctor immediately and they'll schedule a diagnostic mammogram."

Depending on what the mammogram reveals, your doctor might order a breast ultrasound or MRI. If imaging tests reveal a lump or abnormal area in the breast, your provider will order a biopsy that removes a small amount of tissue from the affected area. A pathologist will then study this sample to determine the cancer's stage, location and treatment options. The report could also determine that the mass is benign and does not need immediate medical intervention.

What Happens Next?

EvergreenHealth offers an interdisciplinary team to all its breast cancer patients, and tailors every treatment plan to the patient. "The team in general is the radiologists and the pathologists in the background," said Dr. Johnson, "but the general surgeons, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists are all in the forefront, seeing those patients pretty quickly."

"We also have social services and people behind the scenes like nutritionists, people helping out with things that aren't quite as front and center, but very important in a patient's journey and recovery. We also have our nurse navigators and an amazing community of support networks like classes and support groups where you can find people who can help you along on your journey."

When it comes to treatment, Dr. Armstrong said, "Thanks to modern medicine and breast cancer research, things have really shifted in the the last couple of decades. It's incredibly tailored, which makes it a huge improvement from where we used to be a few decades ago." She said breast cancer treatment falls into three main categories:

• Surgery: Generally a lumpectomy or a mastectomy.
• Radiation oncology: Not all patients need radiation, but it can be a part of the overall treatment plan.
• Medical oncology: Systemic therapy sometimes including chemotherapy, which is often an IV based infusion, or once daily endocrine medication to block receptors, lowering risk of a future or recurrent cancer.

Thanks to EvergreenHealth's partnership with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, all cancer patients, including those being treated for breast cancer, have access to leading-edge clinical trials and treatment.

Breast Cancer Prevention

Dr. Armstrong has simple, familiar advice for ways to help prevent breast cancer: "The best data out there supports healthy lifestyle choices. A Mediterranean plant-based diet, thirty minutes of vigorous walking at least three times a week and not drinking alcohol excessively."

"But most importantly," she said, "get an annual screening mammogram, because most breast cancers are diagnosed these days well before you would feel a palpable mass, and that makes all the difference in terms of treatment and moving on with breast cancer being a blip on your screen behind you. With more tailored treatment thanks to early detection, we can do less invasive surgery, and that is really heartening."

To learn more from Dr. Armstrong and Dr. Johnson, you can listen to the full Check-Up Chat podcast episode or click to watch the vodcast.

You can also learn more about EvergreenHealth Cancer Care by visiting our website.