What is Breast cancer?
Breast cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the breast tissue multiply and form a tumour. In the majority of invasive breast cancers, the tumour begins in the linings of the milk ducts. If undetected these cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body.
Breast cancer is not a single disease. Researchers now think there may be up to 10 subtypes, with differences in how aggressive the cancer is, and how it responds to treatment. As more than 75% of all breast cancers occur in women aged 50 and over, due to Australia’s ageing population, the incidence of breast cancer is rising. However, significant advances in the early detection and treatment of breast cancer mean more patients are surviving breast cancer than ever before.
Breast cancer research at Garvan
Garvan is home to one of the largest breast cancer research groups in Australia conducting leading-edge research on the progression of Breast cancer and the development of new treatments. Research includes defining the genetic characteristics of breast cancer; developing biomarkers of prognosis and responsiveness to treatment; and understanding how cancers become resistant to treatment and identifying ways to overcome this. The Kinghorn Cancer Centre brings together clinicians and researchers from St Vincent’s Hospital and Garvan to provide state-of-the-art breast cancer services and to give patients access to a suite of clinical trials.
Our breast cancer research