{"id":896084,"date":"2026-06-27T08:51:29","date_gmt":"2026-06-27T08:51:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/896084\/"},"modified":"2026-06-27T08:51:29","modified_gmt":"2026-06-27T08:51:29","slug":"bilateral-breast-cancer-symptoms-risk-factors-and-prognosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/896084\/","title":{"rendered":"Bilateral breast cancer: Symptoms, risk factors and prognosis"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When breast cancer develops in both breasts, it\u2019s called bilateral breast cancer. This accounts for 1.4% to 11% of all breast cancer diagnoses, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC12195439\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">National Institutes of Health<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Bilateral breast cancer is not as common as unilateral breast cancer (breast cancer in just one breast). As with all types of breast cancer, the chances of successful treatment are higher when bilateral breast cancer is caught early. So, it\u2019s important to know the symptoms and risk factors.<\/p>\n<p>To learn more about bilateral breast cancer, we spoke with <a href=\"http:\/\/faculty.mdanderson.org\/profiles\/banu_arun.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Banu Arun,M.D.<\/a>, breast medical oncologist and co-medical director of UT MD Anderson\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/research\/departments-labs-institutes\/programs-centers\/clinical-cancer-genetics.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Clinical Cancer Genetics Program<\/a>. Here\u2019s what she shared.<\/p>\n<p>Types of bilateral breast cancer<\/p>\n<p>Bilateral breast cancer \u2013 sometimes called contralateral breast cancer \u2013 is categorized based on when the second tumor develops.<\/p>\n<p>Synchronous bilateral breast cancer<\/p>\n<p>Tumors are diagnosed in both breasts around the same time. This is usually defined as within six to 12 months of each other.<\/p>\n<p>Asynchronous bilateral breast cancer<\/p>\n<p>Asynchronous bilateral breast cancer, also called metachronous bilateral breast cancer, occurs when a second primary breast cancer develops in the other breast more than 12 months after the first breast cancer diagnosis. It is slightly more common than synchronous bilateral breast cancer.<\/p>\n<p>Risk factors for bilateral breast cancer<\/p>\n<p>Certain factors put you at a higher risk for developing bilateral breast cancer. The most common risk factors are:<\/p>\n<p>Symptoms of bilateral breast cancer<\/p>\n<p>Bilateral breast cancer symptoms are usually the same as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancer-types\/breast-cancer\/breast-cancer-symptoms.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">symptoms<\/a> for other types of breast cancer. Symptoms may include:<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes bilateral breast cancer doesn\u2019t cause any symptoms, and a tumor is found through imaging.<\/p>\n<p>How bilateral breast cancer is diagnosed<\/p>\n<p>If you have symptoms, your doctor might perform or order any of the following to help diagnose bilateral breast cancer:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Breast exam<\/b>: During a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/what-to-expect-during-a-clinical-breast-exam.h00-159780390.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">clinical breast exam<\/a>, a clinician will visually inspect your breasts as well as use their hands to feel for any masses or abnormalities.<\/li>\n<li><b>Diagnostic mammogram<\/b>: A diagnostic mammogram is done to further examine a specific area of the breast for abnormalities.<\/li>\n<li><b>Breast ultrasound or MRI<\/b>: A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/mammogram-vs--breast-ultrasound--what-s-the-difference.h00-159702279.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">breast ultrasound<\/a> or breast MRI uses sound waves or magnet and radio waves, respectively, to produce detailed images of your breast.<\/li>\n<li><b>Breast biopsy<\/b>: If your doctor suspects cancer, they will order a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/8-breast-biopsy-questions-answered.h00-159303834.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">breast biopsy<\/a>. This is when a sample of your breast tissue is examined under a microscope. It\u2019s the only test that can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancer-types\/breast-cancer\/breast-cancer-diagnosis.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">diagnose breast cancer<\/a>. If breast cancer is found, you may need additional tests, like a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/sentinel-lymph-node-biopsy--what-cancer-patients-should-know.h00-159299889.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">sentinel lymph node biopsy<\/a>, to show if the cancer has spread to nearby <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/lymph-nodes-explained--location--function--swelling-and-cancer-connection.h00-159852978.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">lymph nodes<\/a> or other parts of your body.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Regular <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/prevention-screening\/get-screened\/breast-cancer-screening.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">screening mammograms<\/a> can also help detect bilateral breast cancer if you do not have any symptoms. If you get an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/5-reasons-you-might-get-called-back-after-a-screening-mammogram.h00-159699912.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">abnormal result<\/a> from a screening mammogram, your doctor will want to run more tests to help determine the cause of the abnormality.<\/p>\n<p>Treatment for bilateral breast cancer<\/p>\n<p>We approach treatment for bilateral breast cancer the same way we do for cancer that is just in one breast. Your care team will discuss the best treatment plan based on several factors, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Your age<\/li>\n<li>The size and location of the tumor<\/li>\n<li>The tumor\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/how-are-biomarkers-used-in-cancer-treatment.h00-159855345.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">biomarkers<\/a> (e.g., HER2)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You may have any of the following treatment options.<\/p>\n<p>Mastectomy<\/p>\n<p>A partial or segmental <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/what-is-a-mastectomy--what-to-expect-and-recovery-from-this-breast-cancer-treatment-option.h00-159460845.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">mastectomy<\/a> involves removing the tumor and surrounding breast tissue. This can be done in both breasts. A bilateral mastectomy, also called a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/what-is-a-double-mastectomy.h00-159545268.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">double mastectomy<\/a>, is removal of both breasts. Your doctor may recommend a bilateral mastectomy for larger tumors or if you have a genetic mutation like BRCA1 or BRCA2.<\/p>\n<p>Chemotherapy<\/p>\n<p>You may be given <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/treatment-options\/chemotherapy.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">chemotherapy<\/a> before surgery to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/how-long-does-it-take-chemotherapy-to-shrink-tumors.h00-159696756.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">shrink the tumor<\/a> or after surgery to lower the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/breast-cancer-recurrence--which-types-of-breast-cancer-are-most-likely-to-come-back.h00-159778023.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">risk of recurrence<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Radiation therapy<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/treatment-options\/radiation-therapy.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Radiation therapy<\/a> uses powerful beams of energy to kill breast cancer cells. It may be given before surgery to help shrink tumors or after surgery to kill any remaining microscopic cancer cells.<\/p>\n<p>Targeted therapy<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/treatment-options\/targeted-therapy.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Targeted therapy<\/a> is treatment that slows or stops the growth of breast cancer by targeting the proteins that produce them. Targeted therapy is used to treat <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/her2-positive-breast-cancer--what-it-is--diagnosis-and-treatment.h00-159542112.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">HER2 positive breast cancer<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Hormone therapy<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/what-is-hormone-therapy-for-breast-cancer.h00-159542112.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Hormone therapy<\/a> is used to treat breast cancers that are positive for the hormone receptors estrogen and progesterone. It can be given before surgery to shrink the tumor or after surgery for several years to help prevent recurrence.<\/p>\n<p>Bilateral breast cancer is not the same as metastatic breast cancer<\/p>\n<p>Bilateral breast cancer means you have two different breast tumors \u2013 one in each breast. Each diagnosis is staged and treated as a separate cancer.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/metastatic-cancer--what-happens-when-cancer-spreads.h00-159460845.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Metastatic<\/a> breast cancer describes a primary breast cancer that has spread far away from the original tumor\u2019s location. It is also known as stage 4 breast cancer.<\/p>\n<p>While it is possible, having breast cancer metastasize to the opposite breast is very rare.<\/p>\n<p>Breast cancers most likely to be bilateral<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancer-types\/breast-cancer\/invasive-lobular-carcinoma.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Invasive lobular carcinoma<\/a> is a type of breast cancer that is most likely to affect both breasts.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Certain factors can play a role in whether breast cancer is bilateral as well. For example, patients with ER positive breast cancer are often given the hormone therapy drugs tamoxifen or anastrozole. These drugs reduce the risk of developing new cancers in the opposite breast. So, if someone with ER positive breast cancer does not receive this treatment, the risk of developing another ER-positive breast cancer in the opposite breast is more likely.<\/p>\n<p>Some data suggests that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancer-types\/breast-cancer\/triple-negative-breast-cancer.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">triple-negative breast cancer<\/a> has a higher chance of being bilateral, but triple-negative breast cancer is also tied to having an inherited BRCA 1 genetic mutation. So, the risk factors for triple-negative breast cancer and bilateral breast cancer overlap. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Prognosis for bilateral breast cancer<\/p>\n<p>The prognosis for bilateral breast cancer is the same as unilateral breast cancer. It depends on several factors, including the type of breast cancer, the cancer\u2019s stage and its hormone receptor status.<\/p>\n<p>Just like unilateral breast cancer, bilateral breast cancer can be aggressive. How aggressive the cancer is depends on several factors, including the cancer\u2019s stage, the type of tumor and its hormone receptor status. Aggressive breast cancer often grows and spreads quickly and is more likely to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/breast-cancer-recurrence--which-types-of-breast-cancer-are-most-likely-to-come-back.h00-159778023.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">come back<\/a>. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The five-year survival rate for breast cancer is 90%. But keep in mind these are just estimates. Your doctor can provide you with specific information about your outlook.<\/p>\n<p>Why breast cancer screening is important<\/p>\n<p>The chance for successful treatment is higher when bilateral breast cancer is caught early. If you\u2019re diagnosed with breast cancer, you have a 0.5% to 1% chance of developing a new breast cancer in the opposite breast. And you may not have symptoms. That\u2019s why regular breast cancer screenings are so important.<\/p>\n<p>Women 25 years and older should ask their doctor for a breast cancer risk assessment and get a clinical breast exam every one to three years. Women of average risk should begin getting an annual <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/what-to-expect-at-your-first-mammogram.h00-159780390.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">mammogram<\/a> and clinical breast exam at 40 years old. If you are at an increased risk for breast cancer, your doctor will recommend a personalized screening plan.<\/p>\n<p>You should be aware of how your breasts look and feel, and you should see your doctor if you notice any changes or abnormalities.<\/p>\n<p>If you are a patient at UT MD Anderson diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer, you can ask for a referral to our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/patients-family\/diagnosis-treatment\/care-centers-clinics\/breast-center\/high-risk-screening-and-genetics-clinic.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">High Risk Breast Screening and Genetics Clinic<\/a>. We have a multidisciplinary team of specialists who are here to help you. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/my.mdanderson.org\/RequestAppointment\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Request an appointment at UT MD Anderson online<\/b><\/a><b> or call 1-877-632-6789.<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When breast cancer develops in both breasts, it\u2019s called bilateral breast cancer. This accounts for 1.4% to 11%&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":896085,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5130],"tags":[15634,147857,37967,206639,169135,4345,18301,3314,358,3187],"class_list":["post-896084","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-houston","tag-breast-cancer","tag-breast-cancer-screening","tag-caregivers","tag-diagnosis-treatment","tag-health-vigilant","tag-houston","tag-patients","tag-survivors","tag-texas","tag-tx"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116821222177093082","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/896084","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=896084"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/896084\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/896085"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=896084"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=896084"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=896084"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}