Every October, pink ribbons signal Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but this year’s advances go far beyond symbolism. In 2025, researchers have made significant progress in understanding, detecting, and treating breast cancer. From AI-enhanced imaging to personalised immunotherapy, the science is moving fast, and the impact is real.
Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women worldwide, but thanks to earlier detection and improved treatment strategies, survival rates continue to climb. Whether you’re high-risk or simply looking to stay informed, here’s what the latest developments in breast cancer research mean for prevention, screening, and care today.
Key Facts
- Breast cancer affects approximately 1 in 7 women in the UK during their lifetime1.
- Over 55,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, and this is predicted to rise to nearly 70,000 women diagnosed each year by 20382.
- Early-stage breast cancer has high survival rates in the UK, with nearly 100% surviving for 5 years or more if diagnosed at stage 1, or 90% if diagnosed at stage 2.
- Approximately 400 men are diagnosed with breast cancer per year in the UK, making up less than 1 percent of the total number of breast cancer diagnoses3.
- There are various risk factors for breast cancer, including age, family history, and BRCA 1 and 2 mutations4. Women aged over 50 and those with a strong family history are most at risk.
- Mammograms are the UK’s primary breast cancer screening technique, offered to all women aged 50-71 every 3 years5. High-risk groups may be offered MRI scans.
Understanding Breast Cancer
Breast cancer occurs when cells within the breast start to grow uncontrollably, forming a tumour. The tumour can destroy the healthy breast tissue surrounding it and, if untreated, can spread to other tissues or organs in a process called metastasis6. Breast cancer can be classified based on the hormone receptors found on the cancer cells, for example, HER-2 positive or triple negative7.
Common Types
Breast cancer is split into types based on where in the breast it starts and on how the cells behave, eg, invasive cells, where they have spread into the surrounding tissue.
Common types include:
- No Special Type – Invasive breast cancer with no special features; the most common type of breast cancer.
- Invasive lobular – Cancer that started in the lobules (the milk glands) but has spread into the surrounding breast tissue.
- Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) – Cells in the ducts (the tubes that transport the milk) have become cancerous, but have not spread to the surrounding breast tissue.
- Triple-negative breast cancer – Cancer cells that lack all three common receptors (oestrogen, progesterone, and HER2).
Risk Factors
Having one or more risk factors increases the likelihood of an individual developing breast cancer; however, they do not mean that the individual will definitely get breast cancer. Risk factors include:
- Age – The majority of breast cancers are seen in women aged over 50.
- Genetics – A mutation in specific genes can increase the risk of breast cancer, for example, mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.
- Dense breast tissue – Women with breast tissue containing less fat and more breast cells, known as dense breast tissue, have a higher risk of breast cancer.
- Lifestyle – Women who are overweight, smoke, or drink alcohol are at an increased risk of breast cancer.
- Hormone exposure – Taking the contraceptive pill and hormone replacement therapy both have a small effect on increasing breast cancer risk.
2025 Research Highlights
AI-Enhanced Mammography and MRI
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in medicine to assist doctors. AI has been used to optimise breast cancer screening by assisting radiologists in reading mammograms. In some trials, AI-assisted mammograms have been shown to outperform radiologists8.
AI increases the accuracy of reading mammograms, reducing false negatives (when cancer is present but has not been identified) and reducing recall rates8, resulting in fewer unnecessary biopsies.
Blood Tests for Early Detection
Clinical trials in 2025 are showing promising results for liquid biopsies – blood tests to detect breast cancer DNA in the blood9. The NHS is the first in the world to start introducing these biopsies to patients10. These tests are designed to work alongside mammograms, not to completely replace them.
Multi-cancer early detection (MCED) blood tests have been developed to detect multiple cancers at once. These are currently under review in the UK for wider use11.
Breakthroughs in Targeted Therapy
Breast cancer therapies continue to improve, with recent breakthroughs in therapies that specifically target certain types of breast cancer, for example:
- Drugs such as trastuzumab deruxtecan can extend survival in late-stage HER2-low cancer patients12.
- Immunotherapies, such as pembrolizumab, show promise for treating triple-negative breast cancer13.
Personalised Prevention
Catching cancer early is the key to successful treatment, as at its earliest stages, it is easier to treat. Identifying individuals most at risk of developing breast cancer can help catch it early, or can even result in cancer prevention, such as through risk-reducing surgery or preventative hormone therapy.
Recent advances in risk identification are aiding personalised prevention14. Ezra has developed a risk calculator, which can empower people to become more proactive about their health and take steps to reduce their risk of cancer based on family history and health data.
Early Detection Saves Lives
The NHS offers mammograms for breast cancer screening every 3 years for women aged 50-7115. These are important, as they allow doctors to identify cancer as early as possible, even before symptoms have occurred. Individuals at a higher risk may benefit from more frequent assessments, such as an annual breast MRI scan.
Emerging Tools for Dense Breast Tissue
Dense breast tissue not only increases the risk of breast cancer but also makes cancer harder to detect on mammograms. Approximately 40 percent of women aged 40 and above have dense breast tissue16. For these individuals, breast ultrasounds or MRI scans may be used instead of mammograms to improve cancer detection17.
Role of Risk Assessment
Assessing your level of risk, including family history and health status, can help determine your screening frequency. Women with known mutations (such as BRCA1) or a strong family history of breast cancer may benefit from more frequent imaging starting at a younger age.
What You Can Do This Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Take Action for Yourself
It’s important to attend cancer screenings to detect cancer as early as possible. If you are due or overdue, then schedule your screening.
It can be helpful to know your personal risk level. You can assess this by using the Ezra Risk Calculator.
Support Others
You can support others by:
- Sharing educational resources on social media.
- Fundraising or donating to charities such as Cancer Research UK, Breast Cancer UK, or Macmillan Cancer Support.
- Encouraging open conversations around symptoms, normalising screenings, and discussing family history.
- Promoting breast health equity in underserved communities.
Summary
Breast cancer research in 2025 has delivered powerful advancements, from AI-guided imaging and liquid biopsies to life-extending targeted therapies. These innovations offer more hope than ever for early detection, personalised prevention, and improved outcomes.
However, awareness is only the first step. Regular screening and proactive risk management remain the most effective tools we have.
If you want to be proactive about your health, why not book an Ezra MRI Scan? Our MRI technology uses AI to detect abnormalities early. It’s fast, non-invasive, and interpreted by top radiologists.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the early signs of breast cancer?
Common early signs include a lump in the breast, dimpled or reddened skin, nipple discharge, or pain that does not go away18.
At what age should I start screening?
The NHS offers mammograms from the age of 50, it may be recommended to start earlier if you are considered high-risk15.
What if I have dense breast tissue?
If you have dense breasts, you may be eligible for advanced screening, such as an MRI17.
How can I assess my personal risk?
You can use the Ezra Risk Calculator to assess your risk.
