It's a nightmare that plagues millions of women -- a diagnosis of breast cancer. The fear isn't misplaced. Breast cancer affects more women than any other cancer except skin cancer, and kills more than any cancer but lung cancer.

But there's more reason than ever for hope. Patients have an increasingly better chance of surviving as detection and treatment methods improve and pervasive public awareness efforts tout the need for regular mammograms and self-exams -- such as the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign every October.

Interactive: Know the warning signs of breast cancer
• Commentary: A test worth taking
• The path traveled and road ahead
• The unlikely breast cancer patient
• Gallery: The faces of breast cancer
• Time.com: Which tests are best

Treatments, risks, symptoms and causes
• Prevention factors you can control
• The many types of breast cancer
• All about mammograms
• Finding a lump: What’s next?
• Genetic testing for breast cancer
• Tamoxifen and breast cancer

What's the most important part of the fight against breast cancer?
Creating awareness
Advancing treatments
Lowering controllable risk factors
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