[Breast cancer: figures and facts].

The diagnosis and therapy of breast cancer has been improved and individualized to a great extend during the past two decades. Large randomised trials guide our discussions and new results are integrated continuously into the concept of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. The new achievements are an increased early detection of breast cancer, a reduction in invasive procedures for diagnosis and operative treatment and an improvement of reconstructive oncoplastic-procedures. Chemo- and hormonal therapy have increased the survival rate and have improved quality of live in advanced disease. The follow-up of patients with breast cancer has to be aimed on regular personal contact, mammography, and gynaecologic follow-up. Other laboratory parameters and imaging techniques have to be reduced and confined for patients with anamnestic or clinical evidence of tumour progression.