Bookmark This: Learn the Types of Breast Cancer

With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it’s a good time to be reminded of the importance of screening and prevention. Breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women in the United States every year and 42,000 women die of the disease. 

Here is a little deeper dive into the different types of breast cancers, which typically are categorized as carcinomas. The tumors begin in your cells lining the tissues and organs of your body. When the carcinoma starts in the breast lobules or milk ducts that produce milk, it's referred to as adenocarcinoma.

Along with determining where breast cancer starts within your breast (i.e. milk glands or ducts), it's also classified as either noninvasive or invasive.

In situ (non-invasive) breast cancer

Non-invasive breast cancer cells remain in their point of origin within your breast lobules or milk ducts. They don't invade or grow into normal tissues beyond or within your breast.

1. Lobular Carcinoma in Situ (LCIS)

Sometimes referred to intralobular or neoplasia, this type of cancer isn’t considered a pre-cancer or cancer since without treatment, it doesn’t become invasive cancer. It indicates you could possibly develop breast cancer in the future.

LCIS is typically diagnosed before you experience menopause, usually between the ages of 40 and 50 years old. Less than 10% of females who received a LCIS diagnosis have already experienced menopause. It’s very rare in men.

2. Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS)

DCIS is a type of noninvasive cancer. It’s not life-threatening, but when you have this type of cancer, it could increase your risk of invasive breast cancer development later on. Around 1 in 5 new breast cancers will end up being DCIS. Almost all females with this early stage DCIS can be cured.

Sometimes when you receive a noninvasive diagnosis, it could mean you’re at a greater risk for the development of breast cancer in the future.

Infiltrating (invasive) breast cancer

This type of breast cancer spreads to neighboring tissues. This is the more common type of breast cancer.

1. Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC)

This is the most common type of breast cancer with 70-80% of breast cancer diagnoses in this category, affecting both women and men. Sometimes referred to as infiltrative ductal carcinoma, IDC irregular cancer cells that started forming in your milk ducts begin spreading into other breast tissue areas. Invasive cancer cells also have the ability to spread to other body parts.

2. Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC)

This type of cancer begins in your lobules (milk-producing glands) and could potentially spread to other body parts. ILC accounts for 10%-15% of breast cancers and is the next common type.

3. Triple Negative Breast Cancer

This is a special type of invasive breast cancer that grows faster and spreads faster than other types of breast cancer. And, because it doesn’t have receptors for estrogen or progesterone and it does not make too much HER2 protein, the best type of treatment is harder to identify.

4. Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Another less common type of invasive breast cancer (only 1-5% of breast cancer is inflammatory), the breast looks swollen and may have the appearance of an orange peel. The breast’s inflamed look is caused by cancer cells blocking lymph vessels in the skin.

Mammograms and other information like your hormone receptor status and stage will determine the best treatment plan.

Learn More

Cancer Care Centers of Brevard
Cancercarebrevard.com
1430 S. Pine St.
Melbourne, FL 32901
321-674-5050

About Our Thought Leader

Dr. Craig Badolato graduated medical school from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia and completed his residency at Abington Memorial Hospital in Pennsylvania. He is board certified in medical oncology and internal medicine with special interests in adult hematology and oncology.