If you are given a diagnosis of breast cancer, it is important to find out more about which type it is, since not all breast cancers are the same. There are several different types of breast cancer, though some are quite rare. The types of breast cancer include noninvasive or in situ, invasive, inflammatory and disease of the nipple.
Noninvasive or in situ breast cancer
Noninvasive breast cancer refers to cancer that remains within the milk ducts or lobules of the breast.
There are two types of noninvasive breast cancer:
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). This is the most common type of noninvasive breast cancer. DCIS means that the cancer is located only in the milk ducts. It has not spread through the walls of the ducts into the tissue of the breast and so cannot spread to lymph nodes or other organs. For most women with this type and stage of cancer, treatment will be successful.
One of the best ways to find DCIS early is by mammography. The treatment for DCIS is usually a lumpectomy, sometimes followed by radiation therapy.
Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). While this is not a true cancer, having LCIS is thought to increase your risk of developing invasive breast cancer later. LCIS begins in the milk-making glands (lobules), but does not go through the wall of the lobules and does not usually spread to other parts of the body. LCIS rarely causes a lump or changes that can be detected by mammography. It is usually identified during investigation of other breast changes.
LCIS on its own may not require treatment, but patients are usually followed closely with regular clinical breast examinations by a trained health care provider and mammography of both breasts.
Invasive breast cancer
Invasive (or infiltrating) ductal carcinoma (IDC) is the most common breast cancer. It starts in a milk passage (a duct), breaks through the wall of the duct and invades the tissue of the breast. From there it may be able to spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.
This type of cancer is sometimes referred to as invasive ductal carcinoma of no special type (NST) or not otherwise specified (NOS). Other types of invasive breast cancer include invasive lobular carcinoma, invasive mucinous carcinoma, tubular carcinoma, medullary carcinoma and invasive micropapillary carcinoma.
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC)
This uncommon type of invasive breast cancer accounts for about one to three per cent of all breast cancers. In its early stages, IBC is often mistaken for infection.
Symptoms include redness and swelling of the breasts, skin that feels warm to the touch, a pitted, orange-like skin texture (referred to as peau d’orange), a change in the appearance of the nipple and breast pain. The breast may get bigger, hard, tender or itchy.
IBC can sometimes be difficult to diagnose, as its symptoms are not what many people typically associate with breast cancer. Usually there is no lump or tumour, so IBC may not show up on a mammogram. It has a higher chance of spreading and it can be more difficult to treat than invasive ductal or lobular cancer.
Paget’s disease of the nipple
Paget’s disease is another less common type of breast cancer, accounting for less than five per cent of all breast cancers.
Symptoms include persistent itchiness and scaling of the nipple that gets worse over time, leading to weeping, crusting and nipple pain. The nipple may also appear flattened against the breast. Paget’s is often found on only one nipple.
Many people with Paget’s disease of the nipple may also have another form of breast cancer in the same breast. In approximately half of the patients diagnosed with Paget’s disease, a lump or mass in the breast can be felt during physical examination. In some cases Paget’s disease may spread to the areola or other regions of the breast.
Given the range of symptoms that may be present for breast cancer and benign breast conditions, women of all ages are encouraged to be breast aware and report any visible breast changes to a health care provider.
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