Last week, we talked about breast cancer in women. Today, we will continue our discussion of this common cancer that affects so many women in the US.
What are the Different Types of Breast Cancer?
There are several types of breast cancer and sometimes different names are used for the same cancer, so it can be confusing. Let’s talk about the different types.
Ductal Carcinoma
The most common type of breast cancer is ductal carcinoma. This is a type of breast cancer that starts in the milk ducts of the breast, which carry milk from the milk glands to the nipple. Ductal carcinoma is divided into 2 distinct types:- Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) – In situ is a scientific term that means in place. DCIS is diagnosed when the cells of the ductal carcinoma are only found within the milk duct and have not invaded into the surrounding breast tissue. It is sometimes called non-invasive cancer, intraductal carcinoma, stage 0 breast cancer, or precancer. It is considered a precancerous condition. About 1 in 5 new breast cancers will be DCIS, and nearly all women with this early stage of breast cancer can be completely cured with treatment.
- Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) – Once the ductal carcinoma cells have invaded through the walls of the ducts into the surrounding breast tissue, it is called invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). If DCIS is not treated, it will eventually become IDC. Once it is IDC, it can also spread to other areas of the body, which is called metastasis.
Lobular Carcinoma
Lobular carcinoma of the breast develops within the lobules (glands) of the breast. Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) accounts for about 10% of breast cancer diagnoses. It can be harder to detect on exam or imaging tests like mammograms. It is also more likely to affect both breasts than ductal carcinoma.
There is a condition called lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), it is less common and less understood than DCIS. It is not breast cancer but considered a risk factor for developing breast cancer.
Are There Other Ways to Categorize Breast Cancers?
Yes. Sometimes breast cancers are lumped into the categories of DCIS and Invasive carcinoma, with invasive carcinoma including all IDC and ILC cases.
Are There Other Types of Invasive Breast Cancer?
There are quite a few special types of breast cancer that don’t quite fit into the ductal or lobular category. They are not common but are invasive cancers. The list includes inflammatory breast cancer and many others. If you would like to learn more about them, you can use these links:
Metastatic Breast Cancer
The term metastatic breast cancer (MBC) usually refers to breast cancer that has spread outside the breast and nearby lymph nodes to other parts of the body. The most common sites where breast cancer spreads, aside from local lymph nodes are the bones, lungs, liver, and brain. Once cancer has spread to any of these distant sites, it is considered stage 4 cancer.
Breast cancer that has only spread to local lymph nodes can be cured with treatment.
MBC with spread to bones, or other distant sites, can be treated but is not considered to be curable. There are several treatment options available, which are focused on extending length of life while still maintaining quality of life.
For more information on metastatic breast cancer, use these links:
If you have any questions about breast cancer, please log into your account and send
us your question. We are here to help.
Dr. Anita Bennett MD – Health Tip Content Editor