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Types of Breast Cancer

The document discusses breast cancer, including: 1) Breast cancer is a disease where breast cells grow out of control and can begin in the lobules, ducts, or connective tissue of the breast. 2) There are two main categories of breast cancer - invasive and noninvasive. The most common types are ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), and invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC). 3) Symptoms of breast cancer may include a new lump, thickening, irritation, dimpling, nipple changes, or discharge - but many women do not experience symptoms. Being a woman and

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28 views6 pages

Types of Breast Cancer

The document discusses breast cancer, including: 1) Breast cancer is a disease where breast cells grow out of control and can begin in the lobules, ducts, or connective tissue of the breast. 2) There are two main categories of breast cancer - invasive and noninvasive. The most common types are ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), and invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC). 3) Symptoms of breast cancer may include a new lump, thickening, irritation, dimpling, nipple changes, or discharge - but many women do not experience symptoms. Being a woman and

Uploaded by

vivek
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What Is Breast Cancer?

Español (Spanish)

image icon image icon

Click to see larger diagrams of the anterior viewimage icon and cross-section
viewimage icon of the breast.
Breast cancer is a disease in which cells in the breast grow out of control. There
are different kinds of breast cancer. The kind of breast cancer depends on
which cells in the breast turn into cancer.

Breast cancer can begin in different parts of the breast. A breast is made up of
three main parts: lobules, ducts, and connective tissue. The lobules are the
glands that produce milk. The ducts are tubes that carry milk to the nipple.
The connective tissue (which consists of fibrous and fatty tissue) surrounds
and holds everything together. Most breast cancers begin in the ducts or
lobules.

Breast cancer can spread outside the breast through blood vessels and lymph
vessels. When breast cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it is said to
have metastasized.
Types of breast cancer
There are several types of breast cancer, and they are broken into two
main categories: “invasive” and “noninvasive,” or in situ. While invasive
cancer has spread from the breast ducts or glands to other parts of the
breast, noninvasive cancer has not spread from the original tissue.

These two categories are used to describe the most common types of
breast cancer, which include:

 Ductal carcinoma in situ. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a


noninvasive condition. With DCIS, the cancer cells are confined to
the ducts in your breast and haven’t invaded the surrounding breast
tissue.
 Lobular carcinoma in situ. Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) is
cancer that grows in the milk-producing glands of your breast. Like
DCIS, the cancer cells haven’t invaded the surrounding tissue.
 Invasive ductal carcinoma. Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) is the
most common type of breast cancer. This type of breast cancer
begins in your breast’s milk ducts and then invades nearby tissue in
the breast. Once the breast cancer has spread to the tissue outside
your milk ducts, it can begin to spread to other nearby organs and
tissue.
 Invasive lobular carcinoma. Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) first
develops in your breast’s lobules and has invaded nearby tissue.

Other, less common types of breast cancer include:

 Paget disease of the nipple. This type of breast cancer begins in


the ducts of the nipple, but as it grows, it begins to affect the skin and
areola of the nipple.
 Phyllodes tumor. This very rare type of breast cancer grows in the
connective tissue of the breast. Most of these tumors are benign, but
some are cancerous.
 Angiosarcoma. This is cancer that grows on the blood vessels or
lymph vessels in the breast.

The type of cancer you have determines your treatment options, as well as

your likely long-term outcome. What Are the Symptoms of


Breast Cancer?
Español (Spanish)

Breast pain can be a symptom of cancer. If you have any symptoms that worry
you, be sure to see your doctor right away.
Different people have different symptoms of breast cancer. Some people do
not have any signs or symptoms at all.

Some warning signs of breast cancer are—

 New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit).


 Thickening or swelling of part of the breast.
 Irritation or dimpling of breast skin.
 Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast.
 Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area.
 Nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood.
 Any change in the size or the shape of the breast.
Pain in any area of the breast.

What Are the Risk Factors for Breast Cancer?


Español (Spanish)

Being a woman and getting older are the main risk factors for breast cancer.

Studies have shown that your risk for breast cancer is due to a combination of
factors. The main factors that influence your risk include being a woman and
getting older. Most breast cancers are found in women who are 50 years old

or older.

What Is Breast Cancer Screening?


Español (Spanish)
Screening can help find breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat.
Breast cancer screeningexternal icon means checking a woman’s breasts for
cancer before there are signs or symptoms of the disease. All women need to
be informed by their health care provider about the best screening options for
them. When you are told about the benefits and risks of screening and decide
with your health care provider whether screening is right for you—and if so,
when to have it—this is called informed and shared decision-making.

Although breast cancer screening cannot prevent breast cancer, it can help
find breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat. Talk to your doctor about
which breast cancer screening tests are right for you, and when you should
have them.

A mammogram is an X-ray picture of the breast. Doctors use a mammogram


to look for early signs of breast cancer. Regular mammograms are the best
tests doctors have to find breast cancer early, sometimes up to three years
before it can be felt.

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