Types of breast cancer

LOBULAR CARCINOMA IN SITU
This is usually classified as a type of non-invasive breast cancer which begins in the milk-producing glands but does not grow through the wall of the lobules. Most specialists believe LCIS itself rarely becomes an invasive cancer – but it does increase the risk for developing an invasive breast cancer in the same breast – or the opposite breast.

DUCTAL CARCINOMA IN SITU
DCIS is also known as intraductal carcinoma and is the most common type of non-invasive breast cancer.  DCIS means that the cancer cells are inside the ducts – but have not spread through the walls of the ducts into the surrounding breast tissue.  Here’s a brief overview:

• DCIS is the diagnosis for 1 in 5 new breast cancer cases
• Nearly all women diagnosed –in the early stage- can be cured
• DCIS is often the best way to find DCIS early
• When discovered – the pathologist looks for tumor necrosis in the tissue sample
• If necrosis is present – the tumor is likely to be more aggressive
• DCIS with necrosis is called – comedocarcinoma

INVASIVE DUCTAL CARCINOMA (Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma)
Starting in the milk duct of the breast – this is the most common type of breast cancer. Invasive Ductal Carcinoma breaks through the wall of the duct and grows into the fatty tissue of the breast.  At this point – it may be able to metastasize to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system and bloodstream. About 8 of every 10 invasive breast

INVASIVE LOBULAR CARCINOMA (Infiltrating Lobular Carcinoma)
ILC – starts in the milk-producing (lobules) glands, and like IDC – it can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.  Invasive lobular carcinoma is often more difficult to detect by mammogram than IDC.  About 1 in 10 invasive breast cancers are ILC’s – Invasive Lobular Carcinoma’s.

There are several less common types of breast cancer that include: Inflammatory breast cancer; Triple-negative breast cancer, Mixed tumors, Medullary carcinoma, Metaplastic carcinoma, Mucinous carcinoma, Paget disease of the nipple, Tubular carcinoma, Papillary carcinoma, Adenoid cystic carcinoma, Phyllodes tumor, Angiosarcoma, Carcinoma, Adenocarcinoma, Carcinoma in situ, Invasive carcinoma and Sarcomas. 

STAGING BREAST CANCER
Staging is a process used to determine the extent or you cancer.  Once you have a diagnosis – staging helps determine your prognosis and treatment options.  Complete staging information is sometimes not available until you have undergone breast cancer surgery. Various tests and procedures are used to “stage” breast cancer s follows:

• Blood tests – such as a complete blood count
• Mammogram of the other breast to look for signs of cancer
• Chest X-ray
• Breast MRI
• Bone Scan
• Computerized Tomography  (CT) scan
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scan

Not all women need all of these tests and procedures.  Your oncologist selects the tests that you need.  Breast cancer stages range from 0 – IV – with 0 indicating cancer that is very small and non-invasive.  Stage IV breast cancer (metastatic cancer) has spread to other areas of the body.