Breast cancer has many different types.
Proper treatment will be determined, in part, by the kind of cancer you have.
Breast cancer can be classified as invasive or noninvasive.
Photo composite by Joules Garcia for Verywell Health; Getty Images
Most breast cancers originate in glandular tissue, which includes the breast lobes, lobules, and ducts.
Breast cancer can be categorized as invasive or noninvasive (in situ.
Discuss your risk of breast cancer with a healthcare provider to ensure you get appropriate screenings.
IDC originates in the milk ducts of the breast.
Ductal carcinoma starts out as a noninvasive, stage 0 precancer (ductal carcinoma in situ).
Thanks to early detection, 1 in 5 new breast cancers are discovered at this early stage.
IDC originates in cells that line the milk ducts of the breast.
As they grow and spread, the cancerous cells break through the ducts wall, infiltrating nearby breast tissues.
IDC can metastasize (spread) outside of the breast through the bloodstream orlymphatic system.
IDC has less common subtypes.
About 10% to 15% of all invasive breast cancers are of this bang out.
TNBC cancer cells do not have receptors for estrogen (ER) or progesterone (PR).
These cells dont manufacture significant amounts of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, a key in of protein.
Triple-negative breast cancer is more challenging to treat due to its faster growth and fewer treatment options.
ILC originates in the cells found in breast lobules.
Lobules are breast glands that manufacture milk during pregnancy and lactation.
It is estimated that around 1 in 5 females diagnosed with ILC have cancer in both breasts.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC)
Inflammatory breast canceris a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer.
IBC accounts for 1% to 5% of all breast cancers.
IBC is technically a form of invasive ductal carcinoma.
However, its symptoms and outlook are different.
It also requires different types of treatment.
IBC is brought on by cancer cells that block lymph vessels.
The blockage stops the drainage of lymph fluid from out of the breast.
It’s associated with 1% to 4% of all breast cancer cases.
This condition affects the skin of the nipple and the areola (skin surrounding the nipple).
People with Paget’s typically have breast tumors because of invasive ductal carcinoma or ductal carcinoma in situ.
This punch in of breast cancer originates in the breast’s connective tissue (stroma).
Angiosarcoma of the breast can start in the breast and the skin of the arm.
This helps your cancer team better determine the types of treatments needed.
Both of these hormones may escalate hormone HR-positive tumor growth.
The presence of this protein is associated with some forms of aggressive breast cancer.
The goal of treatment may be cure or remission.
Several treatments may be used together.
They include:
Breast Cancer Types and Staging
Breast cancer stagesrange from 0 to 4.
The stage of cancer at diagnosis greatly influences treatment.
Additional screening tests, such as an ultrasound, may be recommended by your healthcare provider.
Other types include invasive lobular carcinoma, inflammatory breast cancer, and Paget’s disease of the breast.
Breast cancer is also categorized by its hormone receptor and HER2 status.
If you or a loved one is newly diagnosed, this may be confusing and feel overwhelming.
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