Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Breast cancer occurs when cells mutate and become cancerous cells that multiply and form tumors in the breast.
We'll explore the various types of breast cancer, which are generally categorized into non-invasive and invasive types. Non-invasive breast cancer refers to cases where abnormal cells stay in their original location and haven’t spread to nearby tissues. Whereas, invasive breast cancer is when the cancer cells have spread beyond their initial site to other areas of the breast. We'll dive deeper into each type to provide a clearer understanding of their differences and implications.
Non-invasive breast cancers
Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS)
DCIS is a non-invasive cancer in which abnormal cells are found in the milk ducts but haven't spread to surrounding areas in the breast tissue. While this is an early form of breast cancer, treatment is still reccomended to prevent it from developing into invasive breast cancer in the future.
Invasive breast cancers
Invasive breast cancers have spread into surrounding breast tissue. and the most common types are invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC). You'll often hear about these two types since they make up around 70-80% of all breast cancer types.
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC)
This type of cancer, making up 80% of cases, starts in the cells that line the milk ducts and may spread from the milk ducts to surrounding tissue, lymph nodes, or other parts of the body. Mammograms can detect IDC before any symptoms become noticeable. If you're experiencing symptoms, they'll most likely be a mass or lump in the breast or a change in size and shape of the breast.
Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC)
This type of breast cancer starts in the gland where milk is produced, known as the lobules, and can spread to surrounding tissues. It’s less common than invasive ductal carcinoma and accounts for about 10% of cases.
This type of cancer is more difficult to detect on a mammogram because it often grows in a subtle, linear pattern rather than forming a distinct, solid mass.
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)
This type of invasive breast cancer accounts for 10-15% of all breast cancers and typically impacts younger women who have the BRCA1 mutation. Unfortunately, it's often more aggressive, more likely to come back after treatment, and tends to have a worse prognosis.
Triple-negative breast cancer has fewer treatment options than other types of invasive breast cancer. Since these cancer cells don't have the estrogen, progesterone receptors, or enough of the HER2 protein to make hormone or targeted therapy, it's harder to treat. The most effective treatment for this type of breast cancer is often chemotherapy.
Knowledge is power
Understanding the different types of breast cancer—non-invasive and invasive—is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment. By exploring these categories and their specific characteristics, we hope to give you a clearer picture of how each type behaves and the best management approaches.
We encourage you to continue making informed decisions and engage in meaningful conversations with healthcare providers and the community at PatientsLikeMe.