The National Cancer Institute reports that 192,000 women, and 2,000 men, are diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States each year. Breast cancer occurs when the cells of the breast transform into a new type of cell that grows uncontrollably and damages surrounding breast tissue. Aggressive forms of breast cancer are less common cancers that grow rapidly and often spread from the breast to other areas of the body, such as lymph nodes, the liver or bones.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC)
According to the National Cancer Institute, inflammatory breast cancer is an especially rare, but quite aggressive, form of breast cancer. The cancerous cells in the breast block lymph vessels that allow fluid to flow into and out of the breast. Because these vessels are blocked, the breast becomes red and swollen, or inflamed. The skin may also be affected, becoming pitted or having ridges. Due to the aggressive nature of this cancer, these symptoms come on quickly, usually over weeks or months. Inflammatory breast cancer is either diagnosed as Stage IIIB, where the cancer is locally advanced (meaning it has spread within the breast) or Stage IV (meaning it has spread to other organs). It is important to note that inflammation of the breast may also be due to an infection or cause other than cancer.
Invasive (Infiltrating) Ductal Carcinoma
The American Cancer Society reports that another type of aggressive breast cancer, though uncommon, is invasive ductal carcinoma, also sometimes called infiltrating ductal carcinoma. This type of breast cancer originates in the ducts of the breast, which carry the milk from the lobules to the nipple. Invasive ductal carcinoma spreads through to other tissue of the breast, where it can then spread to other parts of the body if not treated. Though this type of breast cancer is not very common among all breast cancers, it is common among the aggressive types, causing 8 out of 10 aggressive breast cancers.
Invasive (Infiltrating) Lobular Carcinoma
Invasive (or infiltrating) lobular carcinoma is a type of cancer that starts in glands in the breasts that produce milk, the lobules, according to the American Cancer Society. It spreads from the lobules through the breast and then may spread to other organs. This type is more rare within the aggressive types of breast cancer, diagnosed in only 1 out of 10 invasive breast cancers.
