Breast cancer is the second most common cancer affecting American women. According to information from the Mayo Clinic, a small percentage of women are at increased risk of breast cancer as a result of an inherited mutation. The most common of these inherited mutations are known as breast cancer genes (BRCA) 1 and 2. The exact cause of breast cancer is unknown, but it develops when more and more cells in the breast begin reproducing abnormally. Eventually, the abnormal cells clump together forming tumors that can move to other areas such as the lungs. Several types of breast cancer exist, and a biopsy is needed to confirm what type is present. Doctors also describe types of breast cancer in terms of whether they grow in response to certain hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, and what mutations are present.
Ductal Carcinoma In Situ
Ductal carcinoma in situ is cancer that begins in the milk ducts of the breast but does not move beyond that area. In other words, it is non-invasive. This type of cancer comprises about one out of every five new breast cancer diagnoses, according to statistics from the American Cancer Society cited by the nonprofit organization, BreastCancer.org. The majority of cases are discovered by a mammography exam. Although this type of cancer is not life-threatening, it increases the risk of breast cancer recurrence in affected women.
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
Eighty percent of breast cancers are diagnosed as invasive, or infiltrating, ductal carcinomas and risk increases with age. This type of cancer starts in the milk ducts, but then travels throughout the breast. Eventually it may invade other parts of the body. An initial sign of the disease is a lump in the breast, and a biopsy of the cancer cells helps to confirm the diagnosis. It also shows which of the various sub-types of the cancer are present based on the cell shape. The Mayo Clinic notes that physicians describe how far cancer has spread by assigning Roman numerals to the cancer diagnosis so that stage I invasive ductal carcinoma has not spread much, and stage IV has spread throughout the body.
Invasive Lobular Carcinoma
Invasive, or infiltrating, lobular carcinoma begins in the lobules, a part of the breast where milk is produced, but then moves beyond the lobules into the rest of the breast tissue. Similar to invasive ductal carcinoma, the cancer may spread from the breast to other parts of the body. The Mayo Clinic warns that a hardened breast may be a sign of infection. This type of cancer is not easily found on a mammogram because the cancer cells tend to form in long lines instead of the clumps typical in ductal carcinomas. Physicians also use the staging system to describe invasive lobular carcinomas.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer
Inflammatory breast cancer is a rapid-growing and aggressive cancer. Fortunately, it is also rare, and typically accounts for less than five percent of breast cancer cases. This type of cancer appears as layers of tissue inside the breast. Onset of the disease is swift and usually accompanied by the appearance of a red and swollen breast. This symptom alone, however, is not a confirmation of cancer and may be indicative of another health problem. Always consult with a physician to confirm a diagnosis and receive appropriate treatment.
