Ductile breast cancer develops within the breast ducts, which are the glandular tubes connecting the nipple to the milk-producing lobules of the breast. It is the most prevalent type of breast cancer, with around 20 percent of new breast cancer cases being ductal carcinomas, according to the American Cancer Society. Ductile breast cancer causes the development of symptoms that can aid in identifying the cancer. This condition may eventually prove fatal.
Breast Lump
A common sign of ductile breast cancer is the development of a breast lump. While other forms of breast cancer can lead to a thickening of the breast tissue or a diffuse growth within the breast, ductile breast cancer typically develops as a palpable lump in the breast. The lump commonly feels firm to the touch, since the tumor is dense with cells, and it remains fixed within one part of the breast and is not movable. In most cases, the lump may or may not be painful or tender to the touch. Defined breast lumps from ductile cancer may be palpable during a monthly breast self-examination or during a clinical physical exam. Following the identification of a lump, doctors perform a series of medical tests to diagnose the lump as ductile cancer.
Abnormal Discharge
Ductile breast cancer can also lead to the development of abnormal nipple discharge, reports BreastCancer.org. During their growth, ductile cancer cells begin to block the ducts that normally connect to the nipple. As a result, patients with ductile breast cancer may experience white, green, yellowish or bloody discharge from the nipple of the affected breast. Although abnormal nipple discharge can indicate the presence of a disorder, abnormal discharge from one or a few ducts in the breast can indicate the presence of cancer. Doctors can pinpoint duct blockages using medical imaging, such as a mammogram, to help identify and diagnose ductile breast cancer.
Shortness of Breath
A possible sign of advanced ductile cancer is shortness of breath. This is caused by breast cancer spreading to the lungs in a process called metastasis. As ductile cancer advances, cancer cells gain the ability to enter the bloodstream or the lymphatic system and metastasize, or travel throughout the body. A common site of breast cancer metastasis is the lungs, according to Imaginis. As the ductile cancer cells colonize within the lung tissue, the tumor begins to take up space within the lungs, decreasing lung capacity and leading to constant shortness of breath. Ductile breast cancer patients who develop breathing difficulties must seek medical attention to check for cancer growth in the lungs.
