A lump, mass and change in the feel or position of the breast are among the most common symptoms of breast cancer. Other symptoms include:
Breast cancer types are separated into two main groups: invasive or in situ (non-invasive). All kinds of breast cancer fall under one of these categories.
In situ (non-invasive): When breast cancer is not invasive, it is most likely ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a non-invasive type of breast cancer that starts in a milk duct and has not yet spread anywhere else. DCIS accounts for approximately 1 in 5 new cases of breast cancer. DCIS is also called stage 0 breast cancer, and most women have a positive prognosis at this stage. However, DCIS can progress and spread beyond the milk ducts, becoming invasive cancer.
Invasive: Invasive breast cancer refers to any breast cancer that spreads from the original site and “invades” other areas, like nearby breast tissue, lymph nodes or anywhere else in the body. Most breast cancers are invasive.
The most common type of invasive breast cancer is called invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). IDC accounts for roughly 70 to 80 percent of all breast cancers. IDC starts in a milk duct and spreads, growing into other parts of the breast. With time, it may spread further, or metastasize, to other parts of the body.
Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is the second most common type, accounting for roughly 5 to 10 percent of all breast cancers. ILC starts in lobules—where breast milk is made—and then spreads into nearby breast tissue. Like IDC, it can metastasize.
There are many other subtypes of invasive breast cancer—some are more challenging to treat or easier to treat than the more common IDC. Other, less common types of breast cancer include:
Rare breast cancers that affect other types of cells in the breast, which are more aggressive and more challenging to treat:
When breast cancer spreads out of the breasts and beyond nearby lymph nodes into other parts of the body, like the bones, lungs, liver or brain, it’s called metastatic, the most advanced breast cancer stage.
Breast cancer types may also be differentiated by other factors, which help determine the treatments that are most likely to work. Your doctor will identify these factors to come up with the most appropriate treatment plan for you. These factors include:
Diagnostic tests for breast cancer are used not only to determine if you have cancer but also to identify the type and how aggressive it is. Tools and tests used to diagnose breast cancer include:
Different tests are used to determine whether the breast cancer has metastasized. These tests include:
There are two main categories of treatments for breast cancer and other types of cancer: local treatments and systemic treatments.
Breast cancer treatment usually consists of a combination of local and systemic treatments. Most women with breast cancer have surgery to remove a tumor. But the other treatments used largely depend on factors like: