THERE ARE TWO MAIN TYPES OF BREAST CANCER:
INVASIVE AND NON-INVASIVE.
Non-invasive breast cancer means that the cancer cells still have not developed the ability to spread to other nearby tissues to create a tumor. On the other hand, invasive breast cancer means that the cancer has spread from the breast cells to the breast tissue and created the tumor. This is unfortunately more common than non-invasive breast cancer.
DUCTAL CARCINOMA IN SITU
Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) is a non-invasive breast cancer where abnormal cells have remained inside the breast milk ducts. This type of breast cancer does not usually spread to other parts of the body, and it has no noticeable symptoms. The main method to detect DCIS is through a mammogram.
INVASIVE DUCTAL CARCINOMA
(IDC)
This is the most prevalent type of breast cancer reaching up to 80% of breast cancer diagnosis.
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma means that abnormal cells that started inside the breast milk duct were able to spread to surrounding tissue. After diagnosis, the multidisciplinary team at NBCC will be able to determine the stage of the cancer as well as the most efficient treatment options.
TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER
Triple negative breast cancer affects 15% of breast cancer patients. This means that the cancer cells tested negative for progesterone, estrogen, and hormone epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) which are usually the cause for breast cancer growth. As a result, hormone therapy will be an unsuccessful treatment since it will not be able to target these receptors.
In the case of a triple negative diagnosis, cancer patients undergo chemotherapy to treat the cancer cells.
INFLAMMATORY BREAST CANCER
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare type of breast cancer that may not grow a tumor and often affects the skin. It spreads very quickly through the skin and the lymph vessels of the breast. Instead of forming a tumor in the breast, the symptoms of IBC could be a red rash, changes in the skin texture, and/or nipple shape.
The recommended treatment for IBC is aggressive that combines surgery, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment to the breast and to other parts of the body if applicable.
METASTATIC BREAST CANCER
Metastatic breast cancer is a cancer that has expanded beyond the breast, sometimes into the liver, lungs, bones, or brain. Because of the widespread extent of cancer cells, various symptoms may occur depending on the type of tissue affected and where the cancer has multiplied.