What Types Of Breast Cancer Are There

The Difference Between Grade And Stage Of Breast Cancer

Lets talk about the difference between Grade and Stage of Breast Cancer. Grade refers to how aggressive the breast cancer cell type is based on measuring certain qualities such as division , nuclear appearance, and the degree of gland formation. There are three grades of Breast Cancer: grade 1, 2, and 3.

• Grade 1 is the least aggressive
• Grade 2 is medium aggressive
• Grade 3 is the most aggressive

Common Categories Of Breast Cancer

Understanding the ins and outs of breast cancer can be difficult especially when there are so many different types. We encourage you to speak with your cancer care team at Willamette Valley Cancer Institute and Research Center so they can address any questions or concerns you may have.

Certain breast cancers are more common than others. Types of common breast cancers include:

What Is Metaplastic Carcinoma

Metaplastic carcinoma is a rare type of invasive breast cancer. It has a mix of 2 or more kinds of breast cancer cells, usually carcinoma and sarcoma. Its also called metaplastic breast cancer. Metaplastic means cancer that starts in cells that have changed into another kind of cell.

To treat metaplastic carcinoma, we first learn more about its genetics and biology. We find out if the tumor is more similar to carcinoma or sarcoma, because they have very different treatments.

Read Also: Breast Cancer For Men Symptoms

What Is Ductal Carcinoma In Situ

Ductal carcinoma in situ is a very early form of breast cancer. Its the most common type of noninvasive breast cancer.

Its called ductal because its only in the milk ducts. Carcinoma means cancer that starts in the cells that line the inner or outer surfaces of tissues, including breast ducts. In situ are words in Latin that mean in its original place.

DCIS is classified as low, intermediate, or high. Grades are based on what the cells look like under a microscope. A lower grade means DCIS looks more like normal breast cells. The higher the grade, the more it looks different from normal cells.

DCIS sometimes involves the nipple, making it look red and scaly. This is a rare form of cancer called Pagets disease of the breast .

DCIS may not become invasive cancer, but researchers are still trying to learn how often that happens. They want to know if people can avoid treatment if its unlikely DCIS will become invasive cancer.

For now, the standard treatment for DCIS includes surgery, often a lumpectomy. For most people with DCIS, surgery is the only way to tell for sure if you also have invasive cancer.

A Few Other Rare Types Of Breast Cancer Are Diagnosed Each Year Including:

Paget disease of the nipple

This type of breast cancer starts in the breast ducts and spreads to the skin of the nipple and then to the areola, the dark circle around the nipple. This type of breast cancer only accounts for about 1% of all cases of breast cancer.

Phyllodes tumor

Phyllodes tumors are rare breast tumors. These tumors develop in the connective tissue of the breast and grow in a leaflike pattern. Although phyllodes tumors tend to grow quickly, they rarely spread outside the breast.

Angiosarcoma

Angiosarcoma is a cancer in the inner lining of blood vessels that can occur in any part of the body. This form of cancer rarely occurs in the breast.

Also Check: How To Reduce Breast Cancer

Symptoms Of Breast Cancer

Many people have no symptoms at all. Screening tests like mammograms may detect suspicious areas that get tested and diagnosed as breast cancer. People who do experience signs often have symptoms like:

• A lump in the breast or armpit area
• Irritation or dimpling of the skin
• Nipple changes, including discharge, redness or flaky skin
• Pain in the nipple
• A nipple that looks pulled inward
• Changes in breast size or shape

How Is Breast Cancer Treated

There are several breast cancer treatment options, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy and targeted drug therapy. Whats right for you depends on many factors, including the location and size of the tumor, the results of your lab tests and whether the cancer has spread to other parts of your body. Your healthcare provider will tailor your treatment plan according to your unique needs. Its not uncommon to receive a combination of different treatments, too.

Breast cancer surgery

Breast cancer surgery involves removing the cancerous portion of your breast and an area of normal tissue surrounding the tumor. There are different types of surgery depending on your situation, including:

Chemotherapy for breast cancer

Your healthcare provider may recommend chemotherapy for breast cancer before a lumpectomy in an effort to shrink the tumor. Sometimes, its given after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells and reduce the risk of recurrence . If the cancer has spread beyond your breast to other parts of your body, then your healthcare provider may recommend chemotherapy as a primary treatment.

Radiation therapy for breast cancer

Radiation therapy for breast cancer is typically given after a lumpectomy or mastectomy to kill remaining cancer cells. It can also be used to treat individual metastatic tumors that are causing pain or other problems.

Hormone therapy for breast cancer

Immunotherapy for breast cancer

You May Like: How Do You Test For Inflammatory Breast Cancer

What Questions Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider

Learning everything you can about your diagnosis can help you make informed decisions about your health. Here are some questions you may want to ask your healthcare provider:

• Where is the tumor located?
• Has the tumor spread?
• What stage breast cancer do I have?
• What do the estrogen receptor , progesterone receptor and HER2 tests show and what do the results mean for me?
• What are my treatment options?
• Is breast cancer surgery an option for me?
• Will I be able to work while I undergo treatment?
• How long will my treatment last?
• What other resources are available to me?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Being diagnosed with breast cancer can feel scary, frustrating and even hopeless. If you or a loved one is facing this disease, its important to take advantage of the many resources available to you. Talk to your healthcare provider about your treatment options. You may even want to get a second opinion before making a decision. You should feel satisfied and optimistic about your treatment plan. Finally, joining a local support group can help with feelings of isolation and allow you to talk with other people who are going through the same thing.

Metaplastic Carcinoma With Squamous Cell Differentiation

Three cases were detected. Mean age of the patients was 45.45 years. Mean tumour size was 4.8 cm. Two cases presented with stage II, and one with stage III of the disease. In one case, the involvement of lymph nodes was found. One tumour was moderately differentiated, and two were poorly differentiated. Only one patient is still alive. The mean survival was 4.13 years.

Also, there were two cases of mixed-type epithelial carcinomas.

You May Like: How Often Do You Get Chemo For Breast Cancer

What Is Cancer Staging

Staging is a way of describing how extensive the breast cancer is, including the size of the tumor, whether it has spread to lymph nodes, whether it has spread to distant parts of the body, and what its biomarkers are.

Staging can be done either before or after a patient undergoes surgery. Staging done before surgery is called the clinical stage, and staging done after surgery is called the pathologic stage. Doctors use diagnostic tests to find out the cancer’s stage, so staging may not be complete until all of the tests are finished. Knowing the stage helps the doctor recommend the best kind of treatment and can help predict a patient’s prognosis, which is the chance of recovery. There are different stage descriptions for different types of cancer.

This page provides detailed information about the system used to find the stage of breast cancer and the stage groups for breast cancer, such as stage IIA or stage IV.

What You Need To Know

• The risk of getting invasive ductal breast cancer increases with age: According to the American Cancer Society, about two-thirds of women diagnosed with IDC are age 55 or older.
• IDC can affect men.
• Without prompt treatment, invasive ductal carcinoma can spread to lymph nodes or blood vessels and metastasize throughout the body.
• Identifying characteristics of the tumor, such as whether or not the cells are sensitive to certain hormones, can help your doctor choose the best treatment.

Read Also: How Do Doctors Treat Breast Cancer

What Is Metastatic Breast Cancer

Breast cancer usually begins in the ducts that carry milk to the nipple, and can metastasize reach other parts of the body when the cancer cells get into the blood or lymph systems. Most of the time, cancer cells die at some point in the process of trying to spread. But, if conditions are favorable for the cancer cells, some of them are able to form new tumors in other parts of the body. Metastatic cancer cells can also remain inactive at a distant site for many years before they begin to grow again, if at all.

What Is Lobular Carcinoma In Situ What Is Atypical Lobular Hyperplasia

Lobular neoplasia is when there are abnormal cells in the breasts lobules . It rarely becomes cancer. Types of lobular neoplasia include:

• Lobular carcinoma in situ , a condition that is not breast cancer or a precancer. Often, it does not become invasive cancer if its not treated.
• Atypical lobular hyperplasia , a condition that is not cancer. Its when there are more cells than usual in your breasts lobules . The extra cells are abnormal.

Both LCIS and ALH raise your risk of getting breast cancer in the future. If you have been diagnosed with either of them, talk with your doctor. Ask how often you should bescreened for breast cancer and if you should have more screening tests.

Read Also: Staging Of Breast Cancer Tnm

Different Types Of Breast Cancer

I was diagnosed with stage 1, grade 1 breast cancer on 03.10.22. I have since had various biopsies, MRI, and US as there were other areas they wanted to investigate. It seems that there is another area of cancer in the same breast. However, when I called my BCN on Friday, I was given a very vague overview with that it was HER2-, bit they were waiting on the ER/PR results. Something from the call instinctively told me that they had the results but didn’t want to tell me. They just told me to come on Monfay and bring someone.

In my original meeting, the surgeon was very positive with ‘this is treatable’, ‘you have found it early’, and ‘it’s not aggressive, we would expect it to be more aggressive in a younger woman’. I’m 36.

The original tumour is 20mm, ER/PR positive, and HER2-. Has anyone had 2 areas of cancer in the same breast that were different? If so, how was it treated please?

Thank you

Breast Cancer Hormone Receptor Status

Estrogen and progesterone are hormones that affect numerous hormonal functions in women, such as breast development. Receptors for these hormones may also be found in breast cancer cells. Testing a tumor for both estrogen and progesterone receptors is a standard part of a breast cancer diagnosis because the results help guide treatment.

Don’t Miss: How To Lose Weight After Breast Cancer

Causes Of Breast Cancer

Theres no single cause of breast cancer. Doctors have found various risk factors some you can control, others you cant. Risk factors include:

• Genetics: Mutations in certain genes increase your risk.
• Breast density: The more dense your breasts are, the more challenging it can be to visualize tumors, and the higher your risk.
• Family history: Having someone close to you with a history of the disease increases the odds youll get it.
• Personal history: If youve had breast cancer once, youre at a higher risk of getting it again.
• Weight issues: Overweight and obese women are at a higher risk.
• Physical activity: Remaining active is linked to lower chances of getting breast cancer.
• Alcohol consumption: Research suggests that drinking alcohol can increase cancer risks.

What Are The Breast Cancer Stages

Staging helps describe how much cancer is in your body. Its determined by several factors, including the size and location of the tumor and whether the cancer has spread to other areas of your body. The basic breast cancer stages are:

• Stage 0. The disease is non-invasive. This means it hasnt broken out of your breast ducts.
• Stage I. The cancer cells have spread to the nearby breast tissue.
• Stage II. The tumor is either smaller than 2 centimeters across and has spread to underarm lymph nodes or larger than 5 centimeters across but hasnt spread to underarm lymph nodes. Tumors at this stage can measure anywhere between 2 to 5 centimeters across, and may or may not affect the nearby lymph nodes.
• Stage III. At this stage, the cancer has spread beyond the point of origin. It may have invaded nearby tissue and lymph nodes, but it hasnt spread to distant organs. Stage III is usually referred to as locally advanced breast cancer.
• Stage IV. The cancer has spread to areas away from your breast, such as your bones, liver, lungs or brain. Stage IV breast cancer is also called metastatic breast cancer.

Recommended Reading: What Happens After Radiation Treatment For Breast Cancer

Who Should Not Get The Hpv Vaccine

According to the CDC, the following people should not receive the HPV vaccine:

• People with sensitivity to yeast
• People with a moderate to severe illness
• People who are pregnant

If you have had a life-threatening allergic reaction to any part of the HPV vaccine, do not get it and let your healthcare provider know.

Causes And Risk Factors

Like many cancer types, invasive breast cancer has several risk factors. However, having one or more of the risk factors doesnt mean cancer is inevitable, only that the risk is higher.

Invasive breast cancer risk factors include:

Some of these risk factors are also the same as those for noninvasive breast cancer, including:

• No previous childbearing history
• Genetic changes

While some risk factors cant be changed, others may be modified with changes to diet and lifestyle habits.

Don’t Miss: What Is Dcis Breast Cancer Prognosis

What Are The Two Main Types Of Breast Cancer

Breast cancers can be divided into two main overarching groups: the carcinomas and the sarcomas. Carcinomas are cancers that arise from the epithelial component of the breast. The epithelial component consists of the cells that line the lobules and terminal ducts under normal conditions, these epithelial cells are responsible for making milk.

What Is The Second Most Common Type Of Breast Cancer

Invasive lobular breast cancer is the second most common type of breast cancer. Over ] Triple Negative Breast Cancer. A diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer means that the three most common types of receptors known to fuel most breast cancer growthestrogen, progesterone, and the HER-2/neu gene are not present in the cancer tumor.

Recommended Reading: Does Metastatic Breast Cancer Go Into Remission

Phyllodes Tumors Of The Breast

A phyllodes tumor is a very rare type of breast cancer that accounts for less than

75 percent of cases, phyllodes tumors arent cancerous, so they usually dont spread beyond the breast. But they can grow quickly and some can be considered borderline, which means they have properties that could make them cancerous at a later stage.

Phyllodes tumors form in the connective tissue of the breast. The most common symptoms include:

• a smooth lump in or around the breast
• a lump that grows quickly and stretches the skin
• breast skin that looks red and feels warm

Are There Any Side Effects Of Taking The Hpv Vaccine

There are a few potential side effects of the HPV vaccine. Most of the side effects are a result of the body’s immune response to the immunization. Side effects include:

• Pain at the injection site

Side effects should resolve in one or two days. If they last longer, contact a healthcare provider.

Vaccine safety is monitored by the Food and Drug Administration and the CDC. There is a monitoring system called the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System in which healthcare providers and patients can report adverse reactions to vaccines.

Read Also: What Color Is Breast Cancer Pink

Living With Breast Cancer

Breast cancer can affect daily life in many ways. How one chooses to cope with the diagnosis and treatment varies from person to person. luckily, there are several forms of support available.Some forms of support may include:

• family and friends, who can be a powerful support system

• communicating with other people in the same situation

• finding out as much as possible about your condition

• not trying to do too much or overexerting yourself

• making time for yourself

How can I prevent breast cancer?Since the causes of breast cancer are not fully understood. Prevention is a bit of a grey area. However, even though more studies need to be done, breast cancer can be linked to a healthy lifestyle. Most women are likely to decrease their risk if they:

• maintain a healthy weight

• have a low intake of saturated fat

• do not drink alcohol

What Is The Prognosis For Invasive Ductal Carcinoma

Your doctor will discuss what you can expect based on the characteristics of the invasive ductal carcinoma and the effectiveness of your treatment.

Specialty centers such as Johns Hopkins Medicines Breast Health Services can offer integrated teams of breast cancer specialists who have skill and experience in surgery, breast reconstruction, chemotherapy, biologic targeted therapy, radiation therapy and other hormonal therapies.

Medical science is making great strides forward in treating breast cancer, allowing our surgeries to be less invasive and improving surgical outcomes and overall quality of life, Wright says.

Don’t Miss: Can Breast Injury Cause Cancer