Breast Cancer Awareness Month: 12 different types of breast cancer - Part 2
Invasive breast cancers begin in the milk ducts or the milk glands and spread to the surrounding breast tissue.
Invasive breast cancers begin in the milk ducts or the milk glands and spread to the surrounding breast tissue
Inflammatory breast cancer is a highly aggressive type of breast cancer that progresses really quickly
Tests like mammograms, breast ultrasound or MRI can help to detect multiple types of breast cancer in the early stages when the survival rate is close to 100%
October is breast cancer awareness month. In the spirit of raising awareness, we bring to you a series on the 12 different types of breast cancer. In the first part of this series, we spoke about breast cancers that typically affect younger women. In part 2, we look at invasive cancers.
Invasive breast cancers begin in the milk ducts (invasive ductal carcinoma) or the milk glands (invasive lobular carcinoma) and spread to the surrounding breast tissue. Depending on how they look and behave, medical practitioners have further subdivided them. Read on to know more:
Tubular breast cancer
A rare but invasive cancer, it begins inside the milk ducts and spreads to the surrounding tissues. This type of carcinoma accounts for less than 2% of breast cancer cases worldwide. The name “tubular” comes from the fact that the tumour cells in this type of cancer appear tube-like under the microscope. However, it is not really aggressive and generally has a good prognosis.
Papillary breast cancer
An invasive ductal carcinoma, it occurs in less than 1% of the cases. As the name suggests, the cancer cells look like papillae — finger-like projections — under the microscope. The tumour is usually benign, though it can be malignant in some cases. Even the malignant type of papillary breast cancer does not usually spread to the lymph nodes (most cancers spread to the other organs via the lymph nodes). This type of cancer is more common in post-menopausal women.
Mucinous breast cancer
This type of breast cancer occurs in less than 2% of the cases. It begins in the milk ducts and spreads to the surrounding tissues. It consists of floating cells in mucus - a slippery substance that lubricates the body tissues. This type of cancer mostly affects women after menopause and is usually seen in women in their 60s and 70s. It is not very aggressive - cells don’t divide and spread as quickly.
Inflammatory breast cancer
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a highly aggressive type of breast cancer that progresses really quickly - within months or weeks. It accounts for 1-5% of all breast cancers and manifests in the form of swelling and redness in the breasts.
The swelling is due to the blockage of lymph ducts in the breast tissue which stops the flow of lymph and leads to fluid buildup in the breast.
Nipple inversion and dimpling are some other apparent symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer.
Studies show more obese women get IBC than women with a healthy weight.
Medullary breast cancer
Ever heard of BRCA-1 in the context of breast cancer? It’s a gene mutation that is commonly seen in people who get medullary breast cancer — an aggressive form of the disease — that, strangely, has a good prognosis.
The name “medullary” comes from the fact that the tumours look like some brain cells under a microscope - the medulla is part of the brainstem. Medical practitioners say that this type of cancer is “high grade” and spreads quickly. It typically affects women in their 40s and 50s.
Most breast cancers are invasive and begin in the milk ducts (though some types also begin in the breast lobules, where the milk is produced). In rare cases, breast cancer may originate in the soft tissues such as fats, muscles or blood vessels - sarcoma.
Tests like mammograms (recommended every two years in women over 40), breast ultrasound or MRI can help to detect multiple types of breast cancer in the early stages when the survival rate is close to 100%.
Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, India’s first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health. For more information, read our article on Breast Cancer: Types and Treatment.
This is the second article in a three-part series on the types of breast cancer. Read our first story in the series here.
The information provided here is intended to provide free education about certain medical conditions and certain possible treatment. It is not a substitute for examination, diagnosis, treatment, and medical care provided by a licensed and qualified health professional. If you believe you, your child or someone you know suffers from the conditions described herein, please see your health care provider immediately. Do not attempt to treat yourself, your child, or anyone else without proper medical supervision. You acknowledge and agree that neither myUpchar nor firstpost is liable for any loss or damage which may be incurred by you as a result of the information provided here, or as a result of any reliance placed by you on the completeness, accuracy or existence of any information provided herein.
Improving sperm quality with diet changes: Studies recommend intake of walnuts, almonds, leafy vegetables and fresh fruits
Millions of people in this world are infertile and this number is likely to rise with time. While much research has been done on female fertility, not much data is available yet on problems that lead to infertility in men
Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder, which is transferred from parents to their off-springs.
CST, Eiffel Tower, White House were among monuments lit up in pink world over to increase awareness about Breast Cancer.