Types of Breast Cancer

There are several types of breast cancer. All the breast cancers specifically developed in the breast, so somehow they are alike but can differ in others.

A pathologist studies the tissue removed during a biopsy to learn many things about breast cancer that affect the prognosis (chances of the survival) as well as treatment. A few of these are listed as follows.

Breast cancers mainly can be non-invasive or invasive.

NON-INVASIVE BREAST CANCER:

Non-invasive cancers mainly exist within the milk ducts or lobules in the breast. Non-invasive do not grow into or invade normal tissues within or beyond the breast. Non-invasive cancers often known as the carcinoma in situ (“in the same place”) or pre-cancers. Invasive cancers basically do grow into normal and healthy tissues. 

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): DCIS is mainly a non-invasive breast cancer (also known as stage 0). With ductal carcinoma in situ, the abnormal cells are presented in the milk ducts of the breast (the tubes that help in order to carry the breast milk to the nipple) and have not spread beyond or into the surrounding breast tissue.

INVASIVE BREAST CANCER: 

These types of breast cancers mainly spread from the original site either the milk ducts or the lobules into the surrounding breast tissue. It can spread to the lymph nodes. The several invasive breast cancer are given as:

1. Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS): 

It is basically an overgrowth of the cells that exist inside the lobule. Instead of a true cancer; it is a warning sign of an increased risk for developing invasive cancer in the future in either breast.

2. Invasive ductal carcinoma:

This is also called infiltrating ductal carcinoma, is the most common invasive breast cancer (approximately 50-75 % of all breast cancers). Invasive ductal carcinoma begins in the milk ducts of females breast.

3. Invasive lobular carcinoma: 

Invasive lobular carcinoma is basically the second most common breast cancer (approximately 5-15 % of all the breast cancers). It developed in the lobules of the female breast.

Tubular, colloid and papillary carcinoma and carcinomas with the medullary features are often less common invasive breast cancers.

Special Forms of Invasive Breast Cancer:

1. IBC or Inflammatory Breast Cancer: IBC is a rare as well as aggressive breast cancer. About 1-5 % of all the breast cancers are IBC. 

The main symptoms are as: redness and swelling of the breast, puckering or dimpling of the breast skin and pulling in of the nipple. These symptoms tend to occur very rapidly, over a few weeks or months. Discuss with your healthcare professional if you experience any of the following:

• Swelling of the breast
• Enlargement of the breast. 
• A lump (less common with the IBC than with other breast cancers). 
• Redness of the breast
• Dimpling/puckering of the breast skin 
• Pulling in of the nipple. 
• Breast pain. 

A few symptoms of IBC may be mistaken for a breast infection. It is basically diagnosed after the symptoms which do not improve with the help of antibiotics. If you experience these symptoms and they're longer than the week on antibiotics, tell your physician. Don’t be afraid in order to get a second opinion.

2. Paget disease of the breast: Paget disease is rare cancer in the skin of the nipple or in the skin around the nipple. 

Approximately 1-3 % of the breast cancers are Paget disease of the breast. It usually exists with DCIS or invasive breast cancer. 

Symptoms can be as follows: burning, redness or scaling of the skin on the nipple or areola; a bloody or yellowish discharge from the nipple; and, itching a flattened nipple. Talk to your healthcare professional if you experience any of these symptoms.

3. Phyllodes Tumors of the Breast: Phyllodes tumors are mainly rarest breast tumors that developed in the connective tissue of the breast (stroma) and can grow rapidly in a leaflike pattern. A few of are cancerous, but most are absolutely not.

4. Recurrent or Metastatic Breast Cancer: A returned breast cancer after previous treatment or has spread beyond the breast to other organs of the body is known as recurrent or metastatic breast cancer. 

Bevacizumab together with the paclitaxel (paclitaxel injection) or capecitabine is approved for the first-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer. 

Hormone receptor status: 

All the invasive breast cancers, as well as DCIS, are tested for the hormone (estrogen and progesterone) receptors. 

Hormone receptor-positive (estrogen and progesterone receptor-positive) tumours have many hormone receptors. The treatment of breast cancers can be possible with the help of hormone therapy such as tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors. Most invasive breast cancers are the hormone receptor-positive.

HER2 status: 

All invasive breast cancers are basically tested for the HER2 protein. 

HER2-positive breast cancers have immense HER2 protein. These breast cancers can be treated with the help of anti-HER2 targeted therapy drugs such as trastuzumab 440mg.

Approximately 10-15 % of the newly diagnosed breast cancers are known as the HER2-positive.

As a second-line treatment, some patients may trastuzumab together with the lapatinib 250 mg. Further treatment may include the combinations of trastuzumab with the other chemotherapy drugs, or together with the lapatinib and capecitabine 500 mg.

Other targeted therapies CDK4/6 inhibitors (palbociclib 125 mg, ribociclib 200 mg and abemaciclib) are also an option for treating the ER positive advanced breast cancer together with an aromatase inhibitor or fulvestrant.

Everolimus tablets together with the exemestane, tamoxifen or fulvestrant is a treatment option for some postmenopausal patients with the ER positive advanced breast cancer which has the progressed after the treatment with a non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor.

Read:- What is Triple Negative Breast cancer