Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in women across the United States and the entire world, but despite its prevalence there’s still a lot that people don’t know about the disease. Many people hear the words “breast cancer” and lump all diagnoses into the same category, but there are actually several different types of breast cancer: ductal carcinoma in situ, metastatic breast cancer, invasive ductal carcinoma, and triple-negative breast cancer.
Today we’ll explore each breast cancer type and discuss the difference between invasive cancer and non-invasive cancer.
What is the Difference Between Invasive and Non-Invasive Cancer?
There are two primary categories of breast cancer: invasive and non-invasive. Each type of breast cancer falls underneath one of these umbrella categories, and whether a patient’s breast cancer is invasive or non-invasive largely determines their treatment options and outcomes.
When the cancer cells are located within the milk ducts or lobules and have not progressed beyond them, breast cancer is considered non-invasive. When the cancer has spread into other parts of the body, it is labeled invasive. Typically the prognosis for invasive cancers is less optimistic, which is why it’s so important to catch breast cancer early and start treatment before it has a chance to spread!
What is Ductal Carcinoma in Situ?
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a type of non-invasive breast cancer where the cancer is located in the milk ducts and has not yet spread to any other part of the breast. If left untreated there is the possibility that the cancer could spread, which is why this type of cancer is often referred to as “pre-cancerous” or “pre-invasive.”
What is Metastatic Breast Cancer?
Metastatic breast cancer is an invasive form of breast cancer that is typically labeled “Stage 4”. The word metastatic is a classification, meaning cancer has spread throughout the body from its original location. In patients with metastatic breast cancer, the cancer has usually spread to other areas of the body like the bones, brain, liver, or lungs. While treatable, metastatic breast cancer oftentimes cannot be cured and has a 5 year survival rate of 22%.
What is Invasive Ductal Carcinoma?
Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) is the most common type of breast cancer and is categorized by cancerous cells that have spread beyond the milk ducts to other parts of the breast. Seventy to eighty percent of all breast cancers cases are IDC with irregular shaped, hard tumors. IDC is also the most common type of breast cancer found in men.
What is Triple-Negative Breast Cancer?
Triple-negative breast cancer affects approximately 10-15% of all breast cancer patients. This type of cancer is different because the cancer cells do not contain progesterone or estrogen receptors and make very little of the protein HER2. While triple-negative breast cancer is more rare, this type of cancer is aggressive, spreads quickly and has limited treatment options. It most often occurs in African American women under the age of 40 or patients who possess the BRCA1 mutation.
The Importance of Breast Cancer Screening
While the type of breast cancer a patient is diagnosed with may vary, the one fact that remains the same regardless of which type you have is that early detection is crucial in providing you with the best chance of treating it and, hopefully, becoming cancer free. As with any type of cancer the faster you discover it and start treatment, the more positive the prognosis, which is why breast cancer screening is so important.
Schedule your breast cancer screening exam at a BICRAD location near you for peace of mind and better health!