Breast cancer is by far the most common cancer for females, and the second most fatal type of cancer for women in the United States as well. Breast cancers are usually diagnosed as a result of abnormalities noticed on mammograms, or from lumps on the breast or changes in the consistency of the breast tissue. Breast cancer is the most common cause of death for females between the ages of forty-five and fifty-five years old. Breast cancer can occur in men, however, it is extremely rare. There are different types of breast cancers and not all of them are the same.
Invasive Breast Cancer
Invasive breast cancer is a common type of breast cancer that infiltrates outside of the membrane and lines the lobule or duct, thus invading the breast tissues that surround the membrane. As a result, the malignant cancerous cells are capable of traveling to other parts of the body and spreading out further including the lymph nodes. Invasive lobular carcinoma and invasive ductal carcinoma are both types of invasive breast cancer.
In Situ Breast Cancer
In situ breast cancer is another very common type of breast cancer. This is a noninvasive breast cancer in which the cancerous cells have remained at their point of origin. This means they haven't spread to the breast tissue surrounding the lobule or the duct, unlike in invasive breast cancers. Ductal carcinoma in situ is the most common form of noninvasive breast cancer. This type of breast cancer, with the appropriate treatment, has a very positive prognosis.
Less Common Breast Cancers
More unusual types of breast cancer generally originate not in lobules or ducts, but instead in the supporting tissue of the breasts such as blood vessels, lymphatic system, and fibrous connective tissue.Some rarer forms of breast cancer are phyllodes tumor, angiosarcoma, osteosarcoma, inflammatory breast cancer, Paget's disease of the breast and adenoid cystic carcinoma.
Breast Cancer Grade Types
With invasive types of breast cancers, there are tumor grades assigned. This grade is determined by how much the cells in the cancerous tissue look like normal breast tissue, upon examination under a microscope. Understanding the breast cancer tumor grade helps doctors determine which treatment options are appropriate for individuals. The levels are Grade 1, Grade 2 and Grade 3, with Grade 3 being the most severe.
Progesterone and Estrogen Receptors
Breast cancers are examined for the status of their hormone receptors, estrogen and progesterone. Receptors are proteins located outside of cells that can connect to certain chemicals, drugs or hormones that are moving through the bloodstream. There are two different types of breast cancer with regards to these receptors: hormone receptor positive and hormone receptor negative. Hormone receptor negative cancers generally spread and grow much faster than hormone receptor positive cancers.
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