Breast Cancer Types and Stages
Female breast may seem like a simple tool devised by nature to feed the infant. In fact, female breast is one of the most intricate structures of the body, consisting of different kinds of tissues. These tissues can be affected by certain kinds of cancer, especially if a breast cancer gene has been passed through generations. Depending on different breast cancer stages, its impact on the woman’s health may be different.
The most common kinds of breast cancer include:
DCIS (Ductal carcinoma in situ). This type of cancer is found in the gland responsible for the production of milk. “In situ” means “in place,” so breast cancer cells are not seen to be spreading from a localized position. DCIS, unlike advanced breast cancer, is at the earliest stage of its development and therefore can be successfully treated and completely cured. This is still possible because breast cancer cells haven’t yet received the access to the tissues surrounding the breast and are unable to travel through the vessels or lymphatic channels. Since this type of cancer is confined to the ducts, the percentage of women cured is almost 100%. Statistics show that DCIS is found in about 1/5 of all patients screened and diagnosed with cancer, the remaining cases represent the invasive kinds.
If you take a look at a DCIS mammogram, you will be able to notice a cluster of small white spots, which may look as sand grains. In some 15% of cases, the patient has a density in addition to these spots. Another 10% display density only, without white spots on the mammogram. However, in some cases DCIS is not detected during mammography and appears only in a biopsy specimen.
IDC (Invasive ductal carcinoma). In 80% of the invasive breast cancer types, it will be IDC. In this case breast cancer cells have spread beyond the duct in the fatty tissue surrounding the breast. The danger of this type of cancer is that from there the cells can spread through the lymph channels of blood vessels and settle in other parts of the body causing serious consequences.
ILC (Invasive lobular carcinoma). Of all the invasive breast cancer types, 10% makes invasive lobular carcinomas. This condition means that cancerous cells have penetrated the lobules, have grown beyond them and are likely to spread to other parts of the body.
Apart from these, the following types of breast cancer are known:
Tubular carcinoma. It gets its name from the cells that look a lot like tubes. This is an invasive kind of breast cancer that is known to spread beyond the tissues quite rarely. In this type of breast cancer, the prognosis is more favorable than in the case of ductal carcinoma, for example.
Medullary carcinoma. This type of cancer is also invasive and differs from other kinds because of its pink coloring. According to statistics, only 5% of cancers belong to this kind, and this breast cancer has prognosis that is much better than for other, more common cancers. How advanced this breast cancer is depends on the stage of its development.
Colloid carcinoma. This type of breast cancer has to do with cancer cells producing mucus and spreading beyond the ducts.
Papillary carcinoma. It is the rarest kind displaying breast cancer cells that look like papules. Papillary carcinoma can be either in situ or invasive.
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