Among all cancer types in women, breast cancer tops the charts. It
mostly develops in the milk ducts of the breast or in the lobules which are
responsible for carrying milk to the ducts. Based on that, it can be classified
into ductal carcinoma or lobular carcinoma. Yet another classification can be
made depending upon the sensitivity of the hormones like progesterone and
estrogen which are present in the women body. The knowledge of various types of
breast cancer can greatly help in their treatment.
Besides the aforementioned breast cancer types, one can make a
broad classification here with breast cancer types. Invasive breast cancer and
non-invasive breast cancer fall in this category. These are discussed below:
Non-Invasive Breast Cancer
According to Dr Sidharth Sahni,Senior
Consultant Breast Surgeon at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, non-invasive breast
cancers have a higher rate of survival. This can be gauged from the fact that
in this type of breast cancer, cancer cells do not spread to other parts of the
body but remain restricted to the point where they have originated. These types
of cancers are also known as in situ cancers. One of the prime examples of
non-invasive breast cancers is ductal carcinoma in situ or DCIS. As previously
discussed, ductal carcinoma starts to develop in the milk ducts of the breasts
and is curable. The effective treatment options available for non-invasive
breast cancers include mastectomy.
Invasive Breast Cancer
Dr.Sidharath Sahni further
talked about invasive breast cancers. In his words, this type of breast cancer
can be life-threatening. Unlike non-invasive breast cancers, it spreads to
other parts of the body rather than just remaining confined to the site of its
origination. Invasive cancer cells greatly affect the lymph vessels and blood
vessels. Consequently, malignant tumours start developing in other parts of the
body as well. Invasive ductal carcinoma and invasive lobular carcinoma are two
of the most common types of invasive breast cancer which may prove to be really
dangerous if there is a lack of proper treatment. If statistics are to be believed,
around 70-Cancer cases out of 100 are of invasive ducal carcinoma.
If you think that every cancer type either originates in ducts or
lobes of the breasts, then you are certainly wrong. Other originating sites of
breast cancer include fibrous connective tissues, blood vessels lymph vessels,
breast tissues etc. Some lesser known types of breast cancers are inflammatory
breast cancer, metaplastic breast cancer, angiosarcoma, osteosarcoma and
adenoid cystic carcinoma.
Knowing about various types of cancers can help
you identify your ailment in a better way and choose the best treatment option
available.
