Understanding the Different Types of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer refers to abnormal cell growth within the breast tissue which has the potential to spread. There are several distinct types of breast cancer defined by cell characteristics and molecular makeup. Knowing the types assists in diagnosis, treatment decisions and prognosis. Let’s take a closer look at the major breast cancer categories.

Read Next : What cancer causes jaw and ear pain?

What Is a Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer begins when healthy breast cells start dividing abnormally and accumulating mutations. This uncontrolled proliferation of cells forms tumors – either non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). Cancerous tumors can invade surrounding tissues and spread (metastasize) through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to other organs. Breast tumors are classified based on cell features and molecular expression patterns.

What Are the Symptoms of Breast Cancer?

Some common signs to watch out for include:

A lump or thickening within the breast tissue that feels different from the surrounding skin and tissue.
Change in the size, shape or appearance of a breast – noticeable swelling, shrinking or distortion.
Bloody discharge or fluid from the nipple, especially if only from one breast.
Scaly, crusty dark area around the areola or nipple.
Nipple tenderness, pain in the breast or armpit region.
Change in skin texture like dimpling, puckering or redness of the breast.
Swelling of all or part of an arm.

These warrant medical review to examine if a mass is benign or requires biopsy to rule out cancer. Not all lumps prove malignant either.

How to tell if you have breast cancer

How to tell if u have breast cancer. One needs to see a doctor for proper evaluation. Self or clinical breast exams monthly after periods stop help to get familiar with normal breast tissue texture and report any new changes promptly. Mammograms and diagnostic imaging also help identify tumors not felt on exams. Blood tests alone can’t screen for breast cancer. Precisely determining cancer subtypes further requires biopsy of abnormal tissue samples analyzed under a microscope by pathologists.

Types of Breast Cancer

The major classified types are:

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): Abnormal cells lining the milk ducts that haven’t invaded surrounding tissues.
Invasive (or infiltrating) ductal carcinoma: Cancer that originated in a duct and has spread beyond it. This is the most common type affecting over 80%.
Invasive (or infiltrating) lobular carcinoma: Cancer originating in the lobules (glands) that makes and secretes milk.
Triple-negative breast cancer: Cancers lacking estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and excess HER2 protein.
HER2-positive breast cancer: Cancer cells with too much of the growth-promoting HER2 protein/receptor on their surface.
Inflammatory breast cancer: A rare and aggressive type presenting as swollen breast with rashes.
Paget’s disease of the nipple: Affects the skin of the nipple leading to itching, burning or bleeding areas.
Male breast cancer: Uncommon but all breast cancer types can affect men too.

Staging and grading further provide prognostic information and help determine treatment approaches tailored for each case.

What is the best type of breast cancer to have?

Generally, localized low-grade noninvasive (in situ) tumors confined to the milk ducts or lobules considered best in terms of prognoses. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) high five-year survival rates if caught early using screening mammograms before significant spread. HER2+ breast cancers respond well to drugs targeting this specific receptor, great improving outcomes. Hormone receptor-positive types also have targeted therapies as alternatives or additions to standard chemotherapy and surgery regimes. Overall, the treatment efficacy for all breast cancer types continues improving through extensive research. Early detection remains key to facilitate effectively curing cases or extending long-term remission periods. No type should be considered insignificant or “best” without a full individual clinical evaluation.

In conclusion, breast cancer classification guides personalized care plans from diagnosis through various treatment approaches to long-term survivorship. While prognosis depends on multiple factors, subtyping cancers helps select appropriate screening methods, therapeutic regimens for maximum benefit in each case. Detailed understanding of each category facilitates informed decision making and empowering individuals on their health journeys. Ongoing research into rare cancer biology and new targeted agents hold promise to further elevate survival rates globally.