Breast cancer starts in the cells of the breast and develops into a cancerous tumour. Once a tumour develops, it may spread throughout the body and destroy tissue nearby. Some breast cells can change into a non-cancerous condition, but that doesn’t mean they are malignant. Here’s some information about each type. You’ll also learn about the risks and symptoms associated with each type. Read on to find out what to do if you suspect you have breast cancer.
Inflammatory breast cancer
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a very rare type of breast cancer. It develops in the skin and lymph vessels of the breast, and usually does not form a distinct tumor. Early symptoms of IBC include persistent itching, swelling, or dimpling of the breast. Moreover, the skin of the breast may become red, pitted, or even develop a pink tint. Typically, doctors use a combination of therapies to cure IBC.
Inflammatory breast cancer can occur locally, or spread to distant areas of the body. It can cause significant pain and even nerve or bone pain. Sometimes it can cause kidney stones or hypercalcemia. Brain metastasis can cause a progressive worsening headache, and it can result in confusion, memory loss, or arrhythmia. The symptoms can be quite serious, and may warrant immediate medical attention. However, early diagnosis is essential for the prevention of the cancer from progressing.
Inflammatory breast cancer often spreads quickly and is considered a high-risk cancer. If not detected early enough, it can spread to lymph nodes surrounding the breast. When it is first diagnosed, it is usually a locally advanced form of the disease. Breast cancer cells have grown into the skin and lymph nodes. As a result, one out of three cases of inflammatory breast cancer have spread to distant areas of the body. While the survival rate is lower than for other types of breast cancer, the outlook for women with this type of cancer has improved with the advancement of treatments.
Invasive lobular carcinoma
Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) displays characteristic morphology and immunophenotype. Typical features of ILC include strongly ER and PR expression, low histological grade, and single-file invasion. Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) has numerous histological variants. Classic ILC is characterized by strong diffuse nuclear expression of estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor and absence of E Cadherin.
Invasive lobular cancers can affect multiple parts of both breasts and may require additional imaging studies to confirm the diagnosis. The cancer may spread to distant sites in the body. It may spread to the bones, lungs, brain, liver, or gastrointestinal tissues. Often, it recurs many years after diagnosis. Although this type of cancer is less likely to spread, it can spread to distant sites.
Invasive lobular carcinoma is an aggressive type of breast cancer. It develops when a woman’s cells become abnormally large and multiply rapidly. Invasive lobular carcinoma can grow larger than the size of a mammogram, and it is more likely to spread to other parts of her body. Invasive lobular carcinoma is difficult to diagnose with a mammogram and will require a biopsy or other imaging tests.
Inflammatory ductal carcinoma
Inflammatory ductal carcinoma in breast disease is uncommon and requires a multiprofessional approach for diagnosis. Core needle biopsy is the initial diagnosis, followed by a biopsy of the entire tumor. Dermal lymphatic invasion (DLI) of tumor cells is a classic histologic feature of inflammatory ductal carcinoma. Tumor emboli contain malignant cells that cause both local and metastatic disease. Although not a hallmark of primary inflammatory ductal carcinoma, DLI can be a significant incidental finding in women with clinical suspicion for IBC.
Inflammatory ductal carcinoma in breast disease is differentiated from other types of breast cancer by its highly vascular and angiogenic properties. According to McCarthy and colleagues, inflammatory breast cancer has a significantly higher density of microvessels than non-inflammatory types. The cell membrane of inflammatory ductal carcinoma contains elevated levels of VEGF and bFGF. These two proteins are involved in the growth of tumor cells.
According to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC), IBC is a distinct clinicopathologic entity that may involve either the whole or contralateral breast. The AJCC staging system assigns an IBC stage of T4d. Inflammatory ductal carcinoma must meet all of the diagnostic criteria for diagnosis: rapid onset of breast symptoms, absence of underlying mass, duration of the history less than six months.