There are various types of breast cancer, and it’s important to understand the differences between them since the type of cancer you have could impact how it’s diagnosed or treated.
While it may be confusing at first, the breast cancer specialists at the OSUCCC – James will walk you through your specific diagnosis and ensure you have all the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions about your cancer care.
We’re experts at identifying the cancer you have and the most appropriate treatments to give you the best possible outcomes. A breast cancer’s type can refer to a number of characteristics about the disease, including:
- The kind of breast cells affected or where the cancer is located
- The presence of any cell markers or cell receptors
- If the cancer is invasive (likely to spread) or noninvasive
- Whether the cancer has spread to other areas of the body
Most breast cancers are carcinomas, which are tumors that start in the cells that make up the skin or line tissues in organs. They’re often invasive, but the OSUCCC – James has oncologists that specialize in every type of breast cancer, no matter its nature.
Types of invasive breast cancer
Invasive breast cancer occurs when the cancer has grown beyond the cells where it began and spread deeper into the breast tissue or other organs.
Invasive breast cancer types are:
- Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) – This is the most common type of breast cancer, and it occurs when cancer cells form in the milk ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple) and invade other parts of the breast.
- Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) – This occurs when cancer cells that formed in the lobules (glands that make milk) spread to other parts of the breast.
- Inflammatory breast cancer – This rare cancer occurs when diseased cells block lymph vessels in the skin. It causes symptoms of a rash, discoloration or skin dimpling of the breast instead of a lump.
- Metastatic breast cancer – Also known as stage IV cancer, this cancer has spread to another part of the body, such as the liver, brain, bones or lungs.
Types of noninvasive breast cancer
Also known as carcinoma in situ, noninvasive breast cancer is cancer that has not grown into other areas of the breast. The most common type of noninvasive breast cancer is ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which is confined to the milk ducts.
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Breast cancers with cell receptors
Some invasive breast cancers are further differentiated by whether they’re fueled by naturally occurring female hormones. In some cases, cancer can be sensitive to hormones, such as progesterone and estrogen.
Diseased breast cells have receptors that can “catch” specific hormones that cause them to grow. Breast cancers are typically described by the presence or absence of these three cell receptors:
- Estrogen receptors (ER)
- Progesterone receptors (PR)
- Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)
Knowing how your cancer responds to hormones can help our expert cancer doctors design targeted treatments for your cancer.
Hormone receptor-positive breast cancer
- Hormone receptor-positive breast cancers have measurable levels of either progesterone or estrogen receptors, or both. They are HER2 negative, meaning they don’t have amplified levels of the HER2 protein.
- These cancers are typically treated with surgery and hormone (endocrine) therapy, a type of treatment that affects how the estrogen hormone is made or how our body reacts to estrogen.
- There are times that these cancers may also benefit from treatment with chemotherapy.
HER2-positive breast cancer
- HER2-positive breast cancers have an amplification of the HER2 receptor.
- These cancers are typically treated with surgery and HER2-targeting antibodies. Often, chemotherapy is also recommended to decrease the chance that the cancer will return.
- It is possible for breast cancers to be “triple-positive,” meaning that they are both hormone receptor- and HER2-positive. In these cases, HER2-targeting treatments and chemotherapy are typically used first, but there may also be a need to use endocrine therapies as well.
Triple-negative breast cancer
- Triple-negative breast cancers do not have estrogen or progesterone receptors and have little presence of the HER2 receptor.
- These cancers can be quickly growing and usually require surgery and chemotherapy.
- Researchers at OSUCCC — James and other cancer institutes are studying new targets and treatment options for triple-negative breast cancer, including immunotherapy.
Other types of breast cancer
There are rarer types of breast cancer that start in other parts of the breast or behave differently than other more common types of cancer. These include:
- Paget disease of the nipple – This is a rare form of breast cancer that begins in the ducts and spreads to the nipple and then the areola, which is the dark circle around the nipple.
- Phyllodes tumor – This is a very rare breast tumor that begins in the connective tissue of the breast as opposed to the ducts or lobules, making It different than carcinomas. Some tumors are benign and others cancerous.
- Angiosarcoma – Breast cancers are rarely sarcomas, but when cancer starts in the cells that line blood vessels or lymph vessels in the breast, it’s called angiosarcoma. Sometimes this cancer is caused by prior radiation.
- Male breast cancer – Breast cancer can affect men, too, but it’s very rare, accounting for only 1% of all breast cancers. The most common form of breast cancer found in males is invasive ductal carcinoma.
Related Resources
Breast Cancer Prevention and Risk Factors
Breast Cancer Symptoms and Causes
Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Staging
Breast Cancer Treatment
Breast Cancer Treatment Team
Learn more about different types of breast cancer