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Breast adenocarcinoma is the second most common cancer in women, with three types: ductal, lobular, and sarcoma. Ductal carcinoma in situ is the earliest form, while invasive ductal carcinoma is the most common. Lobular carcinoma in situ is not considered cancer, but a risk factor for developing invasive lobular carcinoma. Sarcoma is a rare form that originates in connective tissues. Breast cancers can be influenced by estrogen and progesterone, and hormone-blocking drugs can be used to slow their growth.
Breast adenocarcinoma is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, behind only skin cancer. Almost all breast cancers begin in the glands of the breast, including the ducts and lobules. The term “adenocarcinoma” refers to the glandular nature of these breast tumors. There are three types of breast adenocarcinoma: ductal, lobular, and sarcoma.
The first type of breast cancer is ductal carcinoma. This is the most common type of breast cancer, originating in the ducts that carry milk from the lobules to the nipples. There are two types of duct cancer: in situ and invasive.
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is the earliest form of breast adenocarcinoma and is considered stage 0 cancer. DCIS cells are entirely confined to the duct itself, having not spread outside the walls. With early detection, the cure rate is almost 100% for this type of breast adenocarcinoma.
Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) accounts for nearly 80% of all breast cancers. The IDC cells have spread from their location of origin, the ducts, into the fatty tissue of the breast. Invasive ductal carcinoma cells have the potential to metastasize or spread throughout the body, through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. This type of cancer is described as stage I, II, III, or IV, based on the size of the tumor and how far it has spread.
The second type of breast cancer is lobular carcinoma. This type of breast adenocarcinoma originates in the lobules of the breast that produce milk. There are two types of lobular carcinoma: in situ and invasive.
Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) is not considered a true cancer; rather, LCIS is an area of abnormal tissue growth, sometimes called a lobular neoplasm. LCIS cells are entirely confined within the walls of the lobules. Although LCIS cells are not themselves cancerous, their presence is a risk factor indicating a higher potential for the development of invasive lobular carcinoma. Studies have shown that women who have LCIS have a 10-20% chance of developing invasive breast cancer in their lifetime.
Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) represents lobular cancer cells that have spread from the lobules into the fatty tissues of the breast. Like IDC cells, these cancerous cells also have the potential to metastasize. Invasive lobular carcinoma accounts for 10-15% of all breast adenocarcinomas. This type of cancer is described as stage I, II, III, or IV, based on the size of the tumor and how far it has spread.
Sarcoma is a rare form of breast adenocarcinoma that originates in the connective tissues of the breast. These tissues include muscle, fat and blood vessels. Examples of sarcomas include phyllodes tumors and angiocarcinomas.
Invasive breast adenocarcinoma is usually graded on a scale of 1 to 3. These grades are based on the difference seen between the cancerous cells and the surrounding healthy cells. Grade 3 breast cancer cells account for the greatest difference and are considered the most aggressive.
Some types of breast cancer are influenced by natural female hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone. Breast cancers that use estrogen to grow are called estrogen receptor (ER) positive. Those that use progesterone to grow are called progesterone receptor (PR) positive. In these cases, hormone blocking drugs can be used to slow the growth of breast adenocarcinomas.
