We treat all types of breast cancer, including the following.
9 Conditions
Adenocarcinoma
A cancer that starts from glandular cells in the lining of the nose and skull base. Adenocarcinomas also exhibit locally destructive growth patterns. Like other cancers, their level of destruction is related to microscopic signs of how aggressive and disarrayed they are. Treatment can vary, depending on the aggressiveness of the cancer.
Cancer cells in the breast form a malignant (cancerous) tumor that appears as a lump. Most breast cancers are carcinomas or cancers that begin in the lining of organs.
Cancer that starts in the lining of the duct but does not grow through the walls of the duct into the surrounding breast tissue and beyond is called ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The cancer cells cannot spread to the lymph nodes (small, oval-shaped tissues containing certain infection-fighting immune system cells) or other organs. Ductal carcinoma in situ can go on to become invasive cancer. It is sometimes called a precancer. Almost all women diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ can be cured. Many cases are caught by mammograms.
HER2-positive breast cancer is a type of breast cancer that has higher than normal levels of a protein called hormone epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). This protein makes the cancer cells grow faster than cancers that are HER2-negative. Although HER2-positive breast cancer can grow quickly, treatments that target the HER2 protein are very effective.
Hormone-positive breast cancer is a type of breast cancer that grows in response to female hormones. These breast cancer cells have receptors, a type of protein, that attach to the hormones. The cancer cells need these hormones to grow.
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare but serious form of breast cancer. It accounts for only 1% to 3% of breast cancers (American Cancer Society 2015a). Inflammatory breast cancer causes the skin of the breast to feel warm and look red. It can also give the skin a thick, pitted appearance, similar to the peel of an orange. The breast itself may get bigger or feel itchy, tender, or hard. There may not be a single lump or tumor. In its early stages, inflammatory breast cancer is often mistaken for an infection rather than a cancer, and it may not be picked up by a mammogram.
Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) starts in the lining of the duct but breaks through the wall of the duct into the surrounding breast tissue. From there it can spread to the lymph nodes and other organs. Invasive ductal carcinoma is the most common form of breast cancer. Approximately 80% of invasive breast cancers are invasive ductal carcinomas (American Cancer Society 2015a).
Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) starts in the lining of the lobules. It breaks through the wall of the lobule into the surrounding breast tissue, and from there, it can spread to the lymph nodes and other organs. Invasive lobular carcinoma accounts for approximately 10% of invasive breast cancer cases (American Cancer Society 2015a).
After a breast cancer diagnosis, breast cancers are checked for three proteins - estrogen and progesterone receptors and HER2 - often linked to breast cancer. Triple negative breast cancer is a breast cancer that tests negative for these three proteins. This can make the cancer harder to treat.
