Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK. Most women diagnosed with breast cancer are over the age of 50 but younger women – and even men – can also get it.
An estimated one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime but there's a good chance of recovery if it's detected at an early stage. For this reason it's vital that women check their breasts regularly for any changes and always have any changes examined by a GP.
With October marking the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month Spire Healthcare has given some insight into the different types of breast cancers people can get and has answered some frequently-asked questions about the disease.
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There are several types of breast cancer and two main groups – non-invasive and invasive.
Non-invasive breast cancers
Non-invasive breast cancers haven't spread into the breast tissue surrounding the tissue that they developed in such as the milk ducts or milk-producing glands. The two types of non-invasive breast cancer are:
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) – develops in the milk ducts of your breast and doesn't usually cause a noticeable lump in your breast; it is usually detected during a mammogram.
Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) – develops in the milk-producing glands (lobules) of your breast.
Invasive breast cancer
This type of breast cancer has spread through the lining of the milk ducts or lobules into the surrounding breast tissue. It often has no special features when the cells are looked at under the microscope – in these cases, which make up 70% of all breast cancer cases, it is called invasive breast cancer ‘no special type’ (NST).
The most common types of breast cancer start in the milk ducts or lobules and are usually invasive. However there are several other less common types of breast cancer including:
Inflammatory breast cancer
This is an aggressive type of breast cancer that progresses quickly. However it is rare – making up just 1-5% of all breast cancer cases. Cancer cells don't form a tumour but instead block the lymph nodes near your breast. This stops the lymph vessels from draining properly which causes your breast to become red, swollen, and warm to the touch. The surface of your breast may also look pitted – often described as looking like orange peel.
Triple-negative breast cancer
This type of breast cancer makes up 10-20% of all breast cancer cases. It is described as triple negative because the tumours do not have:
Extra HER2 proteins on the surface of their cells – this protein helps tumours grow;
Oestrogen receptors – these are proteins on the surface of cells that attach to the hormone oestrogen. Tumours with oestrogen receptors grow in response to oestrogen;
Progesterone receptors – these are proteins on the surface of cells that attach to the hormone progesterone. Tumours with progesterone receptors grow in response to progesterone.
Triple-negative breast cancer grows and spreads more quickly than other types of breast cancer and is harder to treat with traditional breast cancer therapies. This is because these therapies target hormones, which triple-negative tumours do not respond to.
Metastatic breast cancer
It's possible for breast cancer to spread to other parts of the body, usually through the blood or the axillary lymph nodes (small lymphatic glands that filter bacteria and cells from the mammary gland). If this happens it's known as secondary, stage four, or metastatic breast cancer – this type of breast cancer is advanced. Metastatic breast cancer spreads to other parts of your body such as your bones, lungs, and liver.
Invasive (and pre-invasive) lobular breast cancer
Around 15% of all breast cancer cases are invasive lobular carcinoma. They develop in the lobules (milk-producing glands) of your breast.
Paget's disease of the breast
This is a very rare type of breast cancer which affects the nipple and areola of the breast. The first noticeable symptom is usually a rash affecting the nipple and areola that looks similar to eczema.
Phyllodes tumour
This is a very rare and aggressive type of breast cancer. It develops in the stromal cells around the milk ducts of the breast.
Breast angiosarcoma
This type of cancer develops in the cells lining blood vessels or lymph vessels of the breast. It is rare and can develop as a compilation of radiation treatment of the breast.
Male breast cancer
Men have less breast tissue than women and are much less likely to develop breast cancer. Although male breast cancer is rare it is just as serious as breast cancer in women and has the same symptoms.
Frequently asked questions
Can breast cancer kill you?
Breast cancer can kill you. However in the UK survival rates are good – most women with breast cancer survive for at least five years after their diagnosis. This is due to breast cancer screening and early diagnosis, which means breast cancer is caught earlier when treatments are more effective.
What are the five warning signs of breast cancer?
Five common signs of breast cancer include constant pain in or around your breast, a lump or thickened area in your breast or under your armpit, changes in the size or appearance of your breast or nipple, leaking from your nipple which may be blood-streaked, and puckering or dimpling of the skin of your breast.
Does stress cause breast cancer?
There is no evidence to suggest that stress causes breast cancer.
What age does breast cancer occur?
Breast cancer can occur at any age but most commonly occurs in women aged over 50.
What is breast cancer pain like?
Depending on the type of breast cancer you have the pain may feel different. Your breast may feel tender, sore, or painful, or you may feel a burning sensation.
What is the most aggressive type of breast cancer?
Invasive breast cancers are more aggressive than non-invasive breast cancers. Of these invasive breast cancers inflammatory breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer are particularly aggressive.
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