Breast Cancer Types Include:
- Ductal carcinoma is the most common form of breast cancer and can either be invasive, with the potential to spread, or non-invasive. Tumors form in the cells of the milk ducts, which convey milk to the nipples.
- Lobular carcinoma occurs in the lobules, which are the milk-producing glands and can be invasive, with a tendency to spread, or non-invasive.
- Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare, aggressive form of breast cancer that affects the dermal lymphatic system. IBC tumors grow in flat sheets that cannot be felt in a breast exam.
- Recurrent breast cancer means that the cancer has returned after being undetected for a time. Recurrent cancer can occur in the remaining breast tissue, and also at other sites such as the lungs, liver, bones or brain. Even though these tumors are in a new location, they are still called breast cancer.
Symptoms of breast cancer vary from woman to woman. Women should be familiar with their breasts so that they know what feels and looks normal for them. Changes should be promptly reported to your physician. Many cancers are found by regular mammography after age 40 – before any symptoms are felt. Women with breast cancer may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
- Lump or mass in your breast
- Enlarged lymph nodes in the armpit
- Changes in breast size, shape, skin texture or color
- Skin redness
- Dimpling or puckering
- Nipple changes or discharge
- Scaliness
- Nipple pulling to one side or a change in direction
Many breast changes – including lumps – are not cancer, but if you notice one or more of these symptoms for more than two weeks, see your doctor.
At Desert Springs Cancer Care, we use two types of chemotherapy in the treatment of breast cancer.
- Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is used prior to breast cancer surgery to reduce the size of tumors and to destroy cancer cells
- Adjuvant chemotherapy is used after breast cancer surgery or radiation to further target breast cancer cells and reduce the spread of cancer cells to other parts of your body
During chemotherapy, various tests may be ordered by your physician to monitor the effect of your personalized chemotherapy on your breast cancer. These tests may include PET/CT, CT and MRI scans, x-rays, ultrasounds, bone scans and blood tests.