When I used to hear about women going through breast cancer, I never thought to ask what type they had, because I didn’t know there was more than one. How many types of breast cancer are you familiar with?
The day I received my diagnosis, I couldn’t help it–I went to Dr. Google to begin my own research. Now, doctors hate when patients do that, but I needed to know what I was in for. I went down the rabbit hole of videos trying to learn the newly confusing and very unpredictable state I was in.
As I began to learn about my own condition, I couldn’t figure out the difference between grade versus stage. Just like I needed clarification, I’m sure it needs to be clarified for others as well. So, let me enlighten you, my friend. This is not a complete list by any means and is to inform you as you recover and heal from breast cancer.
Common types of breast cancer
Breast cancer type is just that–the specific kind of cell where the cancer began. Types of Breast Cancer include::
- Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS): Non-invasive; cancer is contained in the milk ducts.
- Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC): Most common type; spreads outside the ducts into surrounding tissue.
- Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS): Non-invasive; abnormal cells grow within the milk-producing glands of the breast; indicates an increased risk of developing invasive breast cancer later in life
- Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC): Begins in the milk-producing lobules and spreads.
- Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC): Lacks estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors; often aggressive.
- HER2-positive, HER2-low, and HER2-negative: Classified based on the levels of the HER2 protein expressed; HER2-positive grows quickly but often responds well to targeted drugs.
- Metastatic Breast Cancer: Cancer has spread to other organs.
- Estrogen-receptor positive and negative: Some types of breast cancer express a hormone called an estrogen receptor (ER); this type is likely to respond to hormone therapy
- Progesterone receptor (PR) positive and negative: Some tumors express a hormone called a progesterone receptor (PR) on their surface; this type is likely to respond to hormone therapy
Breast cancer grade
Breast cancer grade refers to the shape and behavior of the cells that the cancer has originated from. Imagine your normal cells are circular in shape but begin to become oblong. Just like cancer stages there are four grades. In grade 1, the cells are the most normal, butthere are some slight changes to the cells. Grade 4 indicates the presence of the most abnormal of cells. The MD Anderson Center explains it perfectly.
Breast cancer stage
Breast cancer stage refers to the size of your tumor and how far it has spread into your body. Similar to grades there are four stages. Unfortunately, stage IV is known and feared by so many, whether you are a caregiver, patient or caregiver turned patient. Stage 0 is when your abnormal cells have been contained to one spot and have not spread anywhere. If you touch your thumb to index finger, the circle that it creates is comparable to stage 0. The higher the stage, the further the cells have traveled from the original location of origin, with stage IV being the most feared.
The American Cancer Society is another resource to learn more about breast cancer stages. When people hear they’ve been diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer, patients usually inquire about the time they have left. Stage IV doesn’t always mean death and breast cancer is not a death sentence.
Required testing
Prior to professional testing, remember it is suggested that you do your own breast exam. Breastcancer.org shows us how to properly do self-exams and recommends that we do them monthly. Bear in mind that, prior to any confirmation, testing should be conducted to verify and gain a clearer understanding of the specific form of breast cancer you have.
An accurate diagnosis will help your medical team formulate a properly designed treatment plan. Please remember that having the same type of breast cancer as someone else does not necessarily imply you will follow the same treatment plan.
Types of breast cancer testing
There are different testing methods based on your individualized case. When the following tests are performed, those with abnormal results may need further testing.
- Mammogram: An X-ray of the breast, the standard screening tool, with 3D tomosynthesis offering clearer views.
- Ultrasound: Uses sound waves to see if a lump is a solid mass or a fluid-filled cyst.
- Breast MRI: Uses magnets and radio waves for detailed images, often for high-risk patients or problem-solving.
- Clinical Breast Exam (CBE): A healthcare professional feels the breasts and underarms for lumps or changes.
- Breast biopsy: The only way to confirm breast cancer is taking a tissue sample for lab analysis.
- Breast self-examination: Knowing your breasts’ normal look and feel to spot changes early.
- Biomarker tests: There are several biomarker tests that can help determine how aggressive breast cancer might be, whether it has grown or spread, what treatment options are most likely to work and how well it is responding to treatment.
We are all on individual journeys, however, each journey begins with an exam. Though you may not know all the terminology or what comes next for you personally, you can always remind others how important it is to continue to get screened and tested–you may be able to save a life.