Types of Breast Cancer

A breast cancer diagnosis is unique to each person. While there are general categories, it's important to speak with your health care team to determine your special circumstances.

Overview of Breast Cancer in situ

In order to diagnose breast cancer in situ, a pathologist examines a biopsy specimen under the microscope. The diagnosis of breast cancer in situ implies that the biopsy shows a non-invasive or pre-malignant condition that is not an invasive cancer. Breast cancer in situ is classified as either ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) , arising from ductal epithelium, or lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) (LCIS), arising from the epithelium of the lobules. With the increasing use of screening mammography, non-invasive cancers (DCIS and LCIS) are more frequently diagnosed and now constitute 15 to 20 percent of all breast cancers.

Other Types of Breast Cancer

• Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma (IDC): cancer has spread outside the milk duct

• Infiltrating Lobular Carcinoma (ILC): cancer has spread outside lobe. Eighty-six percent of breast cancers starts in ducts, while 12 percent start in the lobes.

• Inflammatory: often mistaken for infection

• Paget's disease: characterized by itchiness and scaling

• Tubular: cancer cells look like little tubes

• Medullary: cancer resembles the color of brain tissue

• Mucinous: infiltrating ductal cancer that makes mucus

• Papillary: cells that stick out in little papules, or fingerlike projections

• Metaplastic: type of invasive breast cancer where a portion of the tumor's cells tramforms into an alternate shape

• Phyllodes tumor: resemble fibrous tumors and can be benign, borderline or malignant

• Benign conditions

• Triple Negative Breast Cancer

• Her2 Status

Want to learn more?

Call the Hotline and speak with someone who's been there. The Hotline Match Program will arrange for you to speak with a breast cancer survivor who has had the same diagnosis or has faced the same important issues as you.

24-hour Y-ME National Breast Cancer Hotline
1-800-221-2141 (English)*
1-800-986-9505 (Español)

*Interpreters available in 150 languages

Related Links

Understanding Your Pathology Report