Let’s understand what is invasive breast cancer
Invasive (infiltrating) breast cancer cells break through normal breast tissue barriers and spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream and lymph nodes (Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped organs that produce and store blood cells and filter lymph fluid, helping to remove waste materials and harmful germs from your body).
Most breast cancers are invasive, meaning the cancer has spread from the original site to other areas, like nearby breast tissue, lymph nodes or elsewhere in the body. but there are different types of invasive breast cancer.
Let’s understand the common types of invasive breast cancer
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
Invasive ductal carcinoma means that the cancer that began in the milk ducts of the breast has broken through the lining of the milk duct and spread into the surrounding breast tissue.
Invasive Lobular Carcinoma
Invasive ductal carcinoma means that the cancer that began in the milk ducts of the breast has broken through the lining of the milk duct and spread into the surrounding breast tissue.
Other subgroups of invasive breast cancer are less common. These include:
1. Medullary carcinoma
2. Adenoid cystic carcinoma, also referred to as adenocystic carcinoma
3. Papillary carcinoma
4. Mucinous carcinoma, also referred to as colloid carcinoma
5. Tubular carcinoma
6. Low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma
It is important to understand that not everyone experiences symptoms when diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.
The following list includes potential symptoms that are important to be aware of for invasive breast cancer :-
1. Changes in the position of the nipple.
2. Skin changes in the breast such as puckering, dimpling, a rash or redness of the skin.
3. A lump in or around the breast or armpit.
4. Fluid leaking from the nipple in a woman who isn’t pregnant or breastfeeding.
5. A change in the shape,size or feel of the breast.
To have one or more of the risk factors doesn’t mean cancer is inevitable, only that the cancer risk is higher.
Invasive breast cancer risk factors include:
1. Certain genetic mutations, for example BRCA1 and BRCA 2
2. Age.
3. A family history of the disease or of ovarian cancer
4. Dense breast tissue
5. A previous diagnosis of breast cancer or other breast diseases such as lobular carcinoma in situ or atypical hyperplasia
6. Alcohol consumption
7. Sedentary lifestyle (A “sedentary lifestyle” refers to a way of living that involves very little physical activity or exercise)
8. Excess weight, especially after menopause
9. Certain history with childbearing (not having given birth or having a first child after the age of 30 raises the risk)
10. Use of hormone therapy
While some risk factors can’t be changed, others may be modified with changes to diet and lifestyle habits.
To check for breast cancer there are usually a number of tests to undergo.This tests includes one or more of the following tests:
A breast examination
A mammogram
A breast ultrasound scan
Taking a sample of tissue from your breast called a biopsy
It’s important to understand that most people who attend a breast clinic with symptoms do not have breast cancer.
The treatment you get can be different from other people with invasive breast cancer,as the doctor takes many different factors into account when deciding which treatment is best for your cancer.
The recommended treatment plan depends on several factors such as :-
The type of cells the cancer started in.
The size of the cancer and whether it has spread.
How abnormal the cells look under the microscope.
Whether the cells have receptors for particular cancer drugs.
General health.
Whether you have had the menopause.
Multiple treatment options will be used in combination.The most common treatment options for invasive breast cancer include:-
1. Surgery: A variety of surgical procedures may be used to remove cancer cells and cancerous tissue. Two common surgical approaches include lumpectomy and mastectomy.
2. Radiation therapy: During radiation treatment, high-energy X-rays are used to specifically target and kill cancer cells. External beam radiation, which uses a machine outside the body to deliver targeted doses of radiation, is most commonly used for invasive breast cancer.
3. Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses medication to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing. These anti-cancer medications are generally given in cycles over the course of several weeks.
4. Hormone therapy: Also called endocrine therapy, this treatment is designed to stop the growth of cancer cells. It’s only used on tumor types that are dependent on hormones, such as estrogen, to grow. It may be used before surgery to shrink the tumor or after surgery to prevent the cancer from recurring.
5. Targeted therapy: This treatment is designed to target specific genes or proteins that help drive the cancer’s behavior, while—unlike systemic chemotherapy—avoiding damage to healthy cells.Immunotherapy: For some types of breast cancer, immunotherapy may be recommended. This treatment is designed to empower the body’s immune system to recognize cancer cells as harmful and unleash an immune response to kill them.