Breast cancer occurs when your breast cells divide and grow in an uncontrolled manner creating a tumour. Signs of breast cancer include the feeling or the presence of a lump in the chest and experiencing changes in the skin and the size of your breasts. Below, a breast cancer surgeon in Kolkata discusses the rare and common types of breast cancer.

Types of breast cancer

Breast cancer types are classified by their location of origin and range of spread. Read on to know their types.

1.      Rare types of breast cancer

  • IBC

IBC, or Inflammatory Breast Cancer, comprises one to five per cent of cases of breast cancer. It is an aggressive and fast-growing type of breast cancer. As it does not show a lump, it is often mistaken for other conditions.

  • Phyllodes tumour

A phyllodes tumour accounts for less than one percent of breast tumours. They are usually non-cancerous but can grow quickly, increasing their risk of becoming cancerous at later stages.

  • Tubular carcinoma

According to the best breast cancer doctor in Kolkata, tubular carcinoma gets its name from the tube-like structures that form a tumour. These tumours are small in size and can be detected at the time of a mammogram. They also have a slow growth rate.

2.      Common types of breast cancer

  • Non-invasive
  1. Ductal carcinoma in situ

Ductal carcinoma forms in the cells lining your milk duct. It stays in the duct and does not spread to the other tissues. It is known as “preinvasive” or “precancer”. However, if it is left untreated, it can turn invasive and affect the tissues nearby.

  1. Lobular carcinoma in situ

Lobular carcinoma forms in those cells that line your lobule. It causes some changes in the breast and puts you at risk of developing invasive cancer. This type of breast cancer is more common in menopausal women.

  • Invasive
  1. Invasive ductal carcinoma

Invasive ductal carcinoma takes place in the cells lining the milk duct and spreads to other tissues. It constitutes seventy to eighty per cent of all breast cancers.

  1. Non-invasive lobular carcinoma

Non-invasive lobular carcinoma is the second most common breast cancer affecting the cells lining your lobule.  As the growth rate of this tumour is slow, it might not respond well to chemotherapy.

We have discussed the rare and common types of breast cancer. Consult with a breast cancer surgeon to get the right diagnosis.