Breast cancer type is categorized by whether it begins in the ducts or lobules, the organs responsible for breast milk production. Understanding the specific type of breast cancer can help you ask better questions and work with your physicians to get the best breast cancer treatments.

Ductal Carcinoma In-Situ (DCIS)
DCIS is a type of early breast cancer confined to the inside of the ductal system.

Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma (IDC)
IDC is the most common type of breast cancer representing 78% of all malignancies. These lesions appear as stellate (star like) or well-circumscribed (rounded) areas on mammograms. The stellate lesions generally have a poorer prognosis.

Medullary Carcinoma
Medullary carcinoma accounts for 15% of all breast cancer types. It most frequently occurs in women in their late 40s and 50s, presenting with cells that resemble the medulla (gray matter) of the brain.

Infiltrating Lobular Carcinoma (ILC)
Infiltrating lobular carcinoma is a type of breast cancer that usually appears as a subtle thickening in the upper-outer quadrant of the breast. This breast cancer type represents 5% of all diagnosis. Often positive for estrogen and progesterone receptors, these tumors respond well to hormone therapy.

Tubular Carcinoma
Making up about 2% of all breast cancer diagnosis, tubular carcinoma cells have a distinctive tubular structure when viewed under a microscope. Typically this type of breast cancer is found in women aged 50 and above. It has an excellent 10-year survival rate of 95%.

Mucinous Carcinoma (Colloid)
Mucinous carcinoma represents approximately 1% to 2% of all breast carcinoma. This type of breast cancer’s main differentiating features are mucus production and cells that are poorly defined. It also has a favorable prognosis in most cases.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC)
Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare and very aggressive type of breast cancer that causes the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast to become blocked. This type of breast cancer is called “inflammatory” because the breast often looks swollen and red, or “inflamed”. IBC accounts for 1% to 5% of all breast cancer cases in the United States.