Invasive Breast Cancer: Risks and Signs of Invasive Carcinoma

Breast cancer is not bound by age or gender and those battling the disease are not just another statistic. It is real and it is changing the lives of both women and men everywhere. According to the American Cancer Society, women in the U.S.A. have a one in eight chance of developing invasive breast cancer and some may have it without even knowing it.

What is Invasive Breast Cancer?

Invasive is simply another word for "spreading." Cancer diagnosed as "invasive" means it has spread outside the lobules or ducts from which it originated. Cancer does not become metastatic unless it has spread to another area of the body; lymph nodes, brain, bones, liver, lungs etc. The forms of invasive breast cancer include:

* Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) - In this case, the cancer cells would have started in the milk ducts and from there invaded the fatty breast tissue. This form is the most common and counts for approximately 80% of invasive cancers. It begins as ductal carcinoma in situ.
* Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC) - This cancer is less common, counting for only 10-15% of invasive breast cancers. This form starts in the lobules or milk glands and spreads in the same fashion as IDC, only it is harder to diagnose. Women feel a thickening in the breast rather than a lump.

The Risks and Signs of Invasive Breast Cancer

The risks and signs vary with every person, being that every body is unique in its makeup. It can occur at any age, no matter how many precautions you take. According to the American Cancer Society, one out of eight invasive breast cancer diagnoses are given to women under age 45 and two out of every three women with invasive breast cancer are 55 or older when they are first diagnosed.

Breast cancer may have no signs or symptoms at all, especially during the early stages. However, you may notice one or more of the following signs:

* a lump or thickening of the breast that persists through the menstrual cycle
* a mass or lump, which may feel as small as a pea
* a change in the size, shape, or contour of the breast
* nipple discharge
* a change in the skin of the breast - dimpled, puckered, scaly, or inflamed
* a change in shape or position of the nipple
* an area that is distinctly different from any other area on either breast
* a marble-like hardened area under the skin

For earlier detection, a monthly breast self exam is recommended.

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Invasive Breast Cancer: Risks and Signs of Invasive Carcinoma