There are many types of breast cancer, including noninvasive and invasive.

Noninvasive Breast Cancer Types

Learn about the different types of noninvasive breast cancer:

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)

The most common type of noninvasive breast cancer, DCIS:

• Begins in the lining of the milk ducts
• Is composed of cells that have malignant features
• Has not yet spread to other parts of the body
• Is considered a precursor to invasive breast cancer
• Can develop into breast cancer if not treated

Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)

The second most common noninvasive condition, LCIS:

• Develops in the milk lobules (milk-producing glands)
• Can be a risk marker for future breast cancer but is not a direct precursor

Invasive Breast Cancer Types

Types of invasive breast cancer include:

Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC)

IDC is the most common type of breast cancer affecting women today. This type:

• Originates in the lining of milk ducts
• Penetrates the duct walls into surrounding breast tissue

This invasive characteristic indicates cancer cells that may spread to other parts of the body.

Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC)

ILC is the second most frequent type of invasive breast cancer, accounting for about 10 to 15 percent of all invasive breast cancers. ILC:

• Originates in the milk-producing glands, or lobules, of the breasts
• Can spread to other parts of the body, like IDC

Subtypes of Invasive Breast Cancer

Hormone-Positive Breast Cancer

Also called endocrine-sensitive breast cancer, this is any form of breast cancer in which:

• The cells contain measurable amounts of the estrogen or progesterone receptor.
• These receptors make the tumor able to be treated with various endocrine interventions.

Her2-Positive Breast Cancer

This is any form of invasive breast cancer in which cells contain an overabundance of the Her2 receptor. These cells in the tumor are thus amenable to treatment (able to be treated) with specific anti-Her2 targeted therapies (such as trastuzumab/Herceptin).

Hereditary Breast/Ovarian Cancer Syndrome

This syndrome has characteristics including:

• Early age of onset of breast cancer (often before age 50)
• Family history of both breast and ovarian cancer
• Autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance (gene mutation on one of the non-sex chromosomes)
• Increased incidence of tumors in other specific organs, such as the prostate

Learn more about hereditary breast/ovarian cancer syndrome.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer

This form of invasive breast cancer usually has no lump or tumor. The skin of the breast may have one or more of these symptoms:

• Excessive warmth
• Red, thick and pitted appearance, much like an orange peel

Male Breast Cancer

This rare form of breast cancer (less than one percent of all breast carcinomas) occurs in men as a new lump or mass in a man’s breast.

Many facilities treat male breast cancer with mastectomy (surgical removal of the whole breast). However, Stanford has successfully treated male breast cancer with lumpectomy (surgical removal of a lump from the breast). Ask your physician about your options, which will depend on your individual case.

Medullary Carcinoma Breast Cancer

A less common subtype of IDC, the name for this cancer comes from the soft, fleshy tumor that resembles a part of the brain called the medulla.

Metaplastic Carcinoma Breast Cancer

In this rare type of invasive breast cancer, a portion of the cells in the tumor have changed into an alternate type of breast cancer (a mixed tumor).

Mucinous Carcinoma Breast Cancer

A less common subtype of IDC, tumors for this cancer create thick pools of mucin (one of the main components in saliva).

Paget’s Disease Breast Cancer

Paget’s disease refers to any invasive form of breast cancer that directly involves the nipple.

Papillary Carcinoma Breast Cancer

A rare subtype of IDC, this cancer usually forms in distinct lumps that have finger-like extensions projecting outward.

Tubular Carcinoma Breast Cancer

A less common subtype of IDC, this cancer is made up of collections of small tube-like cells (usually less than one cm in diameter).

Triple Negative Breast Cancer

This form of breast cancer does not have:

• Estrogen receptors
• Progesterone receptors
• An excess of the HER2 receptor on the cancer cell surface

Triple negative breast cancer can be harder to treat because of a lack of agents that can target the cancer cell.

https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-conditions/cancer/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-types.html