Breast Cancer Symptoms And What You Need To Know

Types Of Breast Cancer

When it comes to breast cancer, there are two categories: noninvasive and invasive. Noninvasive (in situ) breast cancer is cancer that has not spread from the original tissue and is considered stage zero. Invasive (infiltrating) breast cancer is cancer that has spread to the surrounding tissues in the breast or organs and is considered stageone through four. The tissue affected determines the type of cancer it is.

Ductal carcinoma is cancer that forms in the lining of the milk ducts and is the most common type of breast cancer. Lobular carcinoma is cancer in the lobules of the breast and where milk is produced. Sarcoma is a form of cancer that affects the breast’s connective tissue and is a rarer type. Other types of cancer include inflammatory breast cancer, molecular subtypes, Paget’s disease of the nipple, phyllodes tumors of the breast, and metastatic breast cancer.

Finally, discover the signs to look out for if the breast cancer returns.

Signs Of Recurrence

Despite initially treating and successful overcoming breast cancer, in some instances, breast cancer can return. This is referred to as recurrence, and it occurs when a small number of cells evade initial treatments, such as radiation and chemotherapy. Signs of a recurrence in the same place as the initial breast cancer are incredibly similar as the first time it occurred and include a new breast lump, changes to the nipple, redness, and swelling, and skin thickening near the mastectomy scar or on the skin in general.

If recurrence comes back regionally, meaning cancer has returned to the lymph nodes or close to the original location. These signs might be slightly different and include lumps in the lymph nodes near the collarbone, chest or breast pain, pain or loss of sensation in the arm or shoulder, and swelling in the arm or on the same side as the original location of the breast cancer. If the patient has had a mastectomy or other surgical procedures related to their cancer, they might get lumps or bumps caused by scar tissue in the reconstructed breast.