Ductal Carcinoma (Breast Cancer) Cancerous Non Cancerous Stage 3 Non Cancerous Cancerous Non Cancerous Cancerous Group 2

Ductal Carcinoma Female 22 years old Dx : Ductal Carcinoma Stage : 3 Patient History Ductal Carcinoma Female 22 years old Dx : Ductal Carcinoma Stage : 3

What is Ductal Carcinoma? Ductal Carcinoma, or Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) is the type of cancer present in 80 percent of all breast cancer diagnosis. Ductal refers to the fact that the cancer originates in the milk duct of the breast and carcinoma means anything that originates from the skin or tissue of the breast; or any cancer for that matter. The word invasive means that the cancer cells have extended beyond the walls of the milk ducts and into the breast tissue.

DCIS

The Stages of Breast Cancer Breast cancer ranges from stages 0-4. Stage 0 DCIS is a non invasive cancer where abnormal cells have been found in the milk duct. Even though it’s non invasive it requires immediate treatment such as radiation or surgery. Chemo therapy is not part of the treatment. Stage 1 invasive breast cancer the tumor has not exceeded 2 centimeters and the cancer has not spread outside the breast; no lymph nodes are involved. Stage 2 is divided into sub categories depending on the size of the tumor and if the tumor has spread to surrounding lymph nodes 2A – No tumor but cancer has spread to axillary lymph nodes 2B – Tumor is between 2-5 centimeters but has spread to axillary lymph nodes. Stage 3 is primarily based on location, size and number of lymph nodes to which the cancer has spread. 3A – tumor is less than 2 centimeters and the cancer is spread to axillary lymph nodes or lymph nodes near the breast bone. 3B - Tumor could be any size and cancer has spread to the chest wall or any connecting tissue as well as the axillary lymph nodes. 3C – Operable – Cancer has spread to 10 or more axillary lymph nodes or it has been found in lymph nodes below the collar bone. 3C- Inoperable – has spread to lymph nodes above the collar bone. Stage 4 – Cancer has spread to other organs of the body, mostly the bones, lungs, liver or brain.