Breast Cancer Types

Breast cancer is not one disease. The type - where it starts and what fuels it - decides treatment, which is why biopsy and receptor testing come before any plan.

By where it starts

• Ductal carcinoma: begins in the milk ducts - the most common type. DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) is the earliest, pre-invasive form: contained in the duct, highly treatable
• Lobular carcinoma: begins in the milk-producing lobules; can be subtler on imaging and touch

By what fuels it (receptor status)

• Hormone receptor-positive (ER/PR positive): fueled by estrogen or progesterone; the commonest kind; treated with hormone-blocking medicines (tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors) for years
• HER2-positive: driven by the HER2 protein; aggressive but now highly treatable with targeted drugs (trastuzumab and others)
• Triple-negative: lacks all three receptors; fewer targeted options, treated mainly with chemotherapy; more common in younger women and BRCA1 carriers

Special presentations

• Inflammatory breast cancer: red, swollen, warm breast with orange-peel skin - looks like an infection but does not settle with antibiotics; aggressive and needs urgent specialist care