Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. Although most breast lumps are not cancerous, it is important to have any new breast lump or change checked by a healthcare provider. There are different types of breast cancer. The type of treatment for breast cancer depends on which cells in the breast turn into cancer.
Most breast cancers start off as ductal carcinomas. This type of breast cancer begins in the cells lining the milk ducts and is by far the most common type of breast cancer. Other types of breast cancer include lobular carcinoma, mucinous carcinoma, tubular carcinoma, medullary carcinoma, and papillary carcinoma.
Learn more about the different types here.
- The most common type of breast biopsy is a needle biopsy, which uses a long, thin needle to remove a small tissue sample.
- Other types of breast biopsy procedures include surgical biopsies, which remove a larger tissue sample, and core needle biopsies, which remove a small cylinder of tissue.
According to the clinics, some signs and symptoms of early-stage breast cancer include:
- A lump in your breast or underarm that doesn’t go away after your period
- Swelling in your armpit
- Thickening or bulging in your underarm area
- Dimpling or puckering of your skin over your breast
- Redness, scaliness, or thickening of your nipple or breast skin
- Nipple discharge other than milk, especially if it’s bloody
The common treatment procedures:
Early-stage breast cancers are highly treatable when caught early.- There are a variety of treatment options available depending on the individual case, but some common treatments include surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy), radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and hormone therapy.
- Your healthcare team will work with you to develop a treatment plan that is best for you.