Breast cancer can take multiple forms within the tissue of the breast. Breast cancer doesn't refer to simply one kind of cancer but instead to many different types of cancers affecting the breasts. In addition, each cancer's unique characteristics lie in the staging and hormone receptiveness of the tumor. Breast lumps are common for some women and, according the Mayo Clinic, 80 percent of lumps are benign (noncancerous). Some types of breast cancers create the proverbial lump, and others invade the tissues of the breast by throwing out tentacles. Breast cancer tumors do not always form a lump-like shape.
How Cancer Forms
The normal cells in the body grow and divide in an endless activity essential to normal body function. When cells begin to divide rapidly, this signals a cancerous or precancerous condition. Cancerous tumors or lumps form when these rapidly changing cells collect in one area of the body. Some cancers form a tumor at one particular site while others travel through the body to lodge in other organs. Two terms help define cancer: "Metastasis" means that the cancer has traveled from the primary tumor site to a second site, and "invasive" cancers spread from the initial tumor site to invade nearby organs. Breast cancer lumps can be both metastatic and invasive. It's best to think of a tumor as a mass of cells rather than a lump. These cells can spread like pancake batter or mass into a nodule-like shape.
Ductal Carcinoma in Situ
"In situ" refers to a cancer that is contained within the specific area where the tumor originally formed. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a type of breast cancer located in the milk duct lining. DCIS lumps are among the most common type of breast cancer found among women, according to the American Cancer Society. These lumps are not invasive and considered an early form of breast cancer. The Mayo Clinic also states that DCIS has the potential to develop into an invasive breast cancer if left untreated.
Lobular Carcinoma in Situ
Like DCIS, the presence of lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) indicates the potential for future development of an invasive cancer. The Stanford Medical Center explains that abnormal cells accumulate in the lobules of the breast. The lobules perform the milk-forming function of the breast and connect to the milk ducts. LCIS isn't an invasive cancer but instead a risk indicator. LCIS rarely forms a tumor and is often found during mammograms or biopsies that are being done to check other suspicious breast lesions.
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
A cancer becomes invasive when it spreads beyond the boundaries of the initial clustering of cancer cells. Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) forms inside the milk ducts. As the lump grows, it punches through the milk duct walls to invade the other tissue of the breast. According to the Mayo Clinic, 70 percent of all breast cancers are IDC. This type of breast lump can readily spread to another location in the body (hence inclusion of the term "invasive").
Invasive Lobular Carcinoma
Instead of the initial breast lump forming in the ducts, invasive lobular carcinoma forms in the lobules and then spreads outside of this area to affect surrounding breast tissue. Also called ILC, this type of breast lump really isn't a lump at all. Instead, ILC is almost like a pancake that spreads tentacles out into the surrounding tissues. ILC is less common than IDC, affecting 1 out of 10 diagnosed cases of breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer
With every monthly breast self-exam, women check not only for lumps but also for physical changes to the skin and shape of the breast. Inflammatory breast cancer doesn't produce a noticeable lump but reddens the skin because cancer cells block the lymph system of the breast. There are distinct changes to the tissues of the breast instead of a typical lump forming in an collection area for cancer cells. Some women experience a feeling of warmth in the breast as well as a pockmarked texture to the tissue of the breast. This type of cancer is difficult to see on a mammogram, according to the American Cancer Society.
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