Forms of breast cancer

The effectiveness of treatment, life expectancy and its usefulness in many respects depend on the histological structure of tumor formation - that is, on the form of breast cancer. Characteristics of the cancerous focus is the second factor of a successful prognosis of the disease after the degree of neglect of the process and its primacy.

Clinical symptoms of cancer may differ or be the same, but the further development of the disease and its outcome directly depends on the form of the cancer.

[1], [2]

Edemas of breast cancer

The edematous form of breast cancer is one of the varieties of a diffuse tumor, which is noted in 2-5% of cases of all breast cancers. The edematous form is distinguished by an unfavorable prognosis: only 15-50% of patients survive for five years.

The primary and secondary variant of edematous form is distinguished. The disease is characterized by rapid clinical development, when already at the initial stages there is a significant increase in the size and swelling of the affected gland, redness of the skin and a typical "lemon rind". The temperature rises locally, the chest becomes denser. In the primary variant of the pathology there is no clear palpable cancerous node, which is pronounced in the secondary course.

After the swelling phase begins in the gland, the cancer takes an aggressive character and rapidly develops, giving massive metastases.

The edematous form can be shown at different histological kinds of tumors:

• with infiltrating protocol cancer;
• with lobular cancer;
• with medullary cancer;
• with mucous cancer, etc.

Often in such a tumor, proliferating lymphatic endothelial cells are observed.

[3], [4], [5], [6], [7]

Infiltrative form of breast cancer

Infiltrative form of breast cancer has another name - invasive. This form has several types:

• infiltrative form of the protocol cancer (the focus is spread from the milk ducts to adipose tissue);
• infiltrative form of lobular cancer (the tumor originates from lobular glandular areas);
• pre-infiltrate form of the protocol cancer (the process is able to transform into an invasive form with inadequate treatment).

What are the features of the infiltrative form?

Infiltration extends to a significant part of the breast, while clear boundaries of the process can not be traced. Often the pathology is indicated by the increase in one of the glands, the marble color of the skin on it, the presence of a characteristic "lemon crust".

As in the previous version, there is a division into the primary and secondary subcategories: without a tumor node, and with a palpable clear compaction.

The main features of the infiltrative form are:

• irregular shape of the gland, its enlargement in size;
• the sucking of the nipple or the skin nearest to it;
• the appearance of a fixed node (limited seal) welded to the tissues up to 10 cm in diameter.

Primary infiltrative form is more common in patients after 40 years of age, and secondary can be detected regardless of age category.

Osteo-infiltrative form of breast cancer

Osteo-infiltrative form is a combination of the two previous forms. The true, or primary malignant pathology consists in the diffuse spread of the cancer process in the tissues of the gland, and the secondary one - in the appearance of a clearly-palpable nodal formation, accompanied by swelling of the skin.

Osteo-infiltrative form of breast cancer may differ from a local tumor not only by the scale of the lesion, but also by an extremely negative prognosis. This is especially true of the primary type of tumor, since such a cancer is usually detected in later stages, when the process is already outside the breast.

In most cases, the edematous-infiltrative form of cancer is diagnosed in patients at a young age, sometimes even during pregnancy or breastfeeding. When examined, a seal is examined that does not have clear boundaries, and spreads to a large area of the gland. The swelling of the tissues is expressed, which is explained by the infringement of the lymph vessels by small metastases or directly by the tumor itself.

Nodular form of breast cancer

The nodular form of a cancerous tumor is more common than other forms. It is characterized by the formation in the gland of a seal in the form of a knot of different sizes. Most often, the upper-outer quadrants of the chest are affected.

Typical signs of this form are usually the following:

• the appearance of a palpable dense nodule in the tissues of the organ, without obvious boundaries, with limited mobility;
• the detection of unexplained wrinkling of the skin, or too smooth skin (by the type of site), or the involvement of the skin over the affected area;
• palpation of the compressed lymph nodes in the axillary zone from the side of the affected breast.

Less often the first sign of a malignant process can be discharge from the milk ducts.

With the growth of malignant process, the clinical picture expands:

• there is a "lemon crust" a sign of diffuse puffiness;
• the nipple region changes, the nipple becomes flat;
• gland is visually deformed;
• lymph nodes in the armpit area are enlarged and tightened;
• spread metastases, there is a corresponding symptomatic afflicted organs.

Rozhistopodobnaya form of breast cancer

Rozhistopodobny cancer is the most aggressive form of breast cancer, which is characterized by rapid spread, lightning current and unpredictability. Such a tumor has a special propensity to relapse, quickly and massively spreads metastases, regardless of the treatment methods used.

The erysipelas of a cancerous tumor is manifested by the following clinical signs:

• reddening of skin on the mammary gland;
• the possible spread of redness outside the affected gland;
• reddening resembles erysipelas (hence the term rozhistopodobnoy form) - a spot with "ragged" zubchatovidnymi boundaries;
• sometimes the body temperature rises sharply.

Often such a cancer is really mistaken for a erysipelas inflammatory process and prescribe the wrong treatment with the use of physiotherapy and anti-inflammatory drugs. In such cases, valuable time is lost, and the patient's condition stably worsens. Therefore, it is very important to conduct differential diagnosis of the disease.

The second name of the erysipelas is an inflammatory form of breast cancer. This is a rare type of cancer, the proportion of which is not more than 3% of all malignant diseases of the mammary glands. Usually it is detected only after a mammogram or ultrasound.

Mastitis-like form of breast cancer

What is a mastitis-like form of breast cancer? And here the name speaks for itself: such a cancerous tumor has all the signs of mastitis, and is often mistaken for an inflammatory process.

The clinical picture of mastitis-like cancer is as follows:

• the affected mammary gland is markedly enlarged;
• when feeling, the density (tension) of the tissues is felt;
• Skin covers on the lesion site become pronounced red;
• the local temperature rises;
• an infection is attached, which is even more like signs of mastitis.

The overall body temperature also rises: there are all signs of the inflammatory process and intoxication of the body.

Further swelling of the gland extends to the upper limb and the proximal zone. In the absence of adequate therapy, ulcers on the skin may appear.

If 2 weeks after treatment of usual mastitis there is no positive dynamics, then it is possible to suspect a mastitis-like cancer: for differentiation it is recommended to conduct additional diagnostic methods, such as x-ray, ultrasound, histological examination.

Diffuse form of breast cancer

Diffuse form of cancer can include both edematous form, and inflammatory erysipelas and mastitis-like forms. The essence of the disease is defined in its name - from the Latin "diffusum, diffundo" (distributed, vague, having no clear boundaries). Such a tumor sprouts in the form of a diffuse infiltrate, which affects the glandular organ in all directions - that is, it does not have a clear direction of the process.

A compact or elastic-dense infiltrate often covers several sectors, or a significant part of the breast. Due to the appearance of a mechanical obstruction in the form of a tumor, the natural outflow of lymph is disturbed, which leads to an increase and considerable deformation of the organ. In the nearby areas of the accumulation of lymph nodes metastasis is observed.

Diffuse form is acute, with rapid metastasis.

As you have already seen, various forms of breast cancer can have different clinical manifestations. At the same time the course of the disease largely depends on the hormonal background in the body. For example, at a young age, and especially during pregnancy and breastfeeding, cancer develops rapidly, with rapid metastasis. And in old age, a tumor can exist for several years without spreading to other organs.

[8], [9], [10]