Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer (IDC) - Cedars-Sinai

Invasive ductal breast cancer (IDC), also known as infiltrating ductal carcinoma, is the most common form of invasive breast cancer and represents 80 ... Skiptocontent Cedars-Sinai HealthLibrary InvasiveDuctalBreastCancer(IDC) Share Email Print Conditions,Treatments&Diagnostics SymptomChecker VideoLibrary PreventionGuidelines HealthCalculators RiskAssessments InvasiveDuctalBreastCancer(IDC) Notwhatyou'relookingfor? StartNewSearch ABOUT DIAGNOSIS TREATMENT Overview Invasiveductalbreastcancer(IDC),alsoknownasinfiltratingductalcarcinoma,isthemostcommonformofinvasivebreastcancerandrepresents80percentofbreastcancercases. Theconditionbeginswithabnormalcellsforminginthemilkductsofthebreast(ductal).Thesecellsthenspreadintothesurroundingfattybreasttissue(invasive).Invasiveductalcancerscanspreadalongthebloodandlymphaticchannelstootherpartsofthebody.Becauseofthis,treatmentofinvasiveductalcancersrequiressurgerytoremovethecancerinthebreast,aswellassomeoftheunderarmlymphnodestodeterminethecancerstage. Symptoms PatientswithIDCmaynotnoticeanysymptoms.Whensymptomsarepresent,theymayinclude: Breastlump Nippledischarge Thickeningofthebreastskin Rashorrednessonthebreast Swellinginonebreast Dimplingofthenippleorbreastskin Rashonthenipple Thenippleturninginward Lumpsintheunderarm Unusualchangesinbreastornippleappearance CausesandRiskFactors Certaingeneticmutations,knownasbreastcancergenesBRCA1andBRCA2,areassociatedwithanincreasedriskofIDC.Otherriskfactorsinclude: Age Ahistoryofbenignbreastdisease Afamilyhistoryofbreastcancer Firstpregnancyaftertheageof30 Obesity Usingcombinationestrogen-progestinhormonereplacementtherapyformorethanfiveyearsaftermenopause Diagnosis IDCmaybediagnosedduringaroutinemammogram.IfthemedicalteamseesevidenceofIDCduringthemammogram,abiopsywillbeperformed.Duringabiopsy,asampleoftheabnormaltissuewillbetakenusinganeedle.Themedicalteammayusestereotacticimages,suchasmammographyorultrasound,toguidetheneedletotheareaofconcern.Aspecialist,knownasapathologist,willexaminethetissuesampleunderamicroscopeanddetermineifcancerispresent. Treatment TreatmentofIDCwilldependonthecharacteristicsofthetumorpresent,includingthetype,sizeandspreadofthetumor.Treatmentoptionsthatmaybeconsideredforbreastcancerinclude: Radiationtherapy.Radiationtherapyuseshigh-energyradiationtokillthecancercells.Theradiationmaybedirectedfromoutsidethebody(external)oritmaycomefromanimplantplacedinsidethebreast. Chemotherapy.Oftenprescribedpriortosurgery,chemotherapyusesdrugs(eitherasapillorthroughanIV)tokillthecancercells. Hormonetherapy.Thehormoneestrogenhasbeenassociatedwithbreastcancerandforsomepatientshormonetherapymaybeanoption.Thismethodoftreatmentblocksestrogenfromreachingthebreasttissue. Surgery.Surgerytoremovetheaffectedtissuemayincludebreast-sparingtechniquesortheremovaloftheentirebreast.Alumpectomy,whichremovestheaffectedtissuewhilepreservingasmuchofthenaturalbreasttissueaspossible,isthemostconservativeoptionandisgenerallypairedwithradiationtherapy.Forsomepatients,amastectomy,aprocedurethatremovesallofthebreasttissue,maybethebestcourseoftreatment.Therearedifferentformsofmastectomysurgeriesincludingnipple-sparingandskin-sparingoptions.Removingthelymphnodesintheunderarmsmayalsobeneeded.Thiscanbedoneaseitherasentinellymphnodebiopsyoraxillarylymphnodedissection. ©2000-2021TheStayWellCompany,LLC.Allrightsreserved.Thisinformationisnotintendedasasubstituteforprofessionalmedicalcare.Alwaysfollowyourhealthcareprofessional'sinstructions. Notwhatyou'relookingfor? StartNewSearch WantMoreInformation? Cedars-Sinaihasarangeofcomprehensivetreatmentoptions. SeeOurPrograms LookingforaPhysician? Chooseadoctorandscheduleanappointment. FindaDoctor NeedHelp? 1-800-CEDARS-1 (1-800-233-2771) Available24HoursADay ScheduleaCallback ExpertCareforLife™StartsHere AdultPrimaryCare PediatricPrimaryCare UrgentCare NeedHelp? 1-800-CEDARS-1 (1-800-233-2771) ScheduleaCallback LookingforaPhysician Chooseadoctorandscheduleanappointment. FindaDoctor Share Email Print Cedars-Sinai HealthLibrary InvasiveDuctalBreastCancer(IDC) DOCTORS LOCATIONS MYCS-LINK