Breast Cancer Types: What Your Type Means

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Breast Cancer Types: What Your Type Means

Not all breast cancers are the same. Find out how health care professionals determine the type of breast cancer and what it means.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

One thing your health care team considers when creating your breast cancer treatment plan is what type of breast cancer you have. This type tells your health care team about the cells that make up your breast cancer. Your team uses this information to choose the treatments that are most likely to help you.

Most of the information about your type of breast cancer can be found in the pathology report. A pathology report is made by doctors who test samples of your breast cancer cells in a laboratory. These doctors are called pathologists. Ask a member of your healthcare team for help interpreting your pathology report.

Here’s a look at what to consider when deciding what type of breast cancer you have.

What types of cells are involved in breast cancer?

In the lab, pathologists look at what types of cells form breast cancer. Types of cells include:

Ductal cells. Ductal breast cancer, also known as ductal carcinoma, is the most common type of breast cancer. This type of cancer begins in cells in the lining of the milk duct within the breast. The ducts can carry breast milk to the nipple.
Lobular cells. Lobular breast cancer, also called lobular carcinoma, begins in the lobules of the breast. Lobules can make breast milk. The lobules are connected to ducts, which can carry breast milk to the nipple.
Connective tissue cells. Rarely, cancer in the breast is composed of connective tissue cells. Connective tissue includes muscles, fat, and blood vessels. Cancer that begins in connective tissue is called soft tissue sarcoma. Examples of rare breast sarcomas include angiosarcoma and leiomyosarcoma.
Lymphatic system cells. Lymphoma is a cancer that begins in the cells of the lymphatic system. Very rarely, lymphoma may begin in cells of the lymphatic system in the breast. Most breast lymphomas are a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

What do cancer cells look like under a microscope?

When looking at breast cancer cells under a microscope, the pathologist pays attention to:

Cancer cells with unique appearance. Some subtypes of breast cancer are named after the way they look under the microscope. Subtypes include tubular, mucinous, medullary, and micropapillary. Your subtype gives your health care team some clues about your prognosis and how your cells may respond to treatment.
Difference between cancer cells and healthy cells. How different cancer cells look from healthy cells is called the grade of the cancer. The grades of breast cancer go from 1 to 3. Grade 1 breast cancer has cells that look slightly different from healthy cells. This generally means that the cancer is likely to grow slowly. Grade 3 breast cancer has cells that look very different from healthy cells. This usually means that the cancer is more likely to grow rapidly.

Are cancer cells driven by hormones?

Some breast cancers are sensitive to the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Pathologists look for hormone receptors on the outside of breast cancer cells. Cancer cells use these receptors to capture hormones circulating in the body. Cells use hormones as fuel to grow cancer.

Hormonal status of breast cancer includes:

Estrogen receptor positive. A breast cancer that is estrogen receptor positive, also known as ER positive, has receptors for the hormone estrogen. Treatment with hormone therapy can stop the growth of cancer cells. Another term for breast cancer hormone therapy is endocrine therapy.
Progesterone receptor positive. Breast cancers that are progesterone receptor positive, also known as PR positive, have receptors for the hormone progesterone. Treatment with endocrine therapy can stop the growth of cancer cells.
Hormone receptor negative. A breast cancer that does not have hormone receptors is hormone receptor negative, also known as HR negative. Endocrine therapy that blocks hormones in the body does not work for this type of breast cancer.

Most breast cancers have hormone receptors.

Do cancer cells make extra HER2?

Some breast cancer cells make too much of a protein called human epithelial growth factor-receptor 2, also known as HER2. healthy breast cells make some HER2But cancer cells can make too many. Lab tests can show whether your breast cancer cells are making extra HER2,

test for HER2 It can show whether you have breast cancer:

HER2 Positive. breast cancer cells that build up in large numbers HER2 proteins are called HER2 Positive. Targeted therapy treatment with medication that causes too much damage to cells HER2 May help control this type of breast cancer.
HER2 Less. called breast cancer HER2 If some cancer cells show signs of additional growth, HER2This result can occur when only a few cells are making extra HER2It can also mean formation of cells HER2 Making low levels of protein. targeted therapy against HER2 may be a treatment option for HER2 Less breast cancer in some situations.
HER2 negative. If additional breast cancer cells do not form HER2so it’s cancer HER2 negative. targeted therapy against HER2 Protein will not work for these breast cancers.

About half of breast cancers are thought to occur HER2 Less. treatment for HER2-Lower breast cancer is an active area of cancer research.

What are some types of breast cancer?

Some types of breast cancer include:

Ductal carcinoma in situ. Ductal carcinoma in situ, also known as DCIS, is a type of breast cancer that is not aggressive. This happens when cancer cells form in the breast duct. The cancer cells remain in the duct and do not spread into the breast tissue. This is sometimes called noninvasive cancer or stage 0 breast cancer.
HER2-Positive breast cancer. A HER2-Positive breast cancer is any aggressive breast cancer that creates a lot of extra HER2 Protein. HER2-Positive breast cancer grows more quickly. But treatment with targeted therapy drugs that damage the cells that make excess HER2 Very effective against these cancers.
Invasive ductal carcinoma. Invasive ductal carcinoma is a type of breast cancer that starts in the breast duct. This is the most common type of breast cancer.
Invasive lobular carcinoma. Invasive lobular carcinoma is a type of breast cancer that begins in a milk gland in the breast, also called a lobule.
Triple-negative breast cancer. Triple-negative breast cancer means the cancer cells do not have receptors. HER2 Or to the hormones estrogen and progesterone. treatment with medication that targets HER2 Will not work against this type of breast cancer. Endocrine therapy will also not work to stop the hormones in the body.

To plan the best treatment for you, your health care team considers the type of breast cancer you have and many other factors. These other factors include the stage of the cancer and the likelihood of the cancer coming back after treatment. Your team also considers your preferences and your overall health.

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Breast Cancer Types: What Your Type Means

Breast Cancer Types: What Your Type Means

What types of cells are involved in breast cancer?