Comprehensive care for all types of breast cancer
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Breast cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the cells of your breast. It’s the most common type of cancer in women, affecting about 1 in 8 women during their lifetime.

While all breast cancer starts in the breast, there are many different types of breast cancer because their different types of breast cells, including:

  • Lobes and lobules where milk is produced
  • Ducts that lead from the lobes to the nipples
  • Fibrous tissue and fat around the breast
  • Blood vessels and lymph nodes around the breast

Breast cancer typically begins in either the ducts or the lobes. It occurs when cells in these areas mutate and begin to grow much faster than healthy breast cells. It might be called ductal carcinoma or lobular carcinoma. Other types of breast cancer are more rare, but can affect your nipple or your blood vessels in your breast.

What is invasive breast cancer?

If cancer cells are only found inside one part of your breast, you have noninvasive breast cancer or carcinoma in situ.

However, sometimes cancer cells have spread to other parts of the breast or even other parts of the body. This is called invasive breast cancer. Invasive breast cancer requires more treatment than non-invasive breast cancer, but it can be successfully treated.

Symptoms of Breast Cancer

Many women who are diagnosed with lung cancer never had any symptoms. If you do experience symptoms, they may include:

  • A newly inverted nipple
  • Change in size or shape of your breast
  • Fluid (other than breastmilk) that leaks from your breast, especially if it is black or bloody
  • Lump or thickening in your breast or underarm
  • Puckered skin on the breast
  • Scaly, red and/or swollen skin on your breast

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor, even if you recently had a mammogram.

Breast Cancer Risk Factors

Women with one or more of the following major risk factors should have a discussion with their physician about beginning routine cancer screening (with mammography and/or MRI) earlier than age 40:

  • A known genetic mutation in your family, such as a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene
  • Being Caucasian
  • Being overweight or obese
  • Family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer, especially if the cancer is in your mother and sister
  • Having more than one drink of alcohol per day
  • Having radiation treatment on your chest
  • Never having given birth or giving birth for the first time after age 40
  • Personal history of breast cancer
  • Starting your period at an early age
  • Using hormone therapy such as estrogen or progesterone

At Ellis Medicine, we offer comprehensive care for both invasive and noninvasive breast cancer in women of all ages. We are here to support you from your diagnosis all the way to survivorship.

Live-Saving Cancer Care, nearby in your community.

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