Primary, or early, breast cancer is cancer that hasn’t spread beyond the breast. It can be non-invasive or invasive.
Non-invasive cancer
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is one of the earliest indications of breast cancer. It’s non-invasive, meaning it hasn’t spread within or beyond the breast, and is confined to the breast duct. Untreated DCIS however, may sometimes spread, thus becoming invasive. DCIS, also called pre-invasive or intra-ductal, is the most common non-invasive breast cancer.
Invasive cancers
Inflammatory breast cancer is rare, affecting around 1 in 100 of breast cancer patients. Cancer cells can grow in a sheet, as opposed to a lump, blocking lymph vessels in the breast’s skin. The breast becomes inflamed, warm, red and swollen. The skin may look ridged, or pitted. Symptoms appear quickly as cells move across the body.
Paget's disease, also rare, affecting about 1 in 100 women with breast cancer, causes a red rash on the nipple which can spread to the surrounding areola. Most cases involve underlying breast cancer, with 1 in 2 of patients having a detectable lump. Paget’s disease is difficult to diagnose as symptoms are similar to eczema, dermatitis or psoriasis. The difference with Paget’s disease is that the rash usually affects the nipple first and stays there.
Triple negative cancers account for up to 1 in 5 of all breast cancers in the UK. They do not respond to hormone treatments, though they may respond better than other other cancers to chemotherapy. Triple negative breast cancer can be aggressive, with a higher chance of recurring within five years of treatment than other breast cancers. However, after five clear years from being diagnosed, its chances of returning could be lower than those of other breast cancers.
For information and support following your diagnosis visit the Breast Cancer Care website.
