Breast carcinoma in situ is a type of breast cancer that affects most of the women.
Ductal carcinoma in situ or DCIS is the most common type of breast carcinoma and non invasive breast carcinoma that starts in the milk ducts. This type of cancer is also referred to as intraductal breast carcinoma. In this case, the cancer cells remain in the ducts without spreading to the surrounding tissues. Statistics show that 20% of breast cancer cases are intraductal breast carcinomas. DCIS is considered an early stage of cancer so the chances of treating it are quite substantial especially because it may be early detected with a mammogram. The more advanced stage of this condition when necrosis is also present is called comedocarcinoma.
Lobular carcinoma in situ or LCIS is another type of non-invasive breast cancer that starts in the glands that produce milk and do not grow through the wall of the lobules. Most of the specialists do not consider LCIS a true cancer and they think that the condition itself does not become invasive breast carcinoma very often. Women with LCIS are however prone to developing an invasive cancer either in the same breast or in the opposite one. Women suffering from this disease are recommended to closely monitor their condition by the means of regular mammograms and doctor visits.
A very rare type of invasive ductal cancer is metaplastic breast carcinoma. The tumors found in the metaplastic breast carcinoma include cells that normally do not exist in the breast. They may be squamous cells (those found in the skin) or cells from the bone.
Breast cancer symptoms may appear in advanced stages or may not be present at all. However, the signs of breast carcinomas may also be a result of other conditions such as infection or cyst and they include bloody discharge from the nipple, change in the shape or size of the breast or inverted nipple. Other signs of breast cancer may be a breast lump, dimpling breast skin or peeling or flaking of the nipple skin.
Breast carcinoma treatment may depend on the stage of the disease, the size of the tumor and the general health of the patient. The treatment may consist in surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy or targeted therapy. In most cases two or more therapies are followed at the same time to prevent the cancer spreading. The tumor may be removed in surgery and then radiation may be used to kill the cancer cells that possibly remained in the body.
Breast carcinoma in situ is one of the most feared diseases for women but which can be early detected with the help of the screening tests.