How Many Types of Breast Cancer Are There, and What Are the Differences?

Breast cancer is a common diagnosis among women. Statistics tell us that 1 in 8 women will have a diagnosis over the course of their lifetime. Breast cancer can happen in men, too. But fewer than 1% of all breast cancer cases are in men. Because there are so many different types of breast cancer, diagnoses can play out in unique ways. The staging, treatment, and prognosis of breast cancer can vary widely. Read on to learn more about the different types of breast cancer and what the diagnosis might mean for you.

What are the different types of breast cancer?

There are different types of breast cancer because it can originate in different parts of the breast. Cancer can arise from the ducts, the lobules, or other tissues in the breast. It can be small and contained within the original structure (localized). It can spread — but be contained — within the breast (invasive). Or it can spread throughout the body (metastatic). It can also have certain hormone receptors, which make the cancer cells more, or less, sensitive to certain hormones and treatments. Let’s go through these differences in a bit more detail. 

Breast cancer types

Breast cancer types depend on the kind of cell involved and how advanced they are: 

• Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): This is an early, non-invasive breast cancer that’s contained within the milk ducts. DCIS can turn into an invasive cancer, and having it also increases the risk of having an invasive breast cancer diagnosed later.

• Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS): LCIS is not considered a cancer. It’s a collection of abnormal cells within the lobules (the glands in the breast that produce milk). This usually doesn’t spread outside of the lobules, but LCIS also increases the risk of having an invasive breast cancer later on.

• Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC): This is the most common type of breast cancer and occurs when the cancer has spread beyond the milk ducts. There are some subtypes of IDCs, including tubular, medullary, papillary, or mucinous — but we won’t dive into those here.

• Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC): This is when cancer has spread outside of the lobule. This is less common than IDC, and it makes up only about 10% of invasive breast cancers.

• Paget’s disease: This is a rare form of breast cancer that develops around the nipple, causing it to be scaly and irritated. It’s often associated with cancer in another part of the breast.

• Inflammatory breast cancer: This is a rare but aggressive type of breast cancer where cancer cells grow in the skin and lymph vessels. It will cause a red and inflamed area of skin on the breast (usually not a lump). It can grow quickly, so it’s important to see your healthcare provider about any skin changes on your breast.

• Phyllodes tumor: These are rare tumors that start from the supportive fibrous tissue in the breast. 

Hormone receptors and HER2 expression

We reviewed how breast cancer is defined by cell type and whether the cancer is localized or invasive. The hormone receptors that some cancer cells express also play a role in defining breast cancers. These help determine what treatments may be most effective. Breast cancer cells are tested for:

• Estrogen receptors (ER)

• Progesterone receptors (PR)

• Hormone epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)

Breast cancers may be positive for any or all of these receptors, or they may be negative for all of these receptors.

Triple-negative breast cancers are negative for ER, PR, and HER2. This occurs in 10 to 20% of breast cancers. Triple-negative breast cancers can be more aggressive and challenging to treat. But chemotherapy can still be an effective treatment option. 

What are the different stages of breast cancer?

In addition to breast cancer type, breast cancers are also characterized by their stage. The stage helps describe where the breast cancer has spread in the body, what treatment might be needed, and what the prognosis may be.

There are five stages of breast cancer, from Stage 0-4. Stage 0 is the earliest stage of breast cancer and means it hasn’t spread. Stage 4 is the most advanced stage and means the breast cancer is invasive and has spread to other parts of the body. 

What stage is my breast cancer currently at?

Determining the stage (0-4) of a breast cancer is determined by the combination of the following:

• TNM system: This gives information about the size of the cancer and where the cancer has spread. “T” describes the size of the tumor, “N” describes spread to lymph nodes, and “M” describes metastasis to other sites in the body.

• Receptor status: This describes ER, PR, and HER2 status.

• Grade: Grade describes what the cancer cells look like (and how aggressive the cancer is) when compared to normal cells. 

That’s a lot of information to take in. But knowing this level of detail about breast cancers will help your cancer care team determine the best treatment for your unique situation.

What is the survival rate for each type?

Survival rates for breast cancer can give estimates of survival over a certain period of time. This is based on other people who have had a similar cancer type and stage. It can help give a sense of how treatable your cancer may be. However, everyone is unique, and it can’t predict what your experience will be. 

Localized breast cancer that hasn’t spread beyond the breast has nearly a 100% 5-year survival rate. When breast cancer starts to spread outside of the breast, this number begins to decrease. Overall, breast cancer survival is improving as people are diagnosed earlier and treatments improve. Your own healthcare providers are the best people to talk to about what these estimates mean for you. 

What is the most aggressive type of breast cancer?

Any breast cancer that is metastatic, or stage 4, is aggressive because it has already spread beyond the breast. Some other breast cancer types are considered more aggressive than others, including inflammatory breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer. These may be more likely to spread, less responsive to treatment, or at higher risk of returning after treatment.

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Written by:

Christina Palmer, MD

Christina Palmer, MD, is a board-certified family physician with a special interest in chronic care management, women’s health, mental health, and preventive care. She has over 10 years of experience in primary care research, innovation, and practice.

Edited by:

Sophie Vergnaud, MD

Sophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. An experienced and dedicated pulmonologist and hospitalist, she spent a decade practicing and teaching clinical medicine at academic hospitals throughout London before transitioning to a career in health education and health technology.

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