What is Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma?

Infiltrating ductal carcinoma may also be referred to as invasive carcinoma and is a malignant cancer. It starts in the milk ducts of the breast and infiltrates, or spreads, to the tissue of the breast. After it spreads to the breast tissue, infiltrating ductal carcinoma can spread, or metastasize, to other areas of the body. It is one of the most common types of breast cancer.

Although infiltrating ductal carcinoma can occur at any age, it is most common in women over the age of 55. Symptoms may include a lump in the breast or under the arm, pain in the breast, and discharge from the nipple other than breast milk. The breast may also become swollen.

Not all women have symptoms, other than a lump. A lump may be felt during a routine breast exam. If a lump is found through a breast exam, additional tests are ordered and may include a mammogram, ultrasound or an MRI. Confirmation of a diagnosis of infiltrating ductal carcinoma is made after a needle biopsy.

After diagnosis, the next step is staging. This is the process of determining if and where the cancer has spread. Staging helps determine the best course of treatment.

Treatment will usually include surgery. The extent of the surgery often depends on the size of the mass and stage of the disease. A lumpectomy may be performed, during which a surgeon removes the tumor and usually some lymph nodes to check for the presence of cancer cells.

A mastectomy is another surgical option. There are a few types of mastectomies that can be performed, depending on the extent of the disease. With a partial mastectomy, only a portion of the breast is removed. A simple mastectomy involves removing the entire breast. During a modified radial mastectomy, the breast, lymph nodes under the arm, and chest wall muscle lining are removed.

Radiation treatment may also be used to treat infiltrating ductal carcinoma. During radiation treatment, rays of high energy from a machine are directed at the breast or surrounding area to destroy any remaining cancer cells. Radiation therapy may be recommended after either a lumpectomy or mastectomy.

In women who have a tumor larger than 1 centimeter (0.393 inches), chemotherapy is usually recommended. Chemotherapy involves administering various types of drugs to destroy the cancer cells. The drugs are administered over several months. Some drugs that may be used in treatment for infiltrating ductal carcinoma include Adriamycin, Taxol and Cytoxan.

Some women with infiltrating ductal carcinoma may test positive for certain hormone receptors and hormone therapy may be prescribed. The hormone receptors may help the tumor grow. During hormone therapy, the level of the hormone estrogen is lowered which may prevent the cancer cells from growing.