Regarding breast cancer diagnoses, almost 80% of cases involve invasive ductal carcinoma. IDC – Invasive (infiltrating) ductal carcinoma begins in a milk passage or duct and breaks through the wall of the duct. Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer generally occurs when the cancer cell invades the basement membrane of the breast, penetrating the underlying supportive tissue. From there, the cells can also extend to other parts of the body.

1. University Cancer Center
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3. INVASIVE DUCTAL BREAST CANCER: SIGNS, TREATMENTS, &
SURVIVAL RATE
What Is Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer?
What Are Various Types Of IDC?
What Are The Symptoms Of Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer
What Are The Different Stages Of IDC?
Risk Factors And Causes Of IDC
Identifying And Diagnosing Breast Cancer Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Breast Cancer: Treatment & Prevention
Side Effects Of The Treatment
How Much Time Is Needed To Recover From IDC Treatment?
How To Reduce The Risk For IDC?
Prognosis/Outlook/Survival Rate Of IDC

4. What Is Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer?
It is a cancer type in which abnormal growth of the cells occurs in the lining of the milk ducts. Breast ducts are the
passageways for the milk to flow from the milk glands (lobule) to the nipple.
And when this happens, the cancer cells can break into the lymph nodes/bloodstream and extend to other body parts.
Sometimes, this cancer is called NOS – Breast cancer, not otherwise specified.

5. What Are Various Types Of IDC?
Medullary Carcinoma
The name of this tumor cell comes from a brain part called the medulla. Although it may look hideous upon inspection
through a microscope, the growing rate of the tumor is quite slow. This tumor is quite common among women between
their 40s and early 50s.
Mucinous (Or Colloid) Carcinoma
This tumor type is more common in women in their early and late 60s. It is a mild, aggressive tumor in which a mucin
puddle surrounds the cells of cancer.
Papillary Carcinoma
It is a rare type of IDC. The tumor consists of fingers that grow and reach close to the body’s healthy cells. The growing
rate of this abnormal tumor is quite fast. Generally, individuals after menopause develop this tumor.
Tubular Carcinoma
Slow growth and less aggressive type of tumor with quite small tube shapes. Women in their early 50s are commonly
diagnosed with this cancer.

6. What Are The Symptoms Of Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer
Some of the common Signs of Breast Cancer Invasive Ductal Carcinoma are given below:
•Lump found in the breast.
•You started noticing swelling or some changes in the shape of the breast.
•The skin of the breast started getting red.
•Thickening of the skin of the breast.
•The breast skin or the nipple gets dimpled or retracted.
•The nipple has started discharging (other than the breast milk).
•Ulceration or scaly/flaky skin on the nipple or skin of the breast. (It can be a sign of Paget’s disease). Paget’s disease is a
different kind of cancer that comes along with IDC.
•Found changes in the nipple or breast’s appearance. Please note these changes can be different from those of normal
monthly changes.

7. What Are The Different Stages Of IDC?
A stage tells how severe the cancer is in a person’s body. The advancement of this cancer depends on its size, location,
and spread. Ductal carcinoma has the following five stages:
•Stage 0: The cancer is only present near the person’s milk ducts. Such a stage is commonly called non-invasive ductal
carcinoma.
•Stage 1: Cancer has started spreading outside the person’s milk ducts near breast tissue. However, it hasn’t reached
the lymph nodes of the person.
•Stage 2: For this stage, either the tumor is of small size and has spread among lymph nodes. Or, the tumor is on the big
side; however, it isn’t close to lymph nodes.
•Stage 3: Cancer has started spreading in more of the person’s lymph, i.e., above three. It also has started causing
inflammation in your breast skin, but still limited to other body areas.
•Stage 4: Cancer has started spreading to other body parts, such as bones, brain, lungs, chest wall, liver, or far lymph
nodes.

8. Risk Factors And Causes Of IDC
The exact causes of IDC are still unknown. Many researchers are focused on finding a solution to reduce the risk of
developing this cancer. While you can reduce some risk factors, there are a few that you can’t.
Some risk factors that are related to this cancer include:
•Use of Alcohol
•Smoking
•Overweight
•Radiation contact to the chest.
•Late menopause
•Early menstrual periods
•Bearing children late or not being pregnant.

9. Identifying And Diagnosing Breast Cancer Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
Physical Exam
Digital Mammography
Breast Ultrasound
MRI
Biopsy
Staging Workup

10. Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Breast Cancer: Treatment & Prevention
A doctor will examine your current situation and suggest a plan that comes with one or more of the treatments
below. Many comprehensive centers like Mayo Clinic, University Cancer Centers, Johns Hopkins Hospital, etc.,
offer proper treatment to patients. Treatment depends on the following factors of the tumor:
•Size
•Grade
•Hormone receptor status
•HER2 status.
•Your health conditions

11. Treatment 1: Surgery For IDC
Surgery Practitioners offer a wide range of options to patients. Surgery for IDC most often includes one of the procedures
from these two: Lumpectomy and Mastectomy.
•In Lumpectomy treatment, some part of the breast is removed. This treatment is known as breast-conserving surgery
and is often followed by radiation treatments. The purpose is to treat any remaining cancer cells.
•Mastectomy treatment includes the removal of the breast. This treatment is recommended for patients having multiple
and very large ductal tumors.

12. Treatment 2: Non-Surgical Treatment For Invasive Ductal Breast
Cancer
Find below various types of treatment that fall under the non-Surgical category.
•Radiation: When lumpectomy is followed by radiation, the treatment proves quite effective in treating IDC. Radiation
treatment is given if the patient is undergoing a lumpectomy.
•Chemotherapy: Depending on the features of the tumor cells, genes, and proteins, Chemotherapy is employed by the
doctor. Before planning for the Chemotherapy treatment type, doctors first learn about the characteristics of cancer
cells.
•Hormone Therapy: When positive hormone receptors are found in breast cancers, cancer gets treated with estrogen or
progesterone. And then, doctors recommend patients go through pill-form medications for several years.
•Targeted or Biologic Therapy (Immunotherapy): Targeted therapy uses small molecule drugs or antibodies to activate
the body’s immune system. This gives the immune system the ability to fight invasive ductal cancer cells.

13. Side Effects Of The Treatment
Side effects always come with cancer treatment. Each person receives individual experience based on the stage location
of the tumor and the treatment they undergo. Some of the side effects they are supposed to face are:
•Fatigue and fever.
•Mouth sores or mood swings.
•Changes in their weight.
•Aches in their muscles.
•Loss of hair.
•Itching or other skin reactions.

14. How Much Time Is Needed To Recover From IDC Treatment?
People who choose surgery over non-surgical methods to treat IDC can take up to two to four weeks to recover from the
treatment. This recovery time can increase for people who experience breast reconstruction and lymph node removal.
The recovery time can be weeks or months for non-surgical methods such as targeted therapy, chemotherapy, radiation
therapy, etc. However, this time will depend on the tumor stage and its location inside the body.

15. How To Reduce The Risk For IDC?
Knowing your family medical history is the best way to know the right preventative steps for this cancer. These steps
include early mammograms and screenings. There is no guaranteed preventive method, but you can take preventative
steps beforehand to reduce the risk of IDC. Some of the useful steps you can take are:
•Try to maintain a healthy body weight always.
•Do proper regular exercise.
•Make sure you are taking a healthy and well-balanced diet.
•Try not to smoke and limit your alcohol intake too.

16. Prognosis/Outlook/Survival Rate Of IDC
One may ask what to expect if they are diagnosed with IDC. If you are one of the patients, your doctor will discuss the
treatment options that will be right for you. For this cancer, starting the treatment without delay is recommended.
In the early stages of IDC, the cancer is quite curable. However, it will depend on the tumor type and location.
The five-year survival rate of IDC in a localized area is significantly high, i.e., close to 100 percent. However, you must get
the treatment in the early stages to increase your survival chance. In case the tumor spreads to other tissues, the five-
year survival rate becomes 86%. The five-year survival rate becomes 28% if cancer spreads to distant parts of the body.
Note: Don’t confuse survival rates with how long you will live. The numbers are just data on people who have taken
breast cancer treatment and have survived for more than five years. It is better to consult with your healthcare provider
for your particular case.

17. Conclusion
Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer is common and has a high survival rate if provided treatment in the early stages. One
common symptom of this cancer is a lump in the breast. Thankfully, there are several surgical and non-surgical
treatments for IDC. Therefore, consult your doctor immediately when you notice some positive signs and symptoms.
They will help you with the best treatment.
Many reputed health centers can provide you with the best treatments for IDC. Get the right help and increase your
survival chance with the right treatment for this cancer.