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Rare Forms of Breast Cancer
There are some really rare subtypes of invasive ductal carcinoma. Invasive ductal carcinoma is the medical name for cancer in the milk ducts of the breast that spreads to areas beyond the ducts.
Tubular carcinoma may represent about 1 percent or 2 of any breast cancer reported. The cancer is small and tubular shaped, Tubular carcinoma is low grade, meaning it is least likely to spread to other areas. The breast cancer cells also resemble normal cells. This cancer is easiest to treat. The average age range for diagnosis of tubular carcinoma is between 40 and into the late 60’s.
Symptoms
At first there may be no symptoms at all. Then gradually a detectable lump may grow that can be felt in a breast examination.
Diagnosis
Tubular carcinoma may be detected by a physical examination or it could be picked up on a routine mammogram. The doctor may order an ultrasound and or a MRI to further examination to determine the presence of tubular carcinoma.
Biopsy samples will be taken to exam for cancer. The pathologist must determine that the cancer is tubular in shape to be given that diagnosis. The more tubular shaped it is the most likely it is to spread. It will however be more treatable.
Tubular carcinoma is often found beside other cancers such as lobular carcinoma in situ (contained in the milk glands) or ductal carcinoma in situ (contained in the milk pipes or passageways to the nipple). It may be found beside a spreading cancer (invasive lobular carcinoma). Up to 15 percent of women who have tubular carcinoma in one breast will also have some other form of cancer in the other breast. Most often this additional form of breast cancer is invasive ductal carcinoma. Therefore it is always important to have both breasts tested each time. Tubular carcinoma is most often hormone receptor positive for estrogen and sometimes progesterone as well.
Invasive Cribriform Carcinoma
Invasive Cribriform Carcinoma is a rare form of breast cancer where the cancer cells invade the connective tissue of the breast called the stroma. The cancer cells form a nest-like pattern between the milk ducts (milk pipes) and the lobules (milk glands). There are holes in between the cancer cells so that when examined under the microscope Invasive Cribriform Carcinoma looks like swiss cheese. Invasive Cribriform Carcinoma will be found in about 5 or 6 percent of all invasive breast cancers. Invasive is the term used to describe cancers which can spread to other parts of the body.
Treatment
Treatment will depend upon if you have just tubular carcinoma or if you have another cancer along with it. Your doctor will determine the best plan for you based on your personal situation. The treatment plans available are:
Lumpectomy
The surgeon will take out the lump and a little bit of healthy tissue and perhaps some lymph as well.
Total or simple mastectomy
The doctor will remove the breast and may take out some of the lymph nodes under the arm as well. This procedure may include a sentinel node biopsy to determine if cancer is present within the nodes.
Modified radical mastectomy
The doctor not only removes the breast, he or she will remove the lining of the chest wall muscle and lymph nodes under the arm. However, this procedure is very rare in tubular carcinoma.
Adjuvant therapy
These therapies are used in conjunction with surgery.
Chemotherapy is a treatment where you would take anti cancer drugs to catch any cells that may have gotten away unnoticed from the site when the operation was being performed.
Chemotherapy will destroy any remaining cancer cells.
Radiation therapy is commonly given after a lumpectomy to destroy remaining cancer cells. Radiation therapy targets the cancer area with high bean lights or X-rays to kill off any remaining cancer cells. Some doctors might not order radiation therapy for tubular carcinoma since the cancer is so small.
Hormonal Therapy
This treatment involves taking drugs such as Tamoxifen, which will inhibit the production of estrogen in the body. Tubular carcinoma is estrogen receptor positive, and therefore this medication is designed to prevent the re growth of the cancer cells.
The factors which will influence your doctor’s decision on whether or not hormonal therapy, or chemotherapy is right for you will depend upon the size of the tumor and whether or not the tubular carcinoma has entered the lymph nodes.