This invasive cancer starts in the milk-producing glands (lobules) and can be much harder to detect. Women who have this type of cancer can develop the disease in both breasts. While extremely rare, men can also be diagnosed with this disease.
Both Invasive Ductal Carcinoma and Invasive Lobular Carcinoma are the most common types of invasive breast cancer.
Less common types of cancer include:Triple negative breast cancer does not have hormone receptors.
Unlike other types of breast cancer, it is not dependent on hormones for growth and the cancer cells don’t over-produce the HER2 protein.
The name triple negative refers to breast cancer that is estrogen receptor negative (ER-), progesterone receptor–negative (PR-), and HER2 receptor-negative (HER2-). It is a more complex disease, and the medications used to block the estrogen and progesterone hormones and the HER2 protein are not as effective in treating it. There are however, a number of other chemotherapy drugs that are used, usually in combination with both surgery and radiation.
While anyone can be diagnosed with this type of cancer, it is typically seen in a younger population of women (under age 50). Both African American and Hispanic populations and people with a BRCA1 gene mutation are at a greater risk.
Triple negative breast cancer is more aggressive, more likely to spread and has a higher incidence of recurrence.