Non-invasive breast cancers are those that remain within their original location and do not spread to surrounding tissue, the lymph nodes, or other parts of the body. There are two main types of non-invasive breast cancer:
- Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS): This is the most common type of non-invasive breast cancer. DCIS means that the cancer cells are inside the ducts of the breast but have not spread through the walls of the ducts into the surrounding breast tissue.
- Lobular Carcinoma in Situ (LCIS): LCIS is cancer that grows in the milk-producing glands of your breast. LCIS isn’t cancerous, and it seldom becomes invasive cancer. However, having LCIS increases the risk of developing invasive breast cancer in both breasts.
The term “in situ” means “in place”, and these cancers are called “in situ” because they haven’t invaded nearby breast tissue or spread outside the breast. They are considered Stage 0 cancers and are the earliest form of breast cancer.
Treatment for non-invasive breast cancer often involves surgery to remove the lump (lumpectomy) and possibly some of the lymph nodes. This is often followed by radiation therapy to destroy any cancer cells that might be left. Hormonal therapy may also be used if the cancer cells have receptors for estrogen and/or progesterone. In some cases, especially for DCIS, mastectomy might be recommended.
Even though non-invasive breast cancer doesn’t spread to other parts of the body, it does increase the risk of developing invasive breast cancer later on. Therefore, it’s important for individuals who’ve had non-invasive breast cancer to have regular checkups and screenings.
