Invasive Ductal Carcinoma

Invasive Ductal Carcinoma or commonly known as IDC (Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma or Carcinoma of No Special Type (NST) or Not Otherwise Specified), breast cancer is the most common. IDC happen 65%-80% of all breast cancer incidence. IDC milk ducts of the breast tissue and invades surrounding it. If not treated at an early stage, IDC can spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream and lymphatic system.

Women have the greatest risk exposed to the IDC when they reach the age of 45 years. As you get older, the risk of breast cancer is thus increased. About 50 percent, IDC occur in women aged 65 years. About 20 percent of women who have a family history of people with breast cancer. Other risk factors for women affected by breast cancer are having their first child over the age of 30 years, first menstruation is too young, the age of menopause too old, as well as many consume alcohol.

1. Characteristics of Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC)

Invasive Ductal Carcinoma marked the emergence of hard bumps with irregular boundaries. IDC bumps will be felt harder, stronger, and more "embedded" than other benign lumps. The skin of the breast in the stricken areas of the IDC and the nipple will be interested in (pulled in). On the results of a mammogram, IDC is usually seen as one of the masses with the ends of the cuneiform emerging from the limits of bumps, sometimes also seen as lumps with smooth or limit as calcifications (calcium buildup) areas of the tumor.

2. Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Pathologis Diagnosis (IDC)

A pathologist will test specimen biopsy, which will trial test coupled with others when necessary. If mammography shows suspicious findings, then a biopsy will be recommended. A biopsy is a method that is widely used in making a diagnosis of breast cancer. During the procedure, the doctor will take a biopsy of cells or tissues from the suspected area, and will be brought to the pathology laboratory to be tested further.

In some cases, a biopsy is done by surgery. The doctor will take all or part of the tumor and submitted to a pathologist to be tested. Laboratory tests will provide information to the pathologist to determine the type of cancer and also its nature, invasive or not. Examples of networks will be examined under a microscope and its histological type will be determined, as well as the level of his tumor histologically (histologic tumour grade).

Level 1, cancer has the slowest growth rates, while level 3 tumor spread with more aggressive. A pathologist will also take note of the size of the tumor, how closely the cancer with boundaries drawn in the surgery, and also whether the tumor invades the blood vessels and lymphatics. These factors assist the pathologist determines the presence or the return of cancer still strikes in the same area.

3. The other thing Seen Pathologist at IDC

Biopsy sample tested for the presence of estrogen and progesterone receptors. Women with cancer that contains these receptors would be more able to respond positively towards the hormone therapy. A pathologist will also test for the presence of a protein called HER2/neu. Cancer with a lot of this type of protein can respond to therapy with Herceptin.

After seeing the results of a laboratory test, your doctor will recommend an additional inspection to determine malignancy cells that may have spread to other parts of the body. Dependent individual conditions, examination with x-rays of the chest, bone scan (bone scan), as well as imaging computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or PET (positron emission tomography). Throughout this examination can detect whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. With the overall examination, the pathologist can determine the stage of cancer.

Stage 1, tumor IDC still remain in the breast. Stage 4 IDC, has spread to the area around the breast. Stage 2 and 3 have a condition in between stage 1 and 4.

4. Handling of Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC)

Pathological examination of the entire results submitted to the physician after analyzed and determined his stage of cancer. And together, the doctor and pathologist, will determine the most appropriate treatment options for the patient.

IDC is usually handled by one or more action: surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and radiation therapy. It is important for patients to learn as much as possible about the IDC, to treatment options can determine the most appropriate handling. Almost all women choose surgery. The development and sophistication of surgical techniques has made 70% of women can choose a lumpectomy surgery than mastectomy, in which the entire breast and some lymph nodes around the breast to be lifted.

Mastectomy reduces the likelihood of a return of the cancer. Lumpectomy is an option if the cancer being a part which is relatively small in the bust. How far the tumor has been growing and severe will be determined if the handling to maintain breast can be done. If the breast is untenable, for breast reconstruction surgery can be done after recovering from surgical removal of cancer.

Most women with invasive breast cancer be offered chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy. Treatment with medications or hormones will effect throughout the body and reduce the risk of cancer spread further or relapse. Radiation therapy is done to parts of the body to kill the remaining cancer in the area where the tumor was first discovered. Clinical trials is handling new IDC developed in America. Although it is still experimental in nature, but it is believed can be alternative healing the advanced stage cancer.