Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) is a type of breast cancer that starts within the ducts of the breasts, but will spread to, or "invade," other breast tissue.
IDC is treated at the Abramson Cancer Center, within the Rena Rowan Breast Cancer Center, and within the Integrated Breast Center at Pennsylvania Hospital.
Breast cancer, the uncontrolled growth of cells in the breast, is the most common type of cancer among women, excluding skin cancer. Each year in the United States, nearly 200,000 women, and some men, are diagnosed with breast cancer.
Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) is a type of breast cancer. IDC starts within the ducts of the breasts, but will spread to, or "invade," other breast tissue.
Some rarer forms of IDC include:
- Medullary Carcinoma: This infiltrating breast cancer has a rather well-defined boundary between tumor tissue and normal tissue.
- Metaplastic Carcinoma: Also known as carcinoma with metaplasia, metaplastic carcinoma is a very rare type of invasive ductal cancer that includes cells that are normally not found in the breast, such as cells that look like skin cells or cells that make bone.
- Mucinous (Colloid) Carcinoma: Also known as colloid carcinoma, this rare type of invasive breast cancer is formed by mucus-producing cancer cells.
Oncology Navigators
Every step of cancer treatment, from a cancer diagnosis and treatment, to forming a survivorship plan, comes with different needs and issues that should be addressed.
Oncology navigators are committed to making sure every patient experience is as comfortable as possible. They are experts in navigating complex health care situations and serve as a consistent point of contact and a reliable source for advice, support and direction for patients and families.