Breast cancer tumors can be in different types. There are certain rare types of breast cancer which are rare in occurrence than the rest. Some of them are mentioned in detail below.
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC)
Inflammatory breast cancer or IBC is one of the rare types of breast cancer. In IBC patients, cancer starts developing in the soft breast tissues and blocks the lymph vessels in the breast. Also, there is an increase in the flow of blood and accumulation of white blood cells which makes the breasts feel itchy, warm, and can cause redness. This type of breast cancer is different from the other types as it has different symptoms, treatment plan, and prognosis.
The name inflammatory is given to this type of breast cancer based on the appearance of the breasts that it causes. Inflammation is often a result of infection or injury to the breast. The inflammation makes the breast tender, swollen, itchy and causes redness. Initially, IBC may be diagnosed as a breast infection like mastitis. Therefore, at first, the patients might be prescribed antibiotics. If the antibiotics recommended by the doctor do not improve your symptoms in 7 to 10 days, it could indicate IBC.
Metastatic breast cancer
This type of breast cancer is also referred to as stage IV or advanced breast cancer. Metastatic breast cancer is the most advanced stage since, at this stage, cancer has made its way to other organs of the body as well. The metastases caused by breast cancer can be found in the lymph nodes of the armpit or they can affect any part of the body. The common organs that can be affected by the cancerous cells include the lung, brain, liver, and bones.
Even the removal of the tumor does not guarantee success as microscopic cells can remain in the body which commonly results in the return and spread of cancer. Metastatic breast cancer can either be diagnosed initially or may develop after months or years of the initial treatment. The chances of breast cancer returning and metastasizing can vary largely on the individual to individual. It can also depend on the biology of the tumor and the time at which it has been detected.
Given the severity of the condition, the treatment of metastatic breast cancer can include many types of treatment. These treatments can be the same for other stages of breast cancer as well. These include:
- Hormone therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Surgery
- Targeted therapy
- Radiation therapy
These treatments can be advised alone or in combination with other treatments depending on the severity of the patient’s condition.
Male breast cancer
A rare but not unheard of, this form of breast cancer is the one that occurs in men. This type of breast cancer generally affects men who are over 60 years of age. Male breast cancer is said to count for around 1% of reported breast cancer cases. This type of breast cancer may be treated with mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The treatment can differ from one case to another.
