Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC)

• Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) begins in the milk ducts and spreads to the fatty tissue of the breast outside the duct. IDC accounts for about 80 percent of invasive breast cancers.

• IDC can affect men.

• What is invasive ductal carcinoma?

  • Breast ducts are the passageways where milk from the milk glands (lobules) flows to the nipple.

  • Invasive ductal carcinoma is cancer (carcinoma) that happens when abnormal cells growing in the lining of the milk ducts change and invade breast tissue beyond the walls of the duct.

• What are the symptoms of invasive ductal carcinoma?

  • If you notice any of these, you should contact your doctor right away for further evaluation:

    • Lump in the breast.

    • Thickening or redness of the skin of the breast

    • Swelling or change in the shape of the breast.

    • We have localized persistent breast pain.

    • Dimpling or retraction of the skin of the breast or the nipple

    • Nipple discharge, other than breast milk

    • Scaly or flaky skin on the nipple or an ulceration (sore) on the skin of the breast or nipple. These can be signs of Paget’s disease, a different kind of breast cancer that can occur along with IDC.

    • Lumps in the underarm area

    • Changes in the appearance of the nipple or breast differ from your normal monthly changes.