Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC)

• Invasive ductal carcinoma treatment options:

  • Nonsurgical Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Treatment

    • Radiation. Radiation therapy might be part of your treatment plan if you are undergoing a lumpectomy. Studies show that lumpectomy followed by radiation can be as effective in treating IDC as mastectomy.

    • Chemotherapy. Deciding on whether to treat invasive ductal breast cancer with chemotherapy, or “chemo,” depends on features of the tumor cells themselves — their genes and proteins. The more the doctor can learn about the characteristics of the cancer cells, the easier it is to determine what type of chemotherapy (if any) is likely to be effective.

    • Hormone therapy. Breast cancers with positive hormone receptors can be treated with estrogen or progesterone. These medications come in pill form and may be prescribed for several years.

    • Biologic (targeted) therapy. This approach uses antibodies or small molecule drugs to activate your body’s immune system to fight the invasive ductal cancer cells.

  • Treatment for ductal breast cancer is not one size fits all. Your doctor will consider several factors in putting together an individualized treatment plan for you, including how advanced the cancer is and the characteristics of the tumor or tumors.

  • Surgery typically is the first treatment for invasive ductal breast cancer. The goal of this treatment is to remove the cancer from the breast with a lumpectomy or mastectomy. The type of surgery recommended will depend on factors such as the location of the tumor, the size of the cancer, and whether more than one area in the breast has been affected. For patients with ductal carcinoma, long-term systemic treatment with tamoxifen is recommended to prevent recurrence.

  • Surgery for Invasive Ductal Carcinoma

    • Breast cancer treatment has evolved to offer patients more options. In addition to removing breast cancer, new aesthetic surgical approaches can enhance well-being and lessen the emotional impact of losing all or part of a breast to cancer. Comprehensive breast centers with coordinated teams of oncologic and plastic surgery practitioners can offer a wider array of options.

  • Surgery for IDC may include one of these procedures:

    • A lumpectomy is the removal of part of the breast. It is also known as breast-conserving surgery. A lumpectomy may be followed by radiation treatments to treat any remaining cancer cells.

    • Mastectomy is the removal of the breast. Mastectomy is a treatment for patients with multiple, overly aggressive, or large invasive ductal tumors. It can be followed by breast reconstruction.

  • Checking for Ductal Breast Cancer in Lymph Nodes

    • Your lymph nodes are part of your immune system. Lymph fluid from the breast drains into the axillary (underarm) lymph nodes. The number and location of axillary lymph nodes may be different from person to person.

    • A sentinel lymph node biopsy is a test that can help your doctor determine if removing lymph nodes may be part of your cancer surgery.

    • The sentinel lymph node is where cancer from invasive ductal carcinoma is likely to show up first. Your doctor can identify the sentinel lymph node by injecting dye into the breast and seeing which node takes up the dye first: This is the sentinel. A sample of tissue from this node (biopsy) can reveal if cancer has spread there.