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Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in women. Cancer is a term used to describe diseases in which the body's cells become abnormal and divide without control. The abnormal cells may spread to other parts of the body through direct invasion (cell to cell) or by means of the bloodstream and lymph nodes. As cancer progresses, it can lead to injury and sometimes death. Breast cancer starts in the breast and can affect women and men. Breast cancers are either non-invasive or invasive. Non-invasive breast cancer is the kind confined within the ducts or lobules of the breast. It also is referred to as ductal cancer in situ (DCIS) or lobular cancer in situ (LCIS). Some experts feel LCIS is not truly a cancer, but a marker for risk of developing a future breast cancer. Invasive (also referred to as infiltrating) breast cancer is the type that has broken through the normal breast tissue barriers, has invaded surrounding tissues, and has the potential to spread to distant places in the body. 
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The first microscopic section at the left is an example of in situ cancer. Cancer cells have not moved beyond the outer lining. The second section is an example of invasive cancer. Cancer cells have |
