Breast cancer is when cells in your breast tissue change and multiply out of control. If untreated, these cells spread into other areas of the breast, lymph nodes, and other organs.

Most breast cancers start with changes to the cells that line organs and tissues in your body. These are carcinomas. Lobular breast cancers begin in the lobules or milk glands. Ductal breast cancers start in the ducts that connect the glands to the nipple.

What are noncancerous breast conditions?

Noncancerous breast conditions are breast changes that are not due to cancer. There are many causes, including blocked ducts, infections, and benign lumps. 

We also care for your breast issues with testing and treatments or sometimes simple observation. When you have any of these conditions, we automatically look for signs that it might be cancer. We’ll do ultrasound, mammograms, and other imaging tests.

Signs of breast cancer include:

• Lumps or bumps
• Nipple discharge, especially if bloody
• Redness or swelling
• Enlarged lymph nodes in the armpit
• Breast pain

Breast cancer comes in many types. The type of breast cancer you have determines what treatments would be the best option for you. 

Ductal carcinoma in situ

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) occurs when cancerous cells begin to grow in the lining of the milk ducts. These cells haven’t started growing out of control or broken out of the duct wall. DCIS is a highly treatable and curable form of early cancer. We make a personalized treatment plan for each person diagnosed with DCIS.

Invasive breast cancer

Invasive breast cancer is when cancer cells spread into the breast tissues. Invasive breast cancer can grow in cells of the ducts or the lobules. Each type of invasive breast cancer has many subcategories based on its unique chemical and genetic features. Our team of experts will tailor a treatment plan to your cancer, involving many specialists.

Triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer is a type of cancer that is usually more aggressive—it can grow and spread faster. Black women face a higher risk of this cancer, as well as those with inherited genetic conditions that increase the risk of breast cancer.

Inflammatory breast cancer

Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare and aggressive invasive breast cancer. The cells of this cancer block lymph vessels in your skin. It makes your breast look “inflamed” or red and warm to the touch.

Paget’s disease 

Paget’s disease of the breast is a rare type of cancer. It affects the skin of your nipple and often your areola, the darker circle around your nipple.

Metastatic breast cancer

Metastatic breast cancer has spread to distant parts of your body. Depending on your breast cancer type and where it has spread, we have different treatment options. 

Our breast cancer experts often treat people with special circumstances or who are at higher risk of complications. These special populations include men, young, or pregnant people with breast cancer, or those at high risk due to genetic mutations.

Breast cancer during pregnancy

You may discover breast cancer while pregnant. Our cancer care team works with Carilion’s maternal fetal medicine experts to manage your care.

Early-onset breast cancer 

Most breast cancers happen in people after menopause. Early-onset breast cancer develops before age 40. When breast cancer occurs at a young age, there are extra considerations. It could mean your cancer is hereditary.

In pre-menopausal patients, cancer treatments can affect fertility. We work with fertility preservation specialists and coordinate care as needed to support your family-building goals.

High-risk populations

People with a family history of breast cancer or specific genetic changes face a higher risk of breast cancer. Our cancer genetics counselors can help you get genetic testing.

If testing shows that you have a mutation in a known hereditary breast cancer gene, you may face a higher risk of breast and other cancers. Our counselors can help you decide what preventive surgery, screenings, or tests make sense.

If you already have breast cancer and test positive for a mutation, we can help you decide what other actions you may need to take. Surgery and screenings can lower your risk of other cancers and complications.

Male breast cancer

Male breast cancer is very rare, but it can happen. Males who develop breast tissue in their chest—a condition called gynecomastia—have a higher risk of breast cancer. So do men with mutations in a hereditary breast cancer gene.

At Carilion, we work with you to decide what’s best for you. We offer a variety of breast cancer treatments to target and get rid of your breast cancer.

Cancer surgery

Surgery is one of the main ways we treat breast cancer. Breast cancer surgeries include:

• Mastectomy: Surgery that removes one or both breasts. 
• Lumpectomy: Surgery to remove just the cancerous lumps but spare the rest of the breast. It's also called breast conservation surgery.
• Lymph node removal: Surgery to remove lymph nodes near the breasts that may have cancer. Lymph node removal helps stop breast cancer from spreading.
• Plastic surgery after breast cancer: Our plastic surgeons can provide breast reconstruction options. They make sure your breasts look balanced and natural. You can also choose aesthetic flat closure, creating a flat chest with minimal scarring.

Cancer medicines

Cancer medicines are another mainstay of how we treat breast cancer. We create a plan tailored for each person when they get a breast cancer diagnosis. 

You can take cancer medicines by mouth, injection, or infusion. The drugs travel through the body seeking to kill or control the growth and spread of breast cancer cells. Some you may take for long periods to stop cancer from coming back.

Types of cancer medicines include:

• Non-targeted: Medicines like chemotherapy kill rapidly growing cells. Not everyone with breast cancer needs chemotherapy, and your cancer may respond well to other medicines.
• Targeted therapy: Some cancer cells have an “Achilles’ heel” that we can use to kill the cancer cells and leave healthy cells relatively untouched. If your cancer has these targets, we may be able to use targeted therapies.
• Immunotherapy: Medicines that boost your immune system to fight cancer cells.
• Hormone therapy: Medicines that work on breast cancers with natural hormone receptors. By interfering with a cancer cell’s hormone signals, we can stop it from growing and make it more likely to die.

Radiation therapy

We use high-energy rays to target and kill cancer cells. We aim the radiation at the cancer cells to stop their growth and potentially destroy the tumor. Advanced machinery, scanners, and molding devices ensure the cancer is the target, sparing healthy cells.

For breast cancer, we offer external beam radiation. We use a machine outside your body to deliver a beam focused on your tumor and nearby lymph nodes.

Clinical trials

Clinical trials are another way to fight cancer. We usually compare a new medicine or protocol to the current best therapy in a trial. Your care team may ask you to consider a trial when studying a new and exciting way to treat cancer.

Our teams of specialists meet regularly to analyze emerging breast cancer treatment trials. We partner with Blue Ridge Cancer Care and the Massey Cancer Center at Virginia Commonwealth University.

These studies are voluntary; you'll talk to your care team before enrolling. A trial can be a first treatment option or an option if your treatment stops working.