As breast cancer is one of the most feared diseases that affect women, it may be useful to learn some information on breast carcinomas and differentiated carcinoma. Breast cancer is the leading mortality cause in women all over the world. Since carcinoma of the breast does not cause symptoms in early stages, detecting breast cancer when it can still be treated may be difficult. However, there are several screening opportunities for women who are at risk of developing breast cancer, tests that help discovering the disease in early stages.

There are mainly two types of breast cancer, ductal breast carcinoma and lobular breast carcinoma. It is important to point out that carcinoma is the only type of breast cancer but is however the most common. Carcinomas are cancers that start within the lining of the breast but there are also adenocarcinomas meaning cancers that begin in the glandular tissue of the breast, invasive carcinomas (cancers that spread) and sarcomas, cancers that begin in the connective tissues of the breast.

The ductal breast carcinoma in situ is one of the most common types of carcinoma of the breast. As opposed to invasive breast carcinoma, carcinoma in situ is cancer that does not spread beyond the ducts or lobules and did not spread to other organs of the body. Ductal breast carcinoma is the medical term that refers to the cancer that begins in the ducts of the breast, the tubes that carry the milk through the breast, from where it is produced to the nipple.

Carcinoma in situ is considered to be the earliest type of breast cancer with well differentiated cells. They carry the best prognosis, as the cancer did not spread to other parts of the body and the tumor is compact and specifically localized. The worse prognosis in breast cancer is carried by poorly differentiated carcinomas that resemble very much to the healthy cells even though they are not healthy at all. Poorly differentiated carcinomas of the breast are difficult to treat as they are usually metastasized, meaning that they spread to other organs.

Breast cancer can be early detected with the help of regular mammograms, physical exam and self-examination of the breast. Although, breast cancer is more frequent in women over 50 years old, it can occur in younger women as well. Therefore, women of any age that are at risk of developing breast carcinoma are recommended to have regular checkups of their breasts.

Ductal carcinoma is diagnosed based on the symptoms, physical exam and medical history of the patient. Breast cancer may however be asymptomatic unless it has reached more advanced stages and then, the most common symptoms and signs are swelling of the breast, lumps, skin irritation, breast or nipple pain, nipple retraction and a discharge that is not milk. If cancer is suspected, the doctor will order mammograms, digital mammograms, MRIs of the breast and other imaging tests that can show tumors in the breast.

To conclude, breast carcinomas and differentiated carcinoma are two related medical terms as the degree of differentiation of cancer cells gives the severity of the disease.