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Different Types of Breast Cancer

Donna Nichols • October 13, 2022

Do you know the different types of breast cancer?

Did you know there are MANY different types of breast cancers?


I sure didn’t and couldn’t believe how many there are so I thought I’d share some with you!


  • Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS)


This is a non-invasive breast cancer and starts inside the milk ducts. It’s not life threatening, but can lead to an invasive type of breast cancer later on. There are generally no signs or symptoms, but some may experience a discharge from the nipples or a lump in the breast.


  • Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC)


This is the most common type of breast cancer and invasive means cancer has spread to the breast tissues. If not treated, this cancer can spread to lymph nodes and possibly other areas of the body. This too may not show any signs or symptoms and usually first shows up in a mammogram which is why regular screening is so important.


  • Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC) 


This is the second most common type of breast cancer and begins in the milk-carrying ducts and spreads beyond. Sometimes, the first sign of ILC is a hardening in the breast that can be felt, or the nipple may turn inward.


  • Inflammatory Breast Cancer


This is a rare and very aggressive form of breast cancer. It starts with reddening and swelling of the breast and can grow and spread quickly, worsening in a few hours to a few days. The breasts swell and become inflamed because the cancer cells clog the vessels that carry lymph.


  • Lobular Carcinoma In Situ (LCIS)


This is not a true breast cancer and is usually diagnosed before menopause age. There are no signs or symptoms and is found only when the breast is biopsied for some other reason.


  • Male Breast Cancer 


This is very rare, but can happen because men have breast tissue which are usually just mounds of fat. Men can develop breast cancer from certain types of medications they take. The symptoms are the same as they are for women.


  • Triple Negative Breast Cancer


This type of breast cancer is not caused by hormones, but by a specific gene which means it is hereditary. This cancer does not respond well to medications and is very aggressive, but there are therapies available to treat it.


  • Paget’s Disease of the Nipple


This is a rare form where the cancer cells collect around the nipple. Paget’s disease causes the nipple to become red, sore, flaky and scaly. There can also be itching, burning, pain and swelling.


  • Phyllodes Tumors of the Breast


These are extremely rare and tend to develop in women in their 40’s. The most common symptom is a lump your doctor can feel when examining the breast. They tend to grow rapidly, are generally not painful and can create a visible bulge as it pouches against the skin.


  • Recurrent Breast Cancer


This is a cancer that comes back in the same or opposite breast after a period of time. Sometimes a single cancer cell can survive radiation and chemo and is able to grow into a new tumor.


  • Metastatic Breast Cancer


This is the type of cancer that has spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream and lymph nodes. Most women feel helpless when diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, but there are treatments that can control it for a number of years. Make sure you gather all the information needed to help you make a sound and well-informed decision about your particular situation.


As you can see, there are many types of breast cancer and I didn’t even cover all of them.


Please visit breastcancer.org for more information on these and the other types of breast cancers.


And PLEASE get regular mammograms!! Early detection is the KEY!!!

Make Valentine’s Day Special for Seniors

By Donna Nichols • February 5, 2025
Valentine’s Day tends to zero in on romantic love, but what about our seniors? They too often get forgotten. We have some ways to make Valentine’s Day special for them too. Spend the day with your loved one. Spending quality time with a loved one is more important to a senior than anything else. There is no greater gift than time and please make sure you have enough, so you are not rushed. Do your elderly loved one have a favorite meal? Perhaps you can prepare it for them, or if they are able, you can prepare it together. How fun would that be for you both? Be sure to discuss the enjoyment it brought you while you are sharing the meal together. How about a game of name that love song? You could prepare a playlist of love songs from the generation and play them to see how many they get correct. Or, if you can sing, you can sing some for them and see if they can recollect them. Take some time for reminiscing, go through old photo albums, or ask about old times. Ask them about when you were young and what trouble you caused; this will give you all something to laugh (or cry) about. Has your loved one been cooped up all winter? Take them out for a nice lunch, or weather permitting, a picnic in the park. Go for coffee and a donut, then head out to see a movie. Make a “date” of it. Maybe your senior is into crafts. You can design special Valentine’s Day cards for other family members. This way your senior can express their love for them and send it to them in their own unique way. You can create other greeting cards as well. Bake some special treats together. Does your senior have some favorite cookies or cake? You could bake it together, or you can bake it for them. Then you can enjoy it after you have the meal you prepared together. Yummy, delicious!! You can watch some romantic movies together if they prefer to stay in the house or the weather isn’t so good. If they like to color, you can buy them some of those large coloring books and you can color together. Don’t forget the decorations and the flowers! Make the house or apartment as festive as possible. Even if they live in as assisted living community, you can still decorate their room to the nines! Make it as festive as possible! If you live in another state or can’t be close to your senior for Valentine’s Day, how about sending them a specially crafted care package. You can hand make some gifts, add some photos of family and friends, and send a personally recorded message. You can bake some homemade treats and incorporate some things that are of personal interest to them. This will show how much you care for them and make their Valentine’s Day extra special even if you can’t be with them.  There are so many ways to make Valentine’s Day special for seniors. Let’s not forget about them; make sure to show them they are so loved too!

February is National Heart Month

By Donna Nichols • February 4, 2025
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Hydration Tips for the Winter

By Donna Nichols • January 8, 2025
I’ve written many blogs about the importance of staying hydrated in the summer, but did you know it’s just as important to stay hydrated in the winter months? I’ve shared some important tips on how to stay hydrated in the winter and why. Cold, dry air can dehydrate you easily and quickly. Even if you don’t feel thirsty. Proper hydration can help regulate your body temperature, maintain healthy organ function, and prevent fatigue, dry skin, and headaches. In the colder months, you do not feel thirsty, that’s why it’s so important to make sure you drink plenty of water. Why is winter hydration so important? Colder air tends to be drier causing moisture to evaporate through your breathing which can cause dehydration. In colder weather, you may not feel as thirsty, causing you to become dehydrated quickly. Also, wearing more clothing traps sweat inside your clothing causing more fluid loss. What are some of the benefits of staying hydrated in the winter? • Drinking enough water helps keep your skin hydrated and prevents dryness. This will help with that dry, itchy skin feeling we all get in the winter. • Water helps your body maintain a regular core temperature. Which is so important to maintain in the winter. • Drinking plenty of water supports your immune system, which helps fight off winter colds and the flu. We all want to fight those germs off! • When you are dehydrated, you become tired easily, so drinking plenty of water helps keep your energy levels up. How do you stay hydrated in the winter? • Make sure you drink plenty of water. Set reminders if you must; you probably won’t feel as thirsty in the winter, but you need to keep drinking that water! • You don’t have to drink cold water; room temperature water works. You can also drink tea or water with lemon, as long as you’re getting your water. • If you’re going out, carry a water bottle with you to ensure you have water to drink. • Eat fruits and vegetables that contain water. Tomatoes, lettuce, strawberries, watermelon, cauliflower, mushrooms, cucumber, apples, and pineapple are just a few that contain high water contents. • If you think you’re dehydrated, check your urine; if it’s a darker color, that can suggest dehydration. Urine should be a pale, yellow color. As you can see, staying hydrated in the winter is just as important as staying hydrated in the summer, if not more. In the winter you don’t realize you are thirsty therefore you tend not to drink as much water as you should. This has the potential of wreaking havoc on your body. Please make sure you drink plenty of water in the wintertime as you do in the summertime. We have rebranded our company, we are now Assisted Senior Services! Call us for ANYTHING SENIOR!! 386-847-2322!
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