Less Common Forms of Breast Cancer

Medullary carcinoma: Medullary carcinoma is an invasive breast cancer that forms a distinct boundary between tumor tissue and normal tissue. Only 5% of breast cancers are medullary carcinoma.
Mucinous carcinoma: Also called colloid carcinoma, mucinous carcinoma is a rare breast cancer formed by the mucus-producing cancer cells. Women with mucinous carcinoma generally have a better prognosis (expected outcome) than women with more common types of invasive carcinoma.

Tubular carcinoma: Tubular carcinomas are a special type of infiltrating (invasive) breast carcinoma. Women with tubular carcinoma generally have a better prognosis (expected outcome) than women with more common types of invasive carcinoma. Tubular carcinomas account for around 2% of breast cancer diagnoses.

Inflammatory breast cancer: Inflammatory breast cancer is the appearance of inflamed breasts (red and warm) with dimples and/or thick ridges caused by cancer cells blocking lymph vessels or channels in the skin over the breast. Though inflammatory breast cancer is rare (accounting for only 1% of breast cancers), it is extremely fast-growing. Click here to learn more about inflammatory breast cancer.

Paget’s disease of the nipple: A rare form of breast cancer that begins in the milk ducts and spreads to the skin of the nipple and areola, Paget’s disease of the nipple only accounts for about 1% of breast cancers. The breast skin may appear crusted, red, or oozing in women suffering from this breast cancer. A woman’s prognosis may be better if nipple changes are the only sign of the breast disease and no lump is felt. Click here to learn more about Paget's disease of the nipple.