Invasive ductal carcinoma: 6 things to know about this common breast cancer
April 11, 2025
Medically Reviewed | Last reviewed by on April 11, 2025
Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) is breast cancer that starts in the breast ducts and spreads to surrounding tissue. It is the most common type of breast cancer, making up about 80% of breast cancer diagnoses.
If caught and treated early, invasive ductal carcinoma can potentially be cured.
As a breast medical oncologist, I specialize in treating all types of breast cancer. Here, I¡¯ll answer some common questions I hear about invasive ductal carcinoma.
Where does invasive ductal carcinoma spread?
The word ¡°invasive¡± means that the cancer has spread beyond the ducts into surrounding breast tissue.
Invasive ductal carcinoma most often spreads to nearby lymph nodes. This is known as regional spread. Once it goes deep into the lymph nodes, the cancer can enter your bloodstream and spread to other organs.
What are the symptoms of invasive ductal carcinoma?
The most common symptom of invasive ductal carcinoma is a painless lump in the breast or armpit. Other symptoms to look for in the breast include:
- Redness
- Asymmetry: One breast is bigger than the other
- Changes to the nipple, like inverted nipples or discharge
- Red rash
- Peau d¡¯orange: Dimpling of the skin that resembles an orange
My advice to women and men is to know what your breasts normally look like. See a doctor right away if you notice any changes.
Key Takeaways
- Invasive ductal carcinoma is the most common type of breast cancer.
- The most common symptom is a painless lump in the breast or armpit.
- Stages 0, I, II and III are potentially curable. Stage IV is not curable, but it is treatable.
- Treatment depends on several factors, including the cancer¡¯s stage and your overall health.
How is invasive ductal carcinoma diagnosed?
When you go to the doctor with breast cancer symptoms, your doctor will likely perform a breast exam to physically check for abnormalities in your breast. If your doctor suspects breast cancer, you may get imaging tests such as a mammogram or breast ultrasound so they can examine further.
If the imaging exams show anything suspicious, you will get a breast biopsy. This is when a sample of tissue is taken and sent off to be reviewed under a microscope. A breast cancer diagnosis can be made after a biopsy reveals cancerous cells.
Determining breast cancer stage
The first thing we do with every breast cancer patient is determine the cancer¡¯s stage, which includes the type of breast cancer, the tumor¡¯s size, how far it has spread and the grade. Accurate staging helps us plan your treatment.
Ductal carcinoma in situ is also known as stage 0 breast cancer. This breast cancer develops in the breast ducts and is not invasive.
Breast cancer stages 0, I, II and III are potentially curable. Stage IV breast cancer is not curable, but it is treatable, and patients are living longer with new treatments.
Your doctor may order a CT scan of the whole body, a bone scan to see if the cancer has spread to the bones or a brain MRI if you¡¯re having symptoms such as headaches or vision problems.
There are different types of invasive ductal carcinoma. Some are low-grade, meaning the cancer grows slowly. They tend to have a good prognosis. Tubular ductal carcinoma and mucinous ductal carcinoma are both examples of low-grade breast cancers.
Some types of invasive ductal carcinoma are aggressive. This means the cancer usually grows and spreads quickly, and it is often harder to treat. Hormone receptor status can also help us determine if a cancer is aggressive. Metaplastic breast cancer, HER2 positive breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer are all aggressive.
How is invasive ductal carcinoma treated?
Your doctor will develop a treatment plan for you based on several factors, including the cancer¡¯s stage and your overall health. Invasive ductal carcinoma treatment may include:
Breast cancer stages I through III will usually be treated with surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. If the cancer is hormone receptor positive, you may receive hormone therapy before or after surgery.
Stage IV breast cancer is usually treated with chemotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted therapy.
How long can you live with invasive ductal carcinoma?
The prognosis for invasive ductal carcinoma depends on many factors, such as the type of cancer, its stage and its grade.
Breast cancer that is caught and treated early before it has spread to distant parts of the body can usually be cured. Stage IV, or metastatic, breast cancer is not curable, but it is treatable.
We¡¯ll look at whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes to help determine your prognosis. Generally, the more lymph nodes that the cancer has spread to, the worse the prognosis. For example, a person with stage II breast cancer with one lymph node has a very high average five-year survival rate. As more lymph nodes are involved and the spread becomes more distant, the five-year survival rate decreases.
It¡¯s important to remember that these are just estimates and may not reflect your specific situation. Talk to your doctor about questions regarding your specific prognosis.
How can you prevent invasive ductal carcinoma?
While you can¡¯t prevent invasive ductal carcinoma, there are steps you can take to lower your risk of developing breast cancer.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle
Leading a healthy lifestyle can help reduce your breast cancer risk. This includes eating healthy and nutritious foods, staying physically active and avoiding alcohol and tobacco use.
Keep up with breast cancer screenings
Breast cancer screening exams help us detect breast cancer early when it¡¯s easier to treat. Screening recommendations depend on your age and breast cancer risk. Talk to your doctor to help determine when and how often you should be screened.
Know your family history
Your breast cancer risk is higher if you have a parent, sibling or child who had breast cancer. Additionally, if you have two or more close blood relatives with breast cancer, you may be a fit for genetic counseling to see if you have an inherited gene mutation. Depending on your risk, you may need to get screened earlier and/or more often.
Be familiar with your breasts
Stay in tune with your body, including how your breasts look and feel. See a doctor if something doesn¡¯t feel quite right or you notice any changes to your breast.
, is a breast medical oncologist at MD Anderson.
or call 1-877-632-6789.
Know what your breasts normally look like. See a doctor right away if you notice any changes.
Adaeze Iheme, M.D.
Physician