There are several types of breast cancer, categorised as either non-invasive or invasive.^[1]  

Non-invasive breast cancers

Non-invasive breast cancers are those that are contained within the milk ducts or lobules in the breast and have not spread into surrounding breast tissue. They are sometimes called pre-cancers. 

• Ductal carcinoma in situ
• Lobular carcinoma in situ

Invasive breast cancers

Most common types of invasive breast cancer

Invasive breast cancers are those that have spread into surrounding breast tissue. They might result from DCIS or an LCIS that has spread. The 2 most common types are called: 

• invasive (infiltrating) ductal carcinoma, which arises from DCIS and accounts for about 80% of all breast cancers^[7] 
• invasive lobular carcinoma, which arises from LCIS. 

Less common types of invasive breast cancers

• Paget’s disease of the nipple 
• Inflammatory breast cancer 
• Phyllodes tumours of the breast  

Other types of very rare breast cancers include angiosarcoma and metaplastic, medullary and mucinous breast cancer.  

Read about the symptoms and diagnosis of breast cancer.