Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC)

Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), also known as infiltrating ductal carcinoma, is

cancer that began growing in the duct and has invaded the fatty tissue of the breast outside of
the duct. IDC is the most common form of breast cancer, representing 80% of all breast
cancer diagnoses.

How Does it start?

The breast are made up of lobules (milk-producing glands) and milk ducts (tubes that
carry milk to the nipple), which are sorrounded by glandular, fibrous and fatty tissue.

Invasive ductal breast cancer starts when cells within the milk ducts begin to divide and grow
in an abnormal way. Invasive ductal breast means the cancer cells are no longer only in the
breast ducts. They have spread outside the ducts to the surrounding breast tissue and have
the potential to spread to lymph nodes and other parts of the body.

Cancer cells are are given a grade according to how different they are to normal breast cells
and how quickly they are growning. Invasive ductal breast cancer is graded 1, 2, 3. In
general, a lower grade (1) indicates a slower-growing cancer within the breast while a higher
grade (3) indicates a faster-growing cancer.

Signs and symptoms

• a lump or thickening of the breast tissue

• a change of skin texture such as puckering or dimpling of the skin
• a lump or swelling under the arm
• changes to the nipple
• a discharge from the nipple
• a change in size or shape of the breast
• constant pain in the breast or armpit
• less commonly, a type of rash involving the nipple known as Paget's disease of the
breast
Diagnosis
• a mammogram (breast x-ray)
• an ultrasound scan ( used high frequency sound waves to produce an image) of the
breast and under the arm (axilla)
• a core biopsy of the breast and/or lymph nodes
***When there is a change to the skin or nipple a punch of biopsy may be performed****

Surgical Intervention
1. Surgeries include lumpectomy (breast-preventing procedure), mastectomy (breast
removal, and mammoplasty (reconstructive surgery).
2. Endocrine related surgeries to reduce endogenous estrogen as a palliative measure.
3. Bone marrow transplantation may be combined with chemotherapy.

Modified Radical Mastectomy is a surgical procedure that removes the breast, surrounding
tissue, and nearby lymph nodes that are affected by cancer.

Additional treatments

• Chemotherapy is a treatment using anti-cancer (also called cytotoxic) drugs which

aims to destroy cancer cells.
• Radiotheraphy is the use of high energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells.
• Hormone (endocrine) therapy it will only be prescribed if your breast cancer has
receptors within the cell that bind to the female hormone estrogen and stimulate the
cancer to grow (known as oestrogen receptor positive or ER + breast-cancer).
Nursing Interventions

1. Monitor for adverse effects of chemotherapy

2. Realize that a diagnosis of breast cancer is a devastating emotional shock to the
woman. Provide psychological support to the patient throughout the diagnostic and
treatment process.
3. Involve the patient in planning and treatment.
4. Describe surgical procedures to alleviate fear.
5. Prepare the patient for the effects of chemotherapy, and plan ahead for alopecia and
fatigue.
6. Administer antiemetics prophylactically, as directed, for patient receiving chemotherapy
7. Administer I.V fluids and hyperalimentation as indicated.
8. Help patient identify and use support persons or family or community.
9. Suggest to the patient the psychological interventions may be necessary for anxiety
and depression.