What Is Breast Cancer? Types of Breast Cancer and Treatment Options

Types of breast cancer

There are several types of breast cancer. Doctors classify them based on where they originate, whether they have spread and how the cancer cells behave.

The most common types include:⁵

• Ductal carcinoma in situ: This is a non-invasive breast cancer that starts in the milk ducts and hasn’t yet spread into nearby breast tissue.
• Invasive ductal carcinoma: This is the most common type of breast cancer.⁶ It starts in the milk ducts and spreads into nearby breast tissue, and it can spread to other parts of the body over time.
• Invasive lobular carcinoma: This type starts in the milk-producing lobules and can spread into nearby tissue or other areas of the body.
• Triple-negative breast cancer: This is an invasive type of breast cancer that can be harder to treat because it may not respond to standard treatments. As a result, it may grow and spread faster than some other types of breast cancer.
• Inflammatory breast cancer: This rare, fast-growing cancer can cause the breast to look red, swollen or inflamed.
• Paget’s disease of the breast: This rare type of cancer affects the skin of the nipple and may look like a rash or irritation.

How is breast cancer treated?

Treatment of breast cancer depends on the type, stage and tumor size, as well as your biomarkers, overall health and personal preferences.

Treatment of breast cancer often includes a combination of the following therapies:⁷

• Surgery to remove part or all of the breast.
• Chemotherapy to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells.
• Radiation therapy to destroy cancer cells with targeted radiation.
• Hormone therapy to treat breast cancers that grow in response to certain hormones.
• Targeted therapy to attack specific features of cancer cells.
• Immunotherapy to help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.

Does health insurance cover breast cancer treatment?

Many breast cancer treatments may have good insurance coverage through your primary health insurance. Even so, many patients still face high out-of-pocket costs.

Supplemental cancer insurance can help provide additional financial support after a covered cancer diagnosis. Depending on your policy, your benefits may help cover costs related to treatment, transportation, lodging and everyday expenses.

Benefits of cancer insurance

Some benefits of getting supplemental cancer insurance include:

• Coverage for many types of expenses: Unlike health insurance payments, which go directly to your health care providers, supplemental cancer insurance payouts go directly to you (unless otherwise assigned). You can use these funds to help manage eligible medical costs, everyday bills or other expenses that arise during treatment and recovery.
• Affordable coverage that fits many budgets: The cost of cancer insurance can vary based on your age, location and desired benefits. Aflac offers many affordable options to suit a wide range of budgets.
• Extra financial support and peace of mind: Cancer treatment can affect many areas of your life beyond your health. Supplemental coverage can help reduce the financial stress of treatment while you focus on care and recovery.

Explore Aflac's breast cancer insurance

Thanks to modern medical advances, many patients recover from breast cancer and go on to live exceptional lives.⁸ If you ever receive a diagnosis, it helps to have a supplemental cancer insurance plan in place.

Aflac offers supplemental cancer insurance with affordable coverage options. Our plans may help cover your preventive screening mammograms, treatment expenses and continuing care costs. Chat with an Aflac agent today to learn more and get a quote.

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