Breast angiosarcoma

My mother has a rare type of breast cancer called angiosarcoma. I can't find any information about this. Can you help?

Angiosarcomas are cancers that start in the cells that make up the walls of blood or lymphatic vessels. There are 2 main types. Haemangiosarcomas start in blood vessel walls and lymphangiosarcomas start in lymph vessel walls.

Breast angiosarcomas are very rare and it is difficult to find much information about them. Medical journals and textbooks contain very few reports of primary breast angiosarcomas. Most reported cases are in younger women. They are more likely in women who have already had treatment for breast cancer with surgery and radiotherapy.

The symptoms are similar to other types of breast cancer, such as a painless lump. But angiosarcomas often show changes in skin colour around the lump. They tend to grow very quickly and are generally difficult to successfully treat.

Angiosarcomas of the breast can be difficult to diagnose. And because they are so rare, there is no established standard treatment. Removal of the breast (mastectomy) and chemotherapy are the most likely choices of treatment.

There is information about rare types of breast cancer in the breast cancer section.