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lobular breast cancer
Lobular carcinoma is an invasive form or breast cancer. It begins in the milk producing glands called lobules and then spreads to other tissues. Approximately 20,000 women are diagnosed with this form or breast cancer in the United States every year. This type of breast cancer comprises about 15 to 20 percent of all breast cancers.
In comparison to other more common forms of invasive breast cancer lobular carcinoma is not as likely to be discovered in a mammogram. When it is discovered it does tend to be larger in diagnoses. However, in contrast to invasive inductal carcinoma the outlook is generally more favorable.
This cancer starts when the cells in one or more milk glands start to have abnormal growth. The cells start dividing faster than regular ones. If these cells stay in the lobule it creates a condition known as lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). It is considered an indicator of the increased risk of breast cancer. If the cells spread from the lobule to other cells then it becomes invasive lobular carcinoma.
Approximately half the lobular breast cancers involve mutations in a gene know as E-cadhern or (CDH1). This gene controls the protein activity that prevents tumor cells from invading normal tissue and spreading to others. Some scientists feel that by turning of the E-cadhern it helps to allow for ILC to develop. In some cases once lobular carcinoma is diagnosed the pathologist may order an E-cadhern study to decide if the condition is ILC or LCIS.
Unlike some kinds of breast cancer invasive lobular carcinoma will not be detected by the presence of a lump. It may simply be a thickened area in the breast. Because of the nature for how lobular carcinoma spreads it tends to affect other areas in the way it changes the normal texture of breast tissue. This results in it not being one noticeable mass.
Thus invasive lobular carcinoma can become a rather large size. This would be about 2 centimeters to 5 centimeters or possibly bigger before any symptoms are notices. Such symptoms could involve a thickening in part of the breast, a new area of fullness or swelling in the breast, a change in the texture or appearance of the breast skin or an inward-turning nipple.
A woman by just being a female provides the greatest risk factor or any kind of breast cancer. However, woman with LCIS and abnormal cells in the breast face a great risk of it becoming ILC. Women who end up being diagnosed with ILC are generally older than those with invasive ductal carncinoma. For a first diagnoses of ILC the average age is generally in the early 60s.
Women who are using female hormones estrogen and progesterone during and after menopause have often shown an increase risk of ILC. It is believed that the hormones may stimulate the risk of tumors. In addition, women with a rare inherited condition known as hereditary gastric cancer syndrome have shown to have an increase risk of both stomach and lobular cancer.
The traditional methods for treating ILC consist of surgery and “adjuvant” therapy. That can involve chemotherapy, radiation and hormone therapy. At the time of surgery they will also be evaluate the lymph nodes under the arm. Those are the ones where the drainage from breast tumors occurs. If it is determined that there is cancer in the lymph nodes the surgeon will discuss the possible removing of them.
In about 20 percent ILC spreads to both breasts. But it is slow to spread to outside the breast. Normally it most often will spread to the gastro tract or ovaries.
Survival of breast cancer has been increasing for some time. If ILC is discovered early enough the outlook is even better. Women with invasive lobular carcinoma may survive at least ten years and often much longer.