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What is Lobular carcinoma?
Lobular carcinoma is found in the milk-producing glands of the breast. It is far less common than ductal carcinoma, but it can present itself in both breasts more often than other types of breast cancer. Lobular carcinoma can be either in situ or invasive breast cancer.
Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast.
The breast is made up of lobes and ducts. Each breast has 15 to 20 sections called lobes, which have many smaller sections called lobules. Lobules end in dozens of tiny bulbs that can produce milk. The lobes, lobules, and bulbs are linked by thin tubes called ducts.
Cancer that begins in the lobes or lobules is called lobular carcinoma and is more often found in both breasts than are other types of breast cancer. The most common type of breast cancer is ductal carcinoma, which begins in the cells of the ducts. Inflammatory breast cancer is an uncommon type of breast cancer in which the breast is warm, red, and swollen.
Types of Lobular carcinoma:
There are two types of Lobular carcinomas, it can be:
Lobular Carcinoma In Situ (LCIS)
Technically, lobular carcinoma in situ is not even a cancer. Sometimes called lobular neoplasia [LOB-u-lar nee-o-play-zee-uh], it is classified as pre-cancerous growth that begins in the milk-producing glands. Lobular carcinoma in situ does not penetrate through the wall of the lobules, and most researchers believe it does not usually become an invasive breast cancer. However, women who develop lobular carcinoma in situ have a higher future risk of developing invasive breast cancer in the same or opposite breast. If you have been treated for an lobular carcinoma in situ, you will want to have a physical exam two or three times a year, in addition to an annual mammogram.
Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC)
Similar to invasive ductal carcinoma, invasive lobular carcinoma has the potential to metastasize and spread to other parts of the body. It begins in the milk-producing glands, where it extends into the fatty tissue of the breast. About 10% to 15% of breast cancers are invasive lobular carcinomas. Invasive lobular carcinoma also can be more difficult to detect by mammogram than LCIS, making it important to have mammograms annually.
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