Invasive Lobular Carcinoma – A Silent Threat

Finding out you have breast cancer is terrifying, but there are different types, and each has its own features. The second most common type is invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), which is also called lobular breast cancer. It makes up about 10–15 percent of all breast cancers.

ILC is sometimes hard to spot, which is why it is called “the silent killer.” Its cousin, invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), is more common. Understanding ILC and finding it early is very important for a good result.

Experts at Intermountain Medical Imaging are committed to using the newest diagnostic imaging tools to help find ILC and other types of breast cancer as soon as they appear. So, schedule an appointment today.

What is Invasive Lobular Carcinoma?

Think of your breast as a network of lobules, which are small milk-producing sacs. ILC starts when cells in these lobules become damaged and start to grow too quickly. This kind of unchecked growth is what cancer is.

ILC cells, on the other hand, tend to spread out in a single-file line, which makes them hard to see on mammograms, which are the most common way to check for breast cancer.

By the time the growth is found, it may have grown bigger because of this trend of spreading. A lump may show up in some women with ILC, but it is not always the first sign. This makes it even more important to be alert and watch out for other possible signs.

The signs and symptoms of ILC.

ILC does not always show up with a lump like IDC does. Keep an eye out for these signs:

• Thickening of the breast tissue: This may feel like a hard spot in the breast, but it may not be a clear lump.
• Shape change: One breast may look a little different from the other in terms of size or shape.
• Skin that is dimpled or puckered: The skin on the breast may look like it has dimples or puckers, like an orange peel.
• Nipple changes: The nipple can flip over or pull inward.
• Nipple discharge: If there is a leak from the nipple, especially if it is bloody, it could be a sign of ILC.

Please keep in mind that these signs may also be signs of other health problems. But if you have any of these symptoms, it is important to get a mammogram and talk to your doctor about your worries.

Why does early detection matter?

Finding any kind of cancer early is very important, and ILC is no different. ILC is very easy to treat if it is found early. ILC can be treated in the same ways that IDC can be treated: surgery, radiation treatment, and sometimes hormone therapy.

The faster cancer is found, the more treatment choices there are and the more likely it is that the treatment will work. Also, early discovery often means treatments that are less invasive and have faster healing times.

Who is at risk for ILC?

Even though no one knows for sure what causes ILC, the following things can make you more likely to get it:

• Family history: Your chance goes up if a close cousin (mother, sister, daughter, etc.) has breast cancer.
• Age: The chance of getting ILC goes up with age.
• Dense breast tissue: On scans, ILC can be harder to see if you have dense breast tissue.
• Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): ILC risk may go up if you use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for a long time.

Talking to your doctor about your personal risk factors can help you figure out when you should get screened.

Regular screening is very important. 

Several tests, such as mammograms, breast ultrasounds, and breast MRIs, are often used together to find ILC. Knowing the signs of ILC and finding it early is very important for a good result, which encourages responsible breast health.