Invasive Lobular Carcinoma, Breast Cancer with Potential to Spread

Invasive lobular carcinoma is a type of breast cancer that originated from the milk-producing glands (lobules) of the breast. Invasive lobular carcinoma is invasive cancer, meaning the cancer cells that have broken out of the lobules and has the potential to spread to other areas of the body. Invasive lobular carcinoma is a rare type of all breast cancers. The most common type of breast cancer starts in the breast ducts (ductal carcinoma).

Some breast cancer cells contain lobular and ductal cancer. Invasive lobular carcinoma usually do not form lumps, like most women on the assumption of breast cancer. In contrast, invasive lobular carcinoma is more commonly cause thickening of tissue or fullness in one part of the breast.

Causes

It is unclear what causes invasive lobular carcinoma. Doctors know that invasive lobular carcinoma begins when cells in one or more of the breast glands develop mutations in the DNA. The mutation causes the cells to divide and grow rapidly. Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body. Early marker of abnormal cells in the lobules is a condition known as lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS).

Although the term using the word carcinoma, LCIS is not cancer yet. Instead, LCIS is considered as an indicator of increased risk of breast cancer. At a certain point, abnormal cells can exit from the lobules and invade surrounding tissues, becoming invasive lobular carcinoma. The affected area may have a different taste from normal breast tissue, but it does not feel like a lump.

At this early stage, invasive lobular carcinoma can cause signs and symptoms. Invasive lobular carcinoma may cause signs and symptoms include:
1. An area of ​​thickening in the breast 2. A swelling in the breast area 3. A change in the texture or appearance of the skin over the breast, such as dimples or thickening

Treatment

Treatment options for invasive lobular carcinoma depends on the overall health and patient preferences. Treatment often consists of surgery and additional therapy (adjuvant). Some additional therapy for invasive lobular carcinoma, may include:

1. Chemotherapy
2. Radiation
3. Hormone therapy

Source: MayoClinic