Understanding a Cancer Diagnosis: Invasive Lobular Carcinoma
 

Posted December 29, 2006

ILC is characterized by a thickening of an area of the breast
Invasive Lobular Carcinoma is characterized by malignant cells that follow a line and invade the surrounding tissue.


Normal breast cells
Normal breast cells.

What is invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC)?

Invasive lobular carcinoma, also known as infiltrating lobular carcinoma, is a type of breast cancer that starts in a lobule and spreads to surrounding breast tissue. If not treated at an early stage, ILC also can move into other parts of the body, such as the uterus or ovaries. ILC is the second most common type of invasive breast cancer, accounting for 10 to 15 percent of all breast cancer cases.

Who is most likely to have ILC?

Women between the ages of 45 and 56 are most likely to have ILC. About 20 percent of women with breast cancer have a family history of the disease. Other factors increasing the risk of having breast cancer include having no children or the first child after age 30, early menstruation, and consuming three or more alcoholic drinks a day.

What characterizes ILC?

ILC is characterized by a general thickening of an area of the breast, usually the section above the nipple and toward the arm. You may not be able to feel a breast lump or hard mass. Instead, an area of breast tissue may only feel differently than the rest of your breast. ILC also is less likely to appear on a mammogram. When it does appear, it may show as a mass with fine spikes radiating from the edges or appear as an asymmetry compared to the other breast.

How does the pathologist make a diagnosis?

The pathologist examines a biopsy specimen along with other tests if necessary. A biopsy is the most widely used method for detecting ILC breast cancer. During a biopsy procedure, the surgeon removes cells or tissues from the suspicious area for the pathologist to examine more closely in the laboratory. In some cases, a biopsy may be performed with surgery. The surgeon removes all or part of the tumor for the pathologist to examine.

Laboratory testing enables the pathologist to determine the type of cancer and whether or not it is invasive. The pathologist examines the tissue sample under a microscope and assigns a histologic type and histologic tumor grade to it. Grade 1 cancers tend to grow the slowest, while Grade 3 tumors spread more aggressively. The pathologist also notes the size of the tumor, how close the cancer is to the edge of the tissue removed by the surgeon, and whether the tumor invaded blood or lymphatic vessels. These factors help pathologists determine the likelihood of the cancer remaining in or returning to the affected area.

What else does the pathologist look for?

The biopsy sample is tested for the presence of estrogen and progesterone receptors. Women with cancers containing these receptors are more likely to respond positively to hormone therapy. Pathologists also may check for a protein called HER2/neu. Cancers with too much of this protein may respond to targeted therapy with Herceptin. Invasive lobular cancers are almost always negative for HER2/neu. Due to continual advances in research, other tests may be used as well.

After reviewing the results of the laboratory tests, your clinician may recommend additional tests to determine to what extent malignant cells may have spread to other parts of the body. Depending on your situation, these tests may include a chest x-ray; a bone scan; and imaging tests including computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or PET (positron emission tomography). All these tests can detect signs that the cancer may have spread to other parts of the body.

With all necessary tests completed, pathologists determine the cancer’s stage. Stage 1 ILC tumors are confined to the breast, and Stage 4 ILC tumors have spread beyond areas near the breast. Stages 2 and 3 describe conditions between these two extremes.

How do doctors determine what surgery or treatment will be necessary?

The pathologist consults with your primary care physician after reviewing the test results and determining the stage of your cancer. Together, using their combined experience and knowledge, they determine treatment options most appropriate for your condition.

What kinds of treatments are available for ILC?

ILC is treated through one or more of the following: surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and radiation therapy. It’s important to learn as much as you can about your treatment options and to make the decision that’s right for you.

Most women choose surgery. Advancements in surgical techniques have enabled about 70 percent of women to choose breast-conserving surgical treatments like lumpectomy rather than mastectomy, where the entire breast and often some or all lymph nodes near the breast are removed. Mastectomy reduces the chances the cancer will return. Lumpectomy is an option when the cancer is in a relatively small part of one breast. How far your tumor has grown and advanced will determine if breast-conserving treatments are possible. If your breast cannot be conserved, breast reconstruction surgery may be a possibility after you recover from your initial operation to remove the cancer.

Most women with invasive breast cancer will be offered chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or both. These treatments deliver drugs or hormones throughout the body and reduce the risk of the cancer spreading further or coming back. Radiation therapy is used to rid the body of any microscopic remnants of the cancer in the area where the original tumor was found and removed.

Clinical trials of new treatments for ILC may be found at www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials. These treatments are highly experimental in nature but may be the best option for advanced cancers.

For more information, visit the American Cancer Society, Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization, or www.PeopleLivingWithCancer.org Web sites.

What kinds of questions should I ask my doctors?

Ask any question you want. There are no questions you should be reluctant to ask. Here are a few to consider:

  • Please describe the type of cancer I have and what treatment options are available.
  • What stage is the cancer?
  • What are the chances for full remission?
  • What treatment options do you recommend? Why do you believe these are the best treatments?
  • What are the pros and cons of these treatment options?
  • What are the side effects?
  • Should I receive a second opinion?
  • Is your medical team experienced in treating the type of cancer I have?
  • Can you provide me with information about the physicians and others on the medical team?

 

About These Resources About These Resources

This information was developed by the College of American Pathologists’ Public Affairs Committee, in conjunction with the College’s Cancer Committee and Council on Scientific Affairs. The College is providing this information to help you better understand your health. Ultimately any decisions you make about your health, however, should be between you and your doctor.

Definitions Definitions

Invasive, Infiltrating: Capable of spreading to other parts of the breast or body.

Lobular: Relating to the breast lobule, the part of the breast that produces milk in a woman who has been recently pregnant or who is breast feeding.

Carcinoma: A type of cancerous, or malignant, tumor.

Malignant: Cancerous and capable of spreading.

Pathologist: A physician who examines tissues and fluids to diagnose disease in order to assist in making treatment decisions.

Lymphatic: Relating to lymph glands, especially those located near the breast.