Details of Invasive Lobular Carcinoma

What is Invasive Lobular Carcinoma?

Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), sometimes called infiltrating lobular carcinoma, is the second most common type of breast cancer after invasive ductal carcinoma (cancer that begins in the milk-carrying ducts and spreads beyond it). Over time, invasive lobular carcinoma can spread to the lymph nodes and possibly to other areas of the body. Although invasive lobular carcinoma can affect women at any age, it is more common as grow older.

Symptoms of Invasive Lobular Carcinoma

Swelling of all or part of the breast
Skin irritation or dimpling
Breast pain
Nipple pain
Redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
Nipple discharge other than breast milk
Lump in the underarm area

Diagnosis of Invasive Lobular Carcinoma

Physical examination of the breasts
Mammography
Ultrasound
Breast MRI
Biopsy

Treatment of Invasive Lobular Carcinoma

Treatment options:

Surgery:

This might be removal of the cancer and a small portion of healthy tissue.
This might be removal of all of the breast tissue.
This might be removal of additional lymph nodes in the armpit if cancer is found in the sentinel node.

Radiation therapy: This is used to provide high-powered energy, such as X-rays and protons, to kill cancer cells.

Chemotherapy: This is used to provide drugs to kill cancer cells.

Hormonal therapy: This is generally used to treat cancers sensitive to hormones.

Targeted therapies: