Invasive Lobular Carcinoma

The treatment options for invasive lobular carcinoma include localized approaches such as surgery and radiation therapy that treat the tumour and the surrounding areas, as well as systemic treatments such as chemotherapy and hormonal or targeted therapies that travel throughout the body to destroy cancer cells. Invasive lobular carcinoma is a form of breast cancer, which originates in the milk-producing glands (known as lobules) of the breast. The term invasive means the cancer cells have broken out of the lobule where they developed and have spread to surrounding tissues, and have the potential of spreading to the lymph nodes and other areas of the body. Invasive lobular carcinoma stages Invasive lobular carcinoma stages are designed based on severity. 

• Stage 0: Also known as lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS); that is, a non-invasive breast cancer. At this stage, the cancer cells are still within the breast lobule and are yet to spread deeper into the surrounding fatty breast tissue or any distant sites.
• Stage 1: At this stage, the tumour has grown to 2cm or less across, but yet to spread to the lymph nodes or distant sites.
• Stage 2: At this stage, the tumour has spread to the lymph nodes but not yet to distant sites yet. 
• Stage 3: At this stage, the tumour has spread to the lymph nodes, chest wall and the skin, but not yet to distant sites. The size can very.
• Stage 4: At this stage, the growth may be any size and has spread to distant organs or lymph nodes far from the breast. 

Diagnosis of invasive lobular carcinoma Invasive lobular carcinoma can be diagnosed with the following techniques.

• Physical examination of the breasts and nearby lymph nodes: To check for thickening, hardening or swelling.
• Mammogram: To create X-ray pictures of the breast.
• Ultrasound: Sound waves generate images of the inside of the breast. The use of ultrasound may be a better option at finding invasive lobular carcinoma than a mammogram.
• Biopsy: The use of a needle to collect a sample of cells from the breast for laboratory findings. In certain cases, a larger sample or the entire tumour may be removed.
• CT scan: This is a powerful X-ray that generates detailed pictures of the inside of the body.
• PET scan: This is used to detect spread to the lymph nodes and other areas.
• MRI: This uses very powerful magnetic and radio waves to generate pictures of the breast and the things inside the body.
• Bone scan: This is to detect possible spread to the bones. A radioactive material, known as a tracer, is injected into the arm. It shows up on pictures and reveals whether or not cancer has spread to the bones.

Invasive lobular carcinoma treatment Invasive lobular carcinoma treatment options depend on its aggressiveness, the stage it is, and the overall health of the patient and his/her preferences. Treatment usually consists of surgery and an additional (adjuvant) therapy, which may include chemotherapy, radiation and hormone therapy. Surgery This is the surgical removal of the tumour. This is of two types, depending on the tumour size and extent of spread;

• Lumpectomy: For this type, the tumour is removed alongside some of the healthy tissue around it.
• Mastectomy: For this, all of the breast tissue is removed.

Chemotherapy  This involves the use of very strong drugs to destroy cancer cells. It may be given through an IV or taken as a take a pill by mouth. Radiation therapy  The use of high energy X-rays or other forms of radiation to kill cancer cells. The radiation may be given through a machine, or with the aid of a needle, wire, or tiny sealed seed. Hormone therapy  If hormones are thought to play a part in the cancer formation, the amount of the said hormone being produced are reduced and the ones already produced are rendered inactive. This can be carried using drugs or surgery.

Symptoms

• Thickening or hardening in the breast (as opposed to a distinct lump)
• An area of swelling or fullness.
• A change to the texture of skin on your breast or nipple, like dimples or an irritated, red or scaly area.
• Your nipple turns inward.
• Pain in your breast or nipple.

Causes

What causes invasive lobular carcinoma is not yet clear. However, what is known is invasive lobular carcinoma develops when cells in one or more milk-producing glands of the breast experience mutations in their DNA. These mutations lead to uncontrollable cell growth, which results in rapid division and growth of the cells. Depending on the aggressiveness, these cells can spread to other areas of the body.

• Doctors know that invasive lobular carcinoma begins when cells in one or more milk-producing glands of the breast develop mutations in their DNA.
• The mutations lead to the inability to control cell growth, which results in the cells dividing and growing rapidly

FAQ

How can I prevent invasive lobular carcinoma? 

To lower the risk of invasive lobular carcinoma, the following tips may be helpful.

• Quit the habit of smoking and drinking alcohol.
• Exercise regularly.
• Maintain a healthy weight

Are there any risk factors of invasive lobular carcinoma?

Factors that may increase the risk of invasive lobular carcinoma include;

• Being female: The chances of women developing breast cancer is much higher than men.
• Older age: The risk of breast cancer increases as with age.
• Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). 
• Postmenopausal hormone use. 
• Inherited genetic cancer syndromes; such as hereditary diffuse gastric cancer syndrome.

What is invasive lobular carcinoma survival rate?

This depends on the invasive lobular carcinoma stage. The general 5-year survival rates are;

• Stage 0 or 1: nearly 100%.
• Stage 2: 93%.
• Stage 3: 72%.
• Stage 4: approximately 22%.

What is invasive lobular carcinoma prognosis?

Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of invasive lobular carcinoma ensure a very great outlook. 

As with other forms of cancer, early stages of invasive lobular carcinoma are expected to be treated more easily with less complications. This normally, though not always, leads to a complete recovery and low rates of recurrence.

What is the difference between an invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) and a lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)?

In lobular carcinoma in situ, the cancer is still contained in the milk glands. For invasive lobular carcinoma, the cancer invades the surrounding tissue.