What is invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC)?
Invasive lobular carcinoma is the second most common type of breast cancer, accounting for about 10 percent of invasive breast cancers. It starts in the lobules (milk-producing glands) of the breast and then spreads beyond these cells into surrounding breast tissue.
The term Show Full Answer
What is invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC)?
Invasive lobular carcinoma is the second most common type of breast cancer, accounting for about 10 percent of invasive breast cancers. It starts in the lobules (milk-producing glands) of the breast and then spreads beyond these cells into surrounding breast tissue.
The term "invasive" means the cancer cells are growing beyond their original location. "Lobular" refers to where it starts, and "carcinoma" means it forms in epithelial cells that line the body's organs.
How is ILC different from other breast cancers?
ILC behaves differently than invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), the most common type. ILC tends to spread to different areas including the ovaries, uterus, stomach, small intestine, and colon. It also has a higher risk of spreading to the other breast compared to IDC.
People with ILC are less likely to have a noticeable lump, which can make it harder to detect early through mammograms or physical exams. Hormone receptor status
Most ILC tumors are hormone receptor-positive:
- 95% are ER-positive (estrogen receptor)
- 70% are PR-positive (progesterone receptor)
- 60% have both ER and PR receptors
ILC is rarely HER2-positive. If your ILC is hormone receptor-positive, your oncologist may recommend hormonal treatments like Tamoxifen.
Prognosis
The outlook for ILC largely depends on the stage at diagnosis. Breast cancer stages range from 0 to 4, with earlier stages having better outcomes. Your pathology report will show important details about your cancer cells, including receptor status, stage, and grade, which help guide treatment decisions.
Talk with your oncology team about your specific situation and which treatment options will work best for you.
January 17
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