Breast Cancers are not all the same!
Invasive Lobular Breast Cancer is the 2nd most common type of Breast Cancer and it is 6th most common type of Cancer in women overall. It is not often spoken about openly and sometimes women do not understand just how different this type of Breast Cancer is. 15% of all Breast Cancers diagnosed every year are Lobular.
Lobular does not always present with a lump, it is often not Diagnosed until the Tumour is well established, women Diagnosed with ILC report Cancer Tumours of 10cm +, late Stage and often node positive, frequently missed on Mammograms.
Lobular Cancers are mostly ER+ (estrogen positive) and slow growing. Lobular Breast Cancer, Invasive Lobular Cancer, ILC, does not image well on Mammograms. This becomes even more difficult and is a serious concern for women with Dense Breasts. We already know that Breast Density is a Risk Factor for developing Breast Cancer and women with Dense Breasts, Category C or D require Ultrasound or MRI in addition to their Mammogram.
Lobular is known to recur (become metastatic) many years after a Primary Diagnosis and can show up in many organs, again different to Ductal Breast Cancer. This infographic from Jo Taylor https://www.abcdiagnosis.co.uk is a wonderful resource and shows the many sites of Lobular Metastases. https://www.abcdiagnosis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/ABCD-Lobular-Breast-Cancer-v8-20191121.pdf
Lobular Ireland LobularBreastCancerIRL – is a hard working, passionate Advocacy, determined to increase Awareness and Education around Lobular Breast Cancer. It’s in receipt of no funding whatsoever, all their considerable efforts are 100% voluntary.
http://www.lobularIreland.com was founded by Siobhán Freeney in 2018. In June 2015, 6 months prior to Diagnosis, Siobhán had been told her Mammogram was Clear. She noticed a slight nipple inversion, at the end of November 2015, went to her GP and insisted on having a Breast Ultrasound. She was diagnosed with Stage 3c Lobular Breast Cancer in December 2015. Her Tumour was 7cm at Diagnosis, it had spread to her Axillary nodes and Internal Mammary Lymph nodes and had almost doubled in size since her Clear Mammogram. In multiple earlier visits to her GP and Consultant Radiologists over previous years, she’d been told that the ‘thickening’ in her right breast was ‘nothing to worry about’ ‘probably benign cysts’. The Breast Surgeon who performed her Mastectomy told Siobhán that her Lobular Breast Cancer Tumour had been there for at least 6 but up to 8 YEARS.
Breast Cancer is now the most common Cancer in women. Lobular Ireland want to Educate women about Invasive Lobular Breast Cancer.
ILC – Lobular cells form a distinct, single-file pattern that is very different from the more common Ductal Breast Cancer cells, it presents less like the more common “lump.” ILC has differences in presentation and behavior. Symptoms can include hardening of the breast, swelling, changes in the appearance of the breast or nipple, skin changes, or breast pain.
Lobular Ireland are associated with Scientists and Researchers at the Royal College of Surgeons and University College Dublin. Siobhán is the Irish Patient Representative with the European Lobular Breast Cancer Consortium http://www.elbcc.org and works closely with several other European Lobular Advocates across Europe and The US promoting Awareness of #ILC and the need for more Research and Funding to create a greater understanding of this unique subtype of #BreastCancer. Here’s a link to the New Patient Leaflet produced by the ELBCC Scientists and Patient Advocates ⬇️ https://elbcc.org/Leaflet (soon to be available in many different European Languages)
Around 15 in every 100 breast cancers (around 15%) are Invasive Lobular Carcinoma. This type can develop in women of any age, but it is most common in women between 45 and 55 years old. Invasive Lobular Breast Cancer is sometimes found in more than one area within the breast (multi-focal). In that case, it might not be possible to remove just the area of the Cancer. Your doctor may then recommend removal of the whole breast (mastectomy). Breast cancer is very rare in men. It is also very unusual for a man to have an invasive lobular type of breast cancer.
We’d like to hear from people who have been Diagnosed with Lobular Breast Cancer. It doesn’t matter when you were Diagnosed, together we are stronger and more supportive for those coming behind us – #LivingWithLobular http://www.Lobularireland.com email:LobularIreland@gmail.com
Lobular Ireland on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/3232828196942677/ https://www.abcdiagnosis.co.uk/resources/infographics/ #BreastCancer #breastcancerawareness #LobularResearch
Lobular Ireland 