Word On Lobular Breast Cancer

Our grateful thanks to Lobular Breast Cancer UK for their contribution to our radio report - which you can hear again at the bottom of this page - to link through to the charity find them on our Links Page     

Lobular breast cancer (ILC) is the second most common type of breast cancer after invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). It accounts for approximately 10–15% of all invasive breast cancers in the UK and worldwide. Around 4,000–6,000 women are diagnosed with ILC in the UK each year.

Who is at risk? It is most common in women over 55, with the average age of diagnosis around 60. Risk factors include:

• Long-term use of combined HRT
• Genetic mutations (e.g. CDH1, BRCA2)
• Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
• Lifetime oestrogen exposure (early periods, late menopause, no children, obesity)
• Family history of breast cancer

Although less common, men can also develop ILC.

Challenges of Diagnosing ILC

• Harder to detect via mammogram, especially in women with dense breast tissue.
• Grows in single-file lines or sheets so may not form a lump, leading to delayed diagnosis.
• Often diagnosed at a more advanced stage because it is is tricky to detect and symptoms are vague.
• Imaging like MRI and ultrasound is often more effective, but not always used early.
• ILC may be multifocal (multiple sites in the same breast) or bilateral (in both breasts).

Awareness in the UK: 

Public Awareness

• Most people have never heard of lobular breast cancer.
• Breast cancer awareness messaging often focuses on lumps, missing ILC’s subtle presentation.
• Many patients report feeling uninformed or misdiagnosed due to the lack of public knowledge.

GP and Clinical Awareness

• Surveys and advocacy reports (e.g. from Lobular Breast Cancer UK) show limited understanding among GPs and even some breast specialists.
• The term "lobular" is often not used when patients are given their diagnosis.
• Delayed referrals and underuse of MRI in diagnosis are ongoing issues.

Listen to this weeks radio report