Carcinoma is the abnormal growth that develops in the skin or tissues that protect the internal organs of the body. The lobular carcinoma is the abnormal cell growth that begins in the lobules which are the milk-producing glands of the breasts. The lobular carcinoma in situ refers to cancer-like cells that develop in the milk-producing glands and the invasive lobular carcinoma refers to the cancer that has spread beyond the lobules.
Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
This is an uncommon growth of the lobules but poses an increased risk of developing into invasive cancer. Lobular carcinoma in situ is also known as lobular neoplasia. Women diagnosed with LCIS may have more than one lobules of the breast affected. LCIS usually presents no symptoms and is detected when a biopsy is done to determine the cause of another condition such as the puckered area or the abnormal skin of the breast. However, it is important to visit the physician particularly when any unusual changes of the breast occur such as nipple discharge or the presence of a lump. The exact cause of this carcinoma is not known but is associated with the genetic mutation that causes the abnormal cellular growth of the lobules. Being diagnosed with LCIS doesn’t indicate that the woman has cancer and may also not develop cancer, but has the potential for invasive cancer. Some of the risk factors associated with LCIS include the family history of breast cancer, hormone replacement therapy and being over the age of 40. The treatment of LCIS consist of monitoring the carcinoma, chemoprevention involves taking medication to reduce the risk of developing invasive cancer and the surgical removal of the affected area of the breast.
Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC)
Invasive lobular carcinoma is cancer that has spread beyond the nodules of the breast and has the potential to affect other parts of the body. This is also known as infiltrating carcinoma and is the second most commonly occurring breast cancer affecting women usually over the age of 50. It is estimated that more than 180,000 women in the United States are annually diagnosed with the ILC. Initially, ILC does not present any symptoms and may be detected during the screening mammogram. Any unusual changes in the breast can be an indication of breast cancer and can include nipple pain, breast pain, swelling of the breast, redness of the nipple, presence of a lump in the underarm, skin irritation and unusual nipple discharge. The exact cause of ILC is not known and is associated with the genetic mutation that results in the abnormal cellular growth of one or more of the milk-producing glands. ILC may be diagnosed involving various procedures that can consist of a physical examination that determines the presence of the hardening or the thickening in the breast, a mammography, ultrasound, breast MRI to evaluate the suspicious areas of the breast and a biopsy to examine the abnormal tissue sample under the microscope. The treatment can involve a surgery to remove the cancerous tissues, removal of all the breast tissue (mastectomy), a chemotherapy that uses medications to destroy the cancer cells which can be used in combination with the surgery, radiation therapy and hormone therapy if the cancer cells are sensitive to hormones.
References
http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/types/lcis/symptoms_diagnosis
http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/types/ilc/tests
