Lobular Carcinoma In Situ

All women dread the diagnosis of cancer, particularly breast cancer. A diagnosis is not, however, a death sentence. To face breast cancer, it is best to understand the disease and its treatment. For those who have not received a diagnosis but who may be at risk, understanding prevention and risk factors is important.

Breast Cancer is Broken Down Into Two Types
Most cases of breast cancer fall into one of two main categories: ductal and lobular carcinoma. Ductal carcinoma is the most commonly diagnosed and occurs when a tumor forms in the ducts that channel milk from the breast to the nipple. Lobular carcinoma is when a tumor forms in the lobules of the breast, which is where milk is produced. Each of these types may be either in situ or invasive. Invasive breast cancer is when the malignant cells have moved from the point of origin to other parts of the breast. In situ cancer is cancer that has not invaded other parts of the breast.

Lobular Carcinoma In Situ (Often Referred to as LCIS)
The good news about getting a diagnosis of LCIS is that it isn’t really considered to be cancer. When abnormal cells are detected in the breast lobules, the patient has a greater likelihood of developing breast cancer at some point. An LCIS diagnosis offers an opportunity to prevent breast cancer.

LCIS cannot be detected in a mammogram. The only way to find it is to see the abnormal cells under a microscope. For this reason, it is usually detected and diagnosed when doing a biopsy for some other purpose, such as a lump in the breast.

Risk Factors
Several risk factors for LCIS and other types of breast cancer are out of a woman’s control. The odds of getting breast cancer, for example, increase with age. Family history is another factor. Approximately 20 to 30 per cent of women with breast cancer have a family history of the disease. Recent genetic research has found two genes, which when defective are likely to cause breast cancer. The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, when functioning properly produce proteins that protect against cancer. Women with defects in these genes have an 80 per cent chance of developing breast cancer at some point. Having the first menstrual cycle before age 12 is another risk factor.

Risk factors that women can control include drinking more than one or two alcoholic beverages per day, not giving birth or doing so only after 30, hormone replacement therapy, obesity, and the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES). Women took DES in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s to prevent miscarriages. There are several misconceptions about risk factors as well. Antiperspirants, underwire bras, and breast implants have not been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer.