Lobular Breast Cancer is a distinct type of breast cancer that has different characteristics and growth from the more common Ductal Breast Cancer, or cancer of No Specific Type (NST).

Lobular makes up about 15% of all breast cancers, and is the second most common form of breast cancer.

Unlike Ductal Breast Cancer, Lobular Breast Cancer or Invasive Lobular Cancer (ILC) grows in a line or as single cells and rarely forms a lump.

About 22 people in the UK are diagnosed with Lobular Breast Cancer each day in the UK. You may hear Lobular referred to as a “rare” form of breast cancer but it is more common than skin cancer, ovarian, kidney, brain, liver or pancreatic cancer. It makes up about 15% of all breast cancers diagnosed.

Lobular often grows in a single-file pattern through the breast tissue without always forming a lump. This is due to the loss of a protein called E-cadherin that enables cells to clump together into a lump.

By growing in straight lines, or as single cells, it make Lobular much harder to see on imaging, especially mammograms.

There are different types of Lobular Breast Cancer and you may hear yours described as pleomorphic, mixed or tubule-lobular, for example. There is no current research that identifies clear methods of treating Lobular and it sub-types.

You may be told that you have Lobular hyperplasia or Lobular Carcinoma in situ (LCIS). These are not cancer but changes in your breast cells that indicate a possible higher risk of you developing breast cancer in the future. It does not mean that you will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Possible treatment options will be discussed with you by your medical team.