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Hard-to-Detect Breast Cancer Is Rising Faster Than Other Types, New U.S. Study Finds

Its growth pattern can elude routine mammograms, raising calls for supplemental imaging in some higher-risk patients.

Since invasive lobular carcinoma is harder to detect by mammography alone, knowing what's normal for your breasts is important for early detection.

Overview

  • An analysis published in Cancer found invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) rates rose about 2.8% annually from 2012 to 2021, compared with about 0.8% for other breast cancers.
  • ILC now represents more than 1 in 10 U.S. breast cancers; CNN cites a National Cancer Institute estimate of roughly 47,500 cases a year, while a local report quoted an American Cancer Society figure of about 33,600.
  • The steepest increases were among Asian American and Pacific Islander women at roughly 4.4% per year, with diagnoses concentrated in older adults, including a median age of 66.
  • Because ILC spreads in thin strands that can resemble normal tissue, mammograms may miss it; clinicians may recommend ultrasound or MRI for women with dense breasts, strong family history or known genetic risk.
  • Treatment typically mirrors other breast cancers, but advanced ILC can be more treatment-resistant and carries a poorer prognosis once it has spread.