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Lobular Carcinoma In Situ (LCIS): What You Need to Know
By Raveena M Prakash
Being diagnosed with Lobular Carcinoma in Situ (LCIS) can be overwhelming to handle initially, because the diagnosis attached to carcinoma is commonly associated with cancer. LCIS is not an invasive breast cancer; instead, it's a condition that indicates an increased risk of developing breast cancer later in life.
In this article, we’ll discover more about lobular carcinoma in situ and how it is managed, what it means for your future health, and how someone can make more informed decisions regarding your breast health.
What is Lobular Carcinoma In Situ (LCIS)
Lobular Carcinoma in Situ (LCIS) is a rare breast condition in which abnormal cells develop in the lobules, the milk-producing glands of the breast. The phrase ‘in situ’ simply means ‘in its original place,’ indicating that these abnormal cells have not spread beyond the lobules into nearby breast tissues.
This rare condition does not behave like an invasive breast cancer. It does not form a lump, rarely causes any significant symptoms, and does not spread to the lymph nodes or other organs. For these reasons, many cancer specialists describe this condition as a marker of increased breast risk, rather than a true cancer diagnosis.
Is Lobular Carcinoma In Situ actually Cancer?
An LCIS case is not often considered as breast cancer, but it is sometimes classified as a non-obligate cancer marker. It simply means that it might increase the risk of developing breast cancer in high-risk groups, but it does not inevitably lead to breast cancer development.
Most women diagnosed with LCIS have an estimated 7-12 times higher risk of developing an invasive breast cancer when compared to the general population. In women, this risk applies to both breasts, not just the breast where LCIS was found.
Types of Lobular Carcinoma
Healthcare providers classify lobular carcinoma in situ into how the abnormal cells appear when viewed under a microscope.
These may include:
- Classic LCIS: This is the most common and less aggressive type of LCIS. These are usually managed with close monitoring rather than performing surgery.
- Pleomorphic LCIS: These types of lobular carcinoma contain more abnormal looking cells and might behave more aggressively. Doctors often recommend surgical excision in suspected cases.
- Florid LCIS: This often involves an extensive expansion of the lobules and carries a higher risk of associated invasive breast cancer.
Your pathology report will specify the subtype, which helps your medical team to determine the best treatment approach.
Signs and symptoms of LCIS
An LCIS condition usually causes no major symptoms. There is typically no pain, lump, nipple discharge, or skin change. Because in most cases, LCIS does not usually appear as a mass or calcification; these are often not visible on mammograms.
In most cases, these are discovered incidentally, during a breast biopsy often performed for an another reasons, including:
- An abnormal mammogram finding
- A breast lump later found to be benign
- Calcification or architectural distortion seen on imaging
This unexpected diagnosis leads to confusion in most women, making patient education especially important.
Diagnosis
In most cases, these conditions are often diagnosed with performing a breast biopsy, where tissue samples are examined under the microscope. If any women, if LCIS gets detected, your doctor might recommend to get these tests.
These may include:
- Additional imaging tests, such as breast MRIs, to rule out the invasive breast cancer
- Surgical excision, especially if the patients has pleomorphic or florid LCIS present in patients
- Review the pathology reports to confirm the cancer diagnosis and subtype
An accurate LCIS diagnosis might ensure that an invasive breast cancer is not missed and the management is accurate for its further treatments.
Treatment and management options
The Lobular carcinoma is not a cancer, but the treatment focuses majorly on reducing the breast cancer risk and detecting any changes early.
Regular screening and active surveillance: One of the most common treatment approaches for this condition is careful monitoring of the condition.
These may include:
- Performing clinical breast examination in every 6-12 months
- Performing annual mammograms
- Breast MRI for women at higher risk
Regular and close surveillance allows for early detection if cancer starts to develop, improving the treatment outcomes in patients.
Risk-reducing medications: While some women might choose to take hormonal risk-reduction therapy, which can significantly lower the chance of developing invasive breast cancer.
These medications may include:
- Tamoxifen (for pre and postmenopausal women)
- Raloxifene (for postmenopausal women)
- Aromatase inhibitors (in some selected postmenopausal patients)
The decision to use these medications mainly depends on the individual risk factors, side effects, and personal treatment preferences.
Preventive surgery: In some rare cases, women with high-risk characteristics, including a family history of breast cancer and genetic mutations, may consider bilateral prophylactic mastectomy.
These treatment options are not recommended for most women with LCIS. It should only be considered after thorough screening and counseling.
Lifestyle adjustments to reduce the risk of developing LCIS
If you are someone diagnosed with these conditions, you may need to adapt some lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of developing this condition. It may help to reduce the breast cancer risk.
These may include:
- Maintain a healthy body weight
- Practise gentle physical activities
- Limit or stop the consumption of alcohol
- Avoid smoking cigarettes and tobacco products
- Eat a balanced, nutritional-rich diet
- Attend regular breast cancer screening tests
While changing these lifestyle adjustments cannot surely prevent or eliminate the risk, they might contribute to the overall breast health.
Consult Today
Lobular Carcinoma in Situ is a rare condition often considered as a warning sign rather than a cancer condition. This is not breast cancer; this condition often develops when you have abnormal cells in your lobules, which are the glands in your breasts that produce milk. But unfortunately, this condition increases the risk of developing future breast cancer in suspected patients. Early diagnosis helps to provide an opportunity for proactive care, close monitoring, and risk-reducing strategies.
At Oncare, we offer premium-quality cancer treatment, including advanced cancer surgeries, at an affordable price range with an experienced cancer specialist consultation.
If you or any loved ones of yours are diagnosed with cancer, then visit Oncare Cancer Center and book an appointment with our experienced cancer specialist today! Get an estimated cost of your cancer treatments today!
Frequently Asked Questions
The major causes of LCIS include the inherited mutations in genes like BRCA1 and BRCA2. Additionally, some hormonal factors (estrogen factors) cause the periods to come early or late in women, never having children, and using a combination of estrogen and progesterone hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after menopause.
Lobular carcinoma in situ may develop in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or lobular breast cancer.
Here are some of the symptoms of lobular carcinoma, including thickening or hardening, fullness or swelling, skin changes, nipple changes, changes in size/shape, lumps, and pain.
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