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Symptoms

By Mayo Clinic staff

Living with cancer newsletter

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At its earliest stages, invasive lobular carcinoma may cause no signs and symptoms. As it grows larger, invasive lobular carcinoma may cause:

  • An area of thickening in part of the breast
  • A new area of fullness or swelling in the breast
  • A change in the texture or appearance of the skin over the breast, such as dimpling or thickening

Invasive lobular carcinoma is less likely than other forms of breast cancer to cause a firm breast lump.

When to see a doctor
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any signs or symptoms that worry you.

Ask your doctor when to begin screening tests for breast cancer. Routine screening tests may include a physical exam and breast X-rays (mammograms). Various organizations differ on their screening recommendations, but many suggest women with an average risk of breast cancer consider beginning yearly mammograms in their 40s. If you have a family history of breast cancer or other factors that increase your risk of breast cancer, your doctor may recommend beginning mammograms or other tests at an earlier age.

References
  1. Hanby AM, et al. In situ and invasive lobular neoplasia of the breast. Histopathology. 2008;52:58.
  2. Katz A, et al. Primary systemic chemotherapy of invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast. Lancet Oncology. 2007;8:55.
  3. Abeloff MD, et al. Cancer of the breast. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2008:1875.
  4. Breast cancer. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/breast.pdf. Accessed Jan. 20, 2010.
  5. Biglia N, et al. Increased incidence of lobular breast cancer in women treated with hormone replacement therapy: Implications for diagnosis, surgical and medical treatment. Endocrine-Related Cancer. 2007;14:549.
  6. Pestalozzi BC. Portrait of invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast. European Journal of Cancer. 2009;45(suppl):450.
  7. Eheman CR, et al. The changing incidence of in situ and invasive ductal and lobular breast carcinomas: United States, 1999-2004. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. 2009;18:1763.
  8. Mann RM, et al. MRI compared to conventional diagnostic work-up in the detection and evaluation of invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast: A review of the existing literature. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. 2008;107:1.
  9. Schrader KA, et al. Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer: Association with lobular breast cancer. Familial Cancer. 2008;7:73.
  10. Breast cancer treatment (PDQ): Health professional version. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/breast/healthprofessional/allpages/print. Accessed Feb. 16, 2010.
  11. Breast cancer prevention (PDQ): Health professional version. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/breast/healthprofessional/allpages/print. Accessed Feb. 16, 2010.
  12. Avis NE. Breast cancer survivors and hot flashes: The search for nonhormonal treatments. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2008;26:5008.
  13. Polednak A. Bilateral synchronous breast cancer: A population-based study of characteristics, method of detection, and survival. Surgery. 2003;133:383.
  14. Goldflam K, et al. Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy: Predictors of significant histologic findings. Cancer. 2004;101:1977.
  15. Pruthi S (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 9, 2010.
DS01063 Dec. 7, 2011

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