A Silent Threat Is Rising: The Breast Cancer Few Are Talking About
A lesser-known form of breast cancer is quietly increasing across the United States, and experts say it’s time we start paying serious attention. The condition, called invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) or lobular breast cancer, is becoming more common—yet many people have never even heard of it.
According to new estimates from the American Cancer Society (ACS), about 33,600 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with ILC this year alone. But here’s the part most people don’t realize: the rate of ILC is climbing faster than other types of breast cancer. From 2012 to 2021, ILC cases rose by roughly 2.8 percent each year, compared to just 0.8 percent for other breast cancer types.
Although lobular cancer makes up slightly more than 10 percent of all breast cancer diagnoses, the growing number of women affected means this disease cannot be overlooked. Angela Giaquinto, a lead researcher and associate scientist at the ACS, emphasized why this trend is worrisome: beyond the seven-year mark, survival rates for ILC drop more sharply than those for the more common invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Her message is clear—prevention, early detection, and awareness for this subtype must become top priorities if we want to improve outcomes.
Why It’s So Easily Missed
Here’s where things get tricky—and controversial. ILC often behaves very differently from typical ductal breast cancers. It begins in the milk-producing glands (lobules), not the ducts, and tends to spread in a more subtle, single-file pattern that can make it harder to detect on standard imaging tests like mammograms. As a result, it’s sometimes discovered later, when the disease has already progressed.
Adding to the problem, ILC is frequently grouped together with IDC in clinical studies. This may seem harmless, but combining data from two distinct cancer types can actually hide ILC’s unique biological behavior. As the ACS researchers put it, separating these cancers in research and trials could help uncover vital risk factors, improve treatment responses, and deepen scientific understanding of how lobular cancers spread throughout the body.
“ILC shows specific features that make detection more challenging, limit response to certain therapies, and lead to worse outcomes in advanced stages,” the study authors wrote. In other words, failing to treat ILC as its own entity could delay critical progress in how it’s managed.
Who’s Most Affected?
The report revealed another surprising trend: Asian American and Pacific Islander women are experiencing the fastest increase in ILC cases, with rates rising roughly 4.4 percent per year between 2012 and 2021. Meanwhile, White women continue to have the highest overall incidence, followed by Black women.
When looking at survival patterns, ILC shows a complicated picture. In the first seven years after diagnosis, women with lobular cancer generally have slightly better outcomes than those with ductal cancer—especially in localized cases. However, the 10-year data tell a different story. For regional or advanced (distant-stage) disease, ILC survival rates drop below those for IDC.
“Invasive lobular breast cancer has long been understudied,” explained Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director at the ACS and study co-author. “That’s partly because many patients do well in the short term. But ten years after diagnosis, women with metastatic ILC are only about half as likely to be alive as those with ductal cancer. The disease spreads differently, and it often resists standard treatments.”
Siegel added that this research highlights an urgent need for more data—ranging from genetic profiling to targeted clinical trials—to better understand and fight lobular cancers.
The Takeaway
Lobular breast cancer may not get the same attention as other forms, but it’s becoming increasingly common and poses unique challenges for diagnosis and treatment. The rising numbers show this is no longer an outlier—it’s a growing public health concern.
And here’s where it gets controversial: should oncologists and researchers start designing treatment protocols specifically for ILC, separate from other breast cancers? Or does combining all data under one umbrella still make sense for practical reasons?
What do you think—should lobular breast cancer research be given its own spotlight? Drop your thoughts and questions in the comments below. The conversation could lead to the next breakthrough in saving lives.
