A new report from the American Cancer Society (ACS) released on October 7th, “Special ACS Report: Lesser-Known Lobular Breast Cancer on the Rise in U.S. Women”  indicates that cases of invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) are rising faster than other breast cancer types in the United States. The findings, published in CANCER, the Society’s peer-reviewed journal, highlight the need for more research and awareness of ILC and recognize it as a distinct and often underrecognized type of breast cancer. The report has received broad attention across the media this month, including from CBS news who interviewed patients, researchers and LBCA Executive Director, Laurie Hutcheson. 

We are proud that ACS staff credit LBCA’s long-standing advocacy for an ILC report as the driving force behind its release this month

The report highlighted the many challenges in ILC diagnosis, research and treatment. It also noted some new data about increased incidence in ILC compared with incidences of other breast cancer types noting that the steepest rise is occurring among Asian American and Pacific Islander women.  ACS researchers emphasized what LBCA and the LBCA scientific advisory board and ILC researchers everywhere have been saying for years now that the biology of lobular breast cancer warrants a targeted research focus, more clinical trials and genomic studies that specifically include or stratify patients with ILC. They stated that “The rising incidence and unique behavior of lobular breast cancer highlight the need to study this disease as a separate entity,” and that “Better understanding of ILC could improve early detection, treatment decisions, and ultimately outcomes for thousands of women.”

We were so heartened that the ACS researchers share LBCA’s view of the urgent need for more ILC research and have joined our call to action for more ILC study to eradicate it!

To read the full report, visit: https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/cncr.70061