An increasingly more common form of breast cancer

According to a new report from the American Cancer Society (ACS), invasive lobular carcinoma, the second most common breast cancer type, is increasing about 3% each year — more than triple the rate of other breast cancers. The report, published in October, found that while about 80% of breast cancers are the invasive ductal type, the lobular cases — once rare — have doubled since the 1970s.

Rebecca Siegel, a scientific director of surveillance research at ACS and coauthor on the report, said that lobular breast cancer has long been overshadowed by other breast cancers because of its early survival rates.

"[I]f you look at five-year survival, actually women with lobular breast cancer do better than ductal breast cancer," Siegel said. "I think that's probably why it hasn't gotten a lot of attention."

However, she added that the long-term outlook is poorer. "For metastatic disease, women with lobular breast cancer are about half as likely to be alive at 10 years," Siegel said.

The report noted that lobular cancers are rising even faster for women under 50, at more than twice the rate of other breast cancers. The disease is most common in white women, with about 14 cases per 100,000 — which is 33% to 55% higher than in other racial and ethnic groups — but the fastest rise, at nearly 4.5% a year, has been seen among Asian American and Pacific Islander women.

"We will use a variety of diagnostic tools for most patients but, for lobular cancer, that arsenal will include not only mammograms but also ultrasound, contrast-enhanced mammograms, and MRIs," Mamtani said. With proper screening, lobular cancer can often be caught in its early stages.

Overall, breast cancer deaths have dropped 44% since 1989, but the disease still affects one in eight women and remains a leading cause of cancer death, the ACS report noted. For all breast cancer types, regular mammograms remain the best way to catch disease early.

For women at average risk, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening every two years from ages 40 to 74, while those at higher risk should discuss earlier or more frequent screening with their doctor.

Nearly half of uninsured women skip breast cancer screenings because of cost concerns, the report added, though free or low-cost programs are available through CDC, the National Breast Cancer Foundation, the American Breast Cancer Foundation, and local providers.

Experts also emphasize maintaining a healthy weight, staying active, limiting alcohol, and talking with a healthcare provider about personal risk factors.