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Main page Breast cancer Book marks Links More info Breast cancer-LCISLobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) is not a true cancer, but its presence means that there is anl increase in the risk of developing breast cancer later in life. According to the National Cancer Institute, a woman with LCIS has a 25% chance of developing some form of invasive cancer ( lobular, or ductal ) within her lifetime and this may occur in the same breast as LCIS or on the opposite breast. Literally in situ means "in place," and it means the cancer has not spread. It is important to understand that Lobular Carcinoma in Situ (LCIS) is not cancer. It begins in the milk-producing glands but does not penetrate through the wall of the lobules. The number of women diagnosed with LCIS has increased in recent years, most likely due to regular breast cancer screening and advances in mammography techniques. In general, the term "in situ " is used to indicate that abnormal cancer cells are present but have not spread past the boundaries of tissues where they initially developed. It is a benign condition, even though the name "carcinoma" usually refers to a cancer and is a misnomer and has recently been renamed as lobular neoplasia. Most breast cancer specialists think that LCIS itself does not usually become an invasive cancer, but women with this condition do have a higher risk of developing an invasive breast cancer in the same breast or in the opposite breast. Each breast contains hundreds of tiny lobules where milk is produced before and after childbirth. Often, LCIS is encountered incidently while a pathologist is examining tissue from a breast biopsy that was performed for some other problem. LCIS refers to a sharp increase in the number, appearance, and abnormal behavior of cells contained in the milk-producing lobules of the breast and is usually patchy throughout the breast. Many times it is present in both breasts. LCIS is a "marker of future breast cancer. LCIS does not form a lump or show up on a mammogram and is most commonly found by chance in a sample of breast tissue removed as mentioned above. Since LCIS is not a cancer, it does not need any further active treatment, but the woman have to be monitored closely for the future development of breast cancer. Ovarian cancer |