Olubukola Ayodele, Breast Cancer Lead at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“A new analysis published in The ASCO Post (October 2025) shows that invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), the second most common type of breast cancer is rising faster than any other subtype.
Read the report.
Here’s what the data tell us: Between 2012 and 2021, cases of ILC grew by 2.8% each year, compared with 0.8% for all other breast cancers combined.
In 2021, ILC made up about 10.6% of all breast cancer diagnoses, roughly 14 women per 100,000.
The increase was seen across all racial and ethnic groups, ranging from 2.5% per year in American Indian/Alaska Native women to 4.4% per year in Asian American/Pacific Islander women.
And while early survival rates can look slightly better than other breast cancers, outcomes worsen after seven years, especially in advanced disease.
Why this matters
ILC doesn’t always behave like other breast cancers.
- It grows in thin strands rather than forming a lump, making it harder to detect on mammograms.
- It often spreads in unusual patterns.
- It can respond differently to standard hormone and chemotherapy treatments.
Yet, it’s still frequently studied as if it were the same as ductal carcinoma. That means missed opportunities for early diagnosis, tailored therapy, and better long-term outcomes.
What we can all do
- Raise awareness. Share this post. Talk about ILC with friends, family, and colleagues.
- Ask informed questions. If you or a loved one is diagnosed, know that “breast cancer” isn’t one single disease. Ask about the type and how it influences treatment.
- Support subtype-specific research. We need studies, trials, and funding that recognise ILC’s unique biology.
- Push for equity in care. Racial and ethnic differences in rising rates remind us that awareness and access must reach every community.
- Encourage long-term follow-up. Because ILC’s risk of recurrence can emerge many years after treatment.
Every statistic represents a person: a mother, sister, friend, or patient who deserves the best chance at life.
This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, let’s widen the conversation beyond “lumps” and “pink.”
Let’s make sure no woman is left unseen.”
More posts featuring Olubukola Ayodele on OncoDaily.
