Appointments & care

At Mayo Clinic, we take the time to listen, to find answers and to provide you the best care.

Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) is an uncommon condition in which abnormal cells form in the lobules or milk glands in the breast. LCIS isn't cancer. But being diagnosed with LCIS indicates that you have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

LCIS usually doesn't show up on mammograms. The condition is most often discovered as a result of a breast biopsy done for another reason, such as a suspicious breast lump or an abnormal mammogram.

Women with LCIS have an increased risk of developing invasive breast cancer in either breast. If you're diagnosed with LCIS, your doctor may recommend increased breast cancer screening and may ask you to consider treatments to reduce your risk of developing invasive breast cancer.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) doesn't cause signs or symptoms. Rather, your doctor might discover incidentally that you have LCIS — for instance, after a biopsy to assess a breast lump or an abnormal area, such as microcalcifications, found on a mammogram.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with your doctor if you notice a change in your breasts, such as a lump, an area of puckered or otherwise unusual skin, a thickened region under the skin, or nipple discharge.

Ask your doctor when you should consider breast cancer screening and how often it should be repeated. Most groups recommend routine breast cancer screening beginning in your 40s. Talk with your doctor about what's right for you.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

It's not clear what causes LCIS. LCIS begins when cells in a milk-producing gland (lobule) of a breast develop genetic mutations that cause the cells to appear abnormal. The abnormal cells remain in the lobule and don't extend into, or invade, nearby breast tissue.

LCIS isn't cancer and it doesn't develop into cancer. But having LCIS increases your risk of breast cancer and makes it more likely that you could develop invasive breast cancer.

The risk of breast cancer in women diagnosed with LCIS is thought to be approximately 20 percent. Put another way, for every 100 women diagnosed with LCIS, 20 will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 80 won't be diagnosed with breast cancer. The risk of developing breast cancer for women in general is thought to be 12 percent. Put another way, for every 100 women in the general population, 12 will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

Your individual risk of breast cancer is based on many factors. Talk to your doctor to better understand your personal risk of breast cancer.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Appointments & care

At Mayo Clinic, we take the time to listen, to find answers and to provide you the best care.

Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) may be present in one or both breasts, but it usually isn't visible on a mammogram. The condition is most often diagnosed as an incidental finding when you have a biopsy done to evaluate some other area of concern in your breast.

Types of breast biopsy that may be used include:

• Fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Your doctor directs a very fine needle into the breast. Next, your doctor uses a syringe attached to the needle to collect a sample of cells or fluid for examination.
• Core needle biopsy. A radiologist or surgeon uses a thin, hollow needle to remove several tiny tissue samples. Imaging techniques, such as mammography, ultrasound or MRI, are often used to help guide the needle used in a core needle biopsy.
• Surgical biopsy. A surgeon may perform an operation to remove a portion of the breast for examination.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

If you're worried about your risk of breast cancer, take steps to reduce your risk, such as:

• Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all. Limit your alcohol consumption to one drink a day, if you choose to drink.
• Exercise most days of the week. Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week. If you haven't been active lately, ask your doctor whether it's OK, and start slowly.

• Maintain a healthy weight. If your current weight is healthy, work to maintain that weight. If you need to lose weight, ask your doctor about healthy strategies to accomplish this.

  Reduce the number of calories you eat each day and slowly increase the amount of exercise. Aim to lose weight slowly — about 1 or 2 pounds (about .5 or 1.0 kilograms) a week.

Maintain a healthy weight. If your current weight is healthy, work to maintain that weight. If you need to lose weight, ask your doctor about healthy strategies to accomplish this.

Reduce the number of calories you eat each day and slowly increase the amount of exercise. Aim to lose weight slowly — about 1 or 2 pounds (about .5 or 1.0 kilograms) a week.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Although LCIS is not cancer, it can make you worry about your increased risk of a future breast cancer. Coping with your diagnosis means finding a long-term way to manage your fear and uncertainty.

These suggestions may help you cope with a diagnosis of LCIS:

• Learn enough about LCIS to make decisions about your care. Ask your doctor questions about your diagnosis and what it means for your breast cancer risk. Use this information to research your treatment options.

  Look to reputable sources of information, such as the National Cancer Institute, to find out more. This may make you feel more confident as you make choices about your care.

• Go to all of your screening appointments. You may experience some anxiety before your breast cancer screening exams. Don't let this anxiety keep you from going to all of your appointments. Instead, plan ahead and expect that you'll be anxious.

  To cope with your anxiety, spend time doing things you enjoy in the days before your appointment. Spend time with friends or family, or find quiet time for yourself.

• Control what you can about your health. Make healthy changes to your lifestyle, so you can feel your best. Choose a healthy diet that focuses on fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

  Try to be active for 30 minutes most days of the week. Get enough sleep each night so that you wake feeling rested. Find ways to cope with stress in your life.

Learn enough about LCIS to make decisions about your care. Ask your doctor questions about your diagnosis and what it means for your breast cancer risk. Use this information to research your treatment options.

Look to reputable sources of information, such as the National Cancer Institute, to find out more. This may make you feel more confident as you make choices about your care.

Go to all of your screening appointments. You may experience some anxiety before your breast cancer screening exams. Don't let this anxiety keep you from going to all of your appointments. Instead, plan ahead and expect that you'll be anxious.

To cope with your anxiety, spend time doing things you enjoy in the days before your appointment. Spend time with friends or family, or find quiet time for yourself.

Control what you can about your health. Make healthy changes to your lifestyle, so you can feel your best. Choose a healthy diet that focuses on fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Try to be active for 30 minutes most days of the week. Get enough sleep each night so that you wake feeling rested. Find ways to cope with stress in your life.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Your risk of LCIS may be increased if:

• You have a family history of breast cancer. If one or more close relatives have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you may have an increased risk of LCIS.
• You've taken hormone replacement therapy for menopause. Women who have used hormone replacement therapy for more than three to five years to help cope with menopausal signs and symptoms may have an increased risk of LCIS.
• You're a woman in your early 40s. Though LCIS is uncommon, it's most likely to be detected in women in their early 40s who haven't yet experienced menopause. However, LCIS is becoming more common in older women who have undergone menopause.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com