Global Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day, observed annually on Oct. 15, brings renewed attention to invasive lobular carcinoma, or ILC, a common but often overlooked form of breast cancer.
Accounting for about 15 percent of all breast cancer diagnoses, invasive lobular carcinoma receives less than 1 percent of research funding. Because it tends to grow in thin, single-file patterns rather than forming a distinct lump, it can go undetected on mammograms, especially in women with dense breast tissue.
At UT Health San Antonio’s Mays Cancer Center, experts are advancing research to better understand this disease.
“ILC behaves differently, responds differently to treatment and presents its own diagnostic challenges,” said Virginia Kaklamani, MD, who leads the breast cancer program at UT Health San Antonio. “Increasing awareness of these differences is essential to improving detection and outcomes.”
Mays Cancer Center is hosting a Grand Rounds Oct. 15 to spotlight new approaches to diagnosis and treatment. The event includes guest lecturer Jason Mouabbi, MD, assistant professor of breast oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center, on “Recognizing and Redefining the Unique Path of Invasive Lobular Carcinoma.”
The event also honors the memory and legacy of Deborah “Deb” Mueller, MD, a respected trauma surgeon and critical care physician at UT Health San Antonio who died in 2023 after her own experience with ILC. Following her diagnosis, Mueller became a dedicated advocate for increasing awareness, advancing research and improving support for people affected by lobular breast cancer.
“Debbie was a source of inspiration for all of us,” Kaklamani said. “Her passion for improving awareness and care for patients with lobular breast cancer lives on in the work we do every day.”
Building awareness and understanding
Global Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day brings together advocates, researchers and clinicians from around the world to focus on early detection, patient education and advancing research.
More than 20 events are being held in countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, as well as in several U.S. states, including Texas, where the day is formally recognized by a state proclamation.
While mammography remains an important tool for early breast cancer detection, Kaklamani urges those with dense breast tissue to talk with their care team about the screening approach that’s right for them. In some cases, additional imaging such as ultrasound or MRI may be recommended, she added.
Raising awareness about ILC and the Global Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day helps drive progress toward earlier detection, more targeted treatments and better outcomes for those diagnosed with this disease, said Kaklamani.