ALH

[MayBetty]

How concerned should a person be when they are told that they have Atypical Lobular hyperplasia in one breast?  Is that common?  Any info would help.  Thanks.

[jlady]

I have ADH in both breasts. From what I understand, it's similiar to ALH but confined to the ducts. My doctor told me it's a marker that puts you at an increased risk of developing breast cancer but it is not cancer or even a pre-cancer. You also have to factor in several other factors to determine whether or not you're at high risk or just elevated risk of developing full blown invasive breast cancer.

[Merryl]

I was not under the impression from my Dr that I was at high risk.

[CCF-RN,MSN-rf]

Dear maybetty:  The relative risk of developing invasive cancer after atypical lobular hyperplasia is 4-5%.  In order to translate relative risk, we site the following study by DL Page and WD Dupont: Premalignant conditions and markers of elevated risk in the breast and their management. Surg Clin N Amer 1990;70:831-851.
  
During a 15-year follow-up period, 20% of women who have atypical hyperplasia and a family history of breast cancer developed breast cancer, as compared to 8% for those with atypical hyperplasia and without family history. The comparable rates are 2% for women without non-proliferative (hyperplasia) change and 4% with proliferative change (hyperplasia) without atypia.

[MayBetty]

Thanks for the info. Where would I find a copy of the study you mentioned.

[Merryl]

I was told I had atypical ductal hyperplasia.  I do not know if that is the same, but my Dr wants to take it out.  She says that she cannot tell from the pathology report if the cells are simply normal for my breast, pre cancerous, near cancer, or will become pre cancerous.

[MayBetty]

I was told that I am a high risk of developing cancer.