An American Cancer Society report released today says an estimated 33,600 women will be diagnosed with lobular breast cancer this year. Advertisement

Despite the prevalence of this subtype of breast cancer, researchers say it remains understudied.

Lobular breast cancer, a lesser-known type of breast cancer, develops in a patient's milk-producing glands — and cases of lobular breast cancer are on the rise in the U.S.

"Most people aren't familiar with this subtype, and I think it's because the short-term prognosis is very good,” says Rebecca Seigal with the American Cancer Society, senior author for the report.

But she says if there's a delay in the detection of this type of breast cancer, the long-term prognosis for advanced disease is not good.

“We need to distinguish this cancer in

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