Press Room

Lobular Breast Cancer Represents 15% of Diagnoses, Receives Less Than 1% of Research Funding

(BOSTON—10/15/2026) The Massachusetts Senate took action today to help promote awareness of lobular breast cancer, the second most common form of breast cancer, during its session at the State House.

The Senate unanimously passed legislation to permanently declare October 15th every year as Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day.  More than 48,000 women are diagnosed each year with the disease, which makes up 15 per cent of breast cancer diagnoses annually.

Lobular breast cancer, or invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), is often not discovered until a later stage as it does not always form a lump and is difficult to detect on a mammogram, according to the Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance (LBCA).

“The Massachusetts Senate is committed to advancing policies that improve the health and well-being of women and families,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Establishing Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day is an important step toward educating the public about a disease that often goes undetected. Through awareness, advocacy, and research, we can help save lives and strengthen the care available to patients throughout our Commonwealth. I am so grateful to Senator Rausch for her leadership of this bill, Senator Lovely for her efforts to advance this legislation, and all of my Senate colleagues for their support.”

“Lobular breast cancer affects tens of thousands of women every year,” said Senator Joan B. Lovely (D-Salem), Chair of the Senate Committee on Rules. “It grows in thin lines instead of a lump, so it can be hard to feel and easy to miss on a mammogram. Awareness saves lives. Every woman deserves the information to talk with her doctor and catch this early. I was glad to help move Senator Rausch’s bill through the Senate Rules Committee, and I thank both Senate President Spilka and Senator Rausch for making women’s health a priority in our chamber and across our work together. Protecting the health of women and mothers has guided so much of my work in the Senate. Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day is one more way to help women and their families get the medical care they need.”

“I am profoundly proud that my bill to establish October 15th as Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day in Massachusetts passed the Senate, and on today of all days,” said Senator Becca Rausch (D-Needham), lead sponsor of the legislation. “Lobular breast cancer is especially difficult to detect and diagnose, yielding significant need for increased research funding in order to create new diagnostic tools and treatments, improving patient outcomes. Heightened awareness and increased attention can help achieve these goals and save lives. Thank you to Laurie Hutcheson and the entire Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance team for your tireless advocacy, education efforts, and patient support, and to Senate President Karen Spilka and our Senate colleagues for supporting and passing this bill.”

While further research is needed into the most effective ways to treat the disease, less than one per cent of breast cancer research funding goes toward learning more about lobular breast cancer.

By recognizing Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day, people can help spur life-saving research as well as share vital information that patients can discuss with their doctors.

The legislation—S.2666, An Act establishing Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day—was advanced to the full Senate on October 14 with a 7-0 vote of the Senate Committee on Rules.  It was previously given a unanimous favorable report on November 7, 2025 by the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight following a public hearing on November 5.

The Senate passed the bill today and sent it to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

Statement of Support

Laurie Hutcheson, Executive Director of the Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance, patient advocate, and eight-year survivor of lobular breast cancer

“When Senator Rausch told me the news that the Senate had engrossed the ILC awareness day legislation, I burst into tears of joy. I have just completed a three-week journey across the country to raise awareness of lobular breast cancer because despite how common it is, most people have still not heard of it and it is still so understudied. It is perfect that legislation making October 15th a permanent day to raise awareness of ILC in Massachusetts each year moved forward on October 15th. I am grateful to Senator Rausch and Senate President Spilka for helping to make this happen and cannot think of a better end to our lobular breast cancer awareness journey.”

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