Anyone ILC and Ovarian Cancer?

cammy2

Hi ladies - Dx on 10.15.09 with ILC, doc guesses 5 cm with skin involvement.  Bi-lateral mastectomy scheduled Nov 20.  Chemo to follow. In the mean time, US found one solid mass 3 cm and one cyst with division line on ovaries.  CT scheduled on 11.3 to check out ovaries.  If all is benign will proceed with plan and deal with ovary surgery later if needed.    If find there is cancer, will probably change protocol to Chemo ASAP and postpone mastectomy.  Said it would be stage IV if that is what is found.  Anyone been there? Any suggestions?  Is it common to move from breast to ovaries?  (Or other way around?)  Can CT confirm cancer or just indicate probability (or that it is not probable? )  Will I need a biopsy?

Feeling fear - don't want to know it could be in more than "just" the breasts.  Docs all say ILC is "sneaky" Thanks for any input. 

nash

ILC is known for spreading to ovaries, peritoneum, gastro tract, etc. I don't know what the protocol for diagnosing ovarian masses is--hopefully someone with more experience with that will chime in.

Sorry you're facing all of this--good luck with your surgery and your CT. Please keep us posted on how you're doing.

rreynolds1

I was diagnosed with ILC, 1.8 CM ER+,PR-, HER2-  (node negative) in Feb.  My surgeon suggested that I see my gyno to have my ovaries removed but did not say that there was an increased danger because of the type of bc I had.  She said that women who have bc are at higher risk of developing ovarian cancer in general.  Haven't done that yet.  You probably do not know about your node status yet because they usually check that when you have surgery.

When I had a cat scan, they had me drink a sugary orange drink that I'm sure had some radioactive stuff in it as well.  After a short period of time, they did the cat scan.  They said that if there is cancer, it shows up in the scan.  From what I have read, cancer is a sugar feeder and that's what makes it "light up" in the films.  They could tell by the scan that my lungs were clear so I'm guessing the same is true of your ovaries.  Don't know if they would do a biopsy or just remove the ovaries and then biopsy them.  I was told the surgery is laproscopic and the recovery is not difficult.

Sorry you have this added fear factor to deal with but try to stay in the present.  Easier said than done!  Please keep us posted.

Roseann

Gitane

cammy2,  I have no information or experience that would answer your questions.  I'm just sorry you are dealing with this.  Please let us know what you find out. Fingers crossed for benign results so you can get on with your treatment/surgery.

Anonymous

cammy----I had a large ovarian mass seen on CT scan (was done due to severe abdominal pain) that was suspicious for cancer. Pcp sent me to gyn who did a CA-125 blood test and transvaginal ultrasound. Even with all 3 tests it couldn't be determined whether it was benign or malignant; that could only be determined by biopsy of the ovary after it was removed. (gyn explained ovaries are too deep in the pelvis for  external biopsy). The mass had grown so large (nearly 8 cm) that it had to removed anyway, but fortunately everything turned out benign. I ended up with a TAH/BSO (there were cysts growing on the other ovary and in the tubes as well) and immediate surgical menopause.  Just a bit of good news--my mom had ILC and is a survivor of nearly 23 years without a recurrence and has never had any other problems.

anne

cammy2

Hi all and thanks as always for the support. 

Anne- Glad to know your mass was benign - hope to follow in that same path.  Haven't een given the CA 125 blood test yet. 

Roseann - Sounds like same procedure as yours - I have to go in 90 minutes early to drink something and then will be injected with a dye that works with the drink to make things show up better. 

Just waiting til Tues 11.3 for CT and then follow up with Gyno-oncologist on Thursday or Friday to hear results of CT. 

To think that two weeks ago my biggest concern was money and getting my son's Halloween costume ready in time!  My head is spinning with this new world and new road ahead. 

Look forward to your comments and experiences.  Cammy

Gitane

Will be thinking of you tomorrow, Cammy.  Hope all goes well. G.

YoYo44

Sending you strength Cammy.  Hang in there.  The not knowing and waiting is so hard.

Hugs, Yo

cammy2

Thanks to you all for thinking about me- Out the door to the appt.  Hope it doesn't cause the diarrhea side effect they mentioned. UGH - this is quite a humbling experience so far.  You sort of lose your modesty.  It feels a bit like back when I had my crazy delivery with my son.  I ended up not caring about who was looking at my va-jay-jay as long as it helped to get my son out safely! 

I'll let you all know results when I know ..probably Thursday or Friday.  If all goes well and it is "only" breast cancer , which means my surgery for bilat mx would be Nov 20th...I am thinking of having good friends over for a "TaTa to my Ta-tas" Party.  I think it would be good to be surrounded by my gal friends for a send off into this journey.

Until later this week... thanks again.   Cammy

Hood1980

Best of luck to you Cammy!  I love your party idea!  "TaTa to the TaTas!"  That's a great attitude & it will serve you well in the journey you are embarking on!  Take care!

cammy2

Got some good news back from my CT scan!  Looked good - no abdominal or pelvic lymph node involvement, no masses on organs in the area.  The mass however was "inconclusive" - but right now I think that is good.  I will take an "inconclusive finding" over a Conclusive cancerous finding" any day.  Hopefully it is something that can be put on hold and dealt with after my bi-lat mx.(ex - a dermoid) I have an appt with Gyno-Oncologist on Thursday 12th.  He should be able to tell more and/or request more tests.  Even if I take it to the worst case - that the mass is cancerous- then it still means it is early and not in other organs.  Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts.

Gitane

Cammy,  YEAAAAAAAAAAA!  So happy to hear the good news.  What a relief!

Gitane

Cammy,  I just noticed that you live in Escondido.  I lived on Miramar Air Station then in Poway in the early 60's. In those days there was nothing in Poway.  As a matter of fact students were bussed to Escondido to go to high school until Poway High was built.  I went to Poway High as a 9th grader, the year it opened, and then moved away.  I remember we would take a bus on Saturdays in the summer to a skating rink in Escondido.  I visited Poway about 8 years ago.  It has changed so much I couldn't believe it.

nash

Good news, Cammy. And hey, we're neighbors--I'm in San Marcos. And Gitane, how funny that you used to live in our neck of the woods--small world!