Any Vancover Ladies with ILC?

Aggiecat52

Hi Ladies. I was just wondering how many ILC ladies there are in the lower Mainland. I did not know at the time of my diagnosis that this was a rarer kind of breast cancer. From what I have read on this website, I am in a minority in terms of treatment. I did not opt for mastectomy but did lumpectomy and radiation instead. I have been on Tamoxifen since Nov/08 and am about to switch over to an AI - Aromasin - in a couple of weeks. Side effect of Tamoxifen for me is thickening of uterine lining and I'm currently seeing a gynecologist. A biopsy was done in the office but not enough tissue to make a diagnosis. I will find out on May 25 what the next step will be.



Would like to hear from any other gals with a similar diagnosis. I worry sometimes that the mammograms I get will not spot any future problems. I was lucky that my ILC showed up because of micro-calcifications seen on my screening mammogram in 2008. Original biopsy indicated DCIS but it turned out to be ILC. The day I found this out I was terrified but now I have learned to live with it one day at a time. I'm guessing that's the best way to do it. By the way, I had been in menopause for about seven or eight years when I was diagnosed. I'm now in my late fifties. Time really does fly!



Aggiecat

jackieC1964

Hi, AggieCat.

I'm in Surrey, and was diagnosed in Nov 2009, at age 44.  I had ILC 6mm, and a large abnormal area with LCIS.  Had a mx on the right side with an implant.  No other treatment except tamoxifen.

Jackie

Aggiecat52

Good to hear from you, Jackie. As I read the boards I started to understand we ILC ladies are fewer in number. In this case, being fewer might not be such a good thing and I start to wonder about the experience level doctors have with ILC in Vancouver. So you did not need any radiation, that's good. How are you doing on the Tamoxifen? I did not have many side effects except for this latest thing with thickened uterine lining. That came as a bit of a shock to me. More tests and more biopsies!



I wish we could have a bit warmer weather here! Still pretty darn cool for end of May. Have a great weekend and stay in touch.



AggieCat

jackieC1964

Yes, ILC is much rarer than IDC.  There is a forum here just for ILC and I've found some interesting stuff there.

I never had the radiation because I had the full mastectomy. Lymph nodes were removed but negative.  So no chemo or radiation needed.

I've been on the tamoxifen for just over a year now.  I've found it's put me into menapause (even though the dr. don't seem to think it does that)-  so I guess I have some of the usual symptoms that go along with that such as hot flashes.  I'm also having some issues with my arm probably due to lymphadema.  Physio suggested  lifting weights which has helped to some degree.

You are right about the weather - can't believe it's almost June, feels more like February to me.  I hope we get some summer weather before camping season starts!

Aggiecat52

Yay, first day of summer turned out to be quite lovely! I'm taking next week off so am hoping for more good weather. No doctor's appointments until mid-July and then an OR procedure to see the cause of my thickened uterine lining! I never realized how many medical appointments I would have since this BC diagnosis in summer of 2008.



Jackie, hope you will have some holidays soon so you can go camping. Vancouver is a great place to be in the summer!



Aggiecat