Can Small Lobular Lead to Bigger Problems?

Momof6littles

I only technically have LCIS right now. My MRI showed only the lesion that was biopsied. I don't see the oncologist until the 8th, and I won't have the actual MRI report in hand until tomorrow. I can only go by what the nurse read to me over the phone. It appears that the tumor is only 1 cm, is on the chest wall, and it sounded like one side was edging toward an axial lymph node. But the lymph nodes supposedly look clear. This is from the MRI.

Has anyone had a LCIS diagnosis show a very small tumor that had an invasive component that already invaded a lymph node?

vbishop

Mom -

I know you are concerned cuz lobular is a sneaky little sucker.  But with all the tests you've done so far, odds are there isn't much more to find.  Even if it turns out that they find one ILC tumor, odds are it is not in the lymph nodes.

I mean, look at me..... 6 tumors in one breast....SIX!  4 ILC, 2 LCIS.  The largest ILC was 1.7 cm and one LCIS at 1.5 cm.  No lymph node involvement, stage 1, grade 2, oncotype score of 7.  I take a pill every day and see my oncologist once a year.  After my BMX, of course.  That's it!  So many women have it much rougher than me....or you. 

My point is this.  Quit making it more than it is.  You will drive yourself totally nuts unnecessarily. That's hard on you and your family.  Don't borrow trouble.  Go with what you know.  And what you know is very good, cancer wise.  Be grateful.

I understand wanting it out NOW!  We all do/did.  Again, you are lucky in that lobular is slow to grow.  You have time .... for tests, decisions, second opinions, third opinions, a swanky vacation, whatever, before you HAVE to do anything.  Many women don't have that luxury.

I am sorry you are here and sorry you have to deal with this.  I am sorry you are so worried.  Breathe.  Take a hot bath.  Drink a glass of wine.  Try to relax.  Look for joy in your life.

And hug on those littles. 

Momof6littles

I know you are right vbishop. It's so hard to be calm sometimes. I cared for my mom as she died from breast cancer. I had a newborn baby. A year later my dad had terminal pancreatic cancer. That was 10nyears ago, yet is all so raw and fresh right now as I contemplate my future. It's a future that I desperately hoped wouldn't be cancer. So I'm scared, angry, frustrated. But it is what it is. I guess I don't want to undertreat. I'm afraid they are going to miss something. I want to kick this thing to the ground. Because I don't want my kids to have to go through what I did.

Numb

I think you are very lucky Mom, LCIS is basically pre cancer and your tumour is only 1 cm, so you have nothing to worry about, your situation is completely treatable.

Momof6littles

Yes, LCIS and 1cm are not bad news.

But I have known too many family members who have gone from, "Oh, you have cancer, but good news is it's early" to stage IV. And I know that there are folks on this board who have been there too.

Family history is a big part of my story. I don't really have the luxury of sitting back and saying, oh good, it's early. Instead, I need to say, look closer. Because this is my early warning. I'm having my MRI retread and pathology out for review once everything is in. The oncologist agrees that we need to be very careful and thorough.

So I guess I was looking for the experience of others where an initial diagnosis of early went to lymph involvement. Both from a screening standpoint (so I can be sure we're not dropping any balls), and from a treatment standpoint because I like to have a full understanding of scenarios.

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. I'm not a pessimist, just a realist. And to say hooray it's early, with my family history, is a bit like sticking my head in the sand.

Numb

I understand your concerns and we all worry, but if you can just take one day at a time and deal with what you are presented with today and try not to start worrying about what might happen in the future.  We are all different and it doesn't mean that because you have a family risk of cancer that what they experienced will be experienced by you.  Don't forget that treatments have improved vastly and what you get today can be treated more efficiently than cancers in the past.   You will drive yourself bananas with worry if you meet trouble half way. 

vbishop

Mom -

Numb's last post is spot on!  Your family history doesn't mean it is YOUR history. Don't borrow trouble.  Deal with what you know today, right now, and leave the what ifs at the door. Doing otherwise is a disservice to you, your family, and, quite frankly, is a bit insulting to those of us that have come before you.

You keep searching for validation that your "what ifs" could come true. Do you not think that every one of us, regardless of our prognosis, does not have that little seed of doubt in the back of our heads?  Of course we do!  But the difference is we don't let it consume us.  I, too, have a family history of cancer.  But, most of us do exactly what Numb says and what was drilled into my head early on...go with what you know today; act on what you know today!  This was the BEST advice I received when I was diagnosed and it saved my sanity.  I live by this rule every day.

That doesn't mean bury your head in the sand.  Quite the opposite.  Although my prognosis is good...and yours is most likely better than mine...my doctors tell me to be vigilant.  Know your body.  Listen to your body.  Go with your gut if you feel something is wrong and get it checked out.  Odds are still in your favor that everything if fine. 

My odds of recurrence are low.  But that doesn't mean it can't happen.  I do not let that possibility consume me.  Why give cancer the power to invade my every waking thought?  It didn't happen overnight.  But...my two year anniversary came and went without me noticing.  I long for that peace for you.  It can happen, but not if you continue to see only the negative possibilities and not pay attention to the positive probabilities.

Wishing you calm and internal peace. 

Momof6littles

Wow. Sorry to "insult" those who have come before me.

Momof6littles

I have deleted the original post. I was simply asking a question. Looking at different scenarios. Sorry that this is considered an offense. I will remove myself from this board until I have a diagnosis worthy of discussing

vbishop

Mom -

I am sorry you feel this way.  I am only trying to help.  Obviously I failed miserably.  Forgive me.  All breast cancer, regardless of the stage, is worth discussion. 

Cole-5

I think it was a valid question. I hope that you caught it early and wish you the best. My original diagnosis was incorrect. After MRI, more tumors were found in the same breast