In Shock and need profile help

Jt3

Hi everyone, My initial biopsy diagnosis reads: Invasive mammary carcinoma, no special type, with lobular features, intermediate combined histologic grade, low proliferative rate. There is also an associated lobular carcinoma. I think I have setup my profile correctly and am reading the correct information. Or should I be a mixed profile?

Luckynumber47

Joyous, so sorry you are facing this diagnosis but happy you found us. We have all been through it and have lots of helpful advice (including how to cope with the shock). If you go back in and make your profile "public" we'll be able to see if it looks right and be able to answer your questions

Sending hugs,

Luck

Jt3

Thanks for the help.

Luckynumber47

So happy to see they caught this very, very early. Now you can post in the ILC forums to share with people with similar diagnosis. Best of luck with your treatments.

Jt3

I don’t know if the invasive mammary carcinoma is idc or ilc

Jt3

Thanks for getting me to the right place

Jt3

I was reading that at least talking to a therapist helps with anxiety. Is this something many of you have done?

Icietla

Welcome, Jt3. I am very sorry about your diagnosis.

"Invasive mammary carcinoma, no special type" would be Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC). So for your profile here, you should have two diagnoses -- IDC and ILC.

Anonymous

I took, and still take, Xanax from time to time to help with anxiety--partly because I have GAD, and partly PTSD from being a caregiver for my late husband who died of cancer and then dealing with my own dx. You might try the American Cancer Society to find a specific therapist that can help you with cancer-related anxiety: many people don't really "get" those of us who are dealing with b.c, so one who understands our particular fears and speaks our language would be best, I think. Looking back, I don't think I could have found time to squeeze in a regular therapist visit with my very busy treatment schedule.

These discussion boards were the best way for me to relieve anxiety.

Claire in AZ

letsgogolf

Sounds like you may have IDC-L. That is Invasive Ductal Carcinoma with Lobular Features which is what I have. Do you have a second tumor that is ILC?

Jt3

Thank you my schedule is extremely limited so will have to see what is available in order to see a therapist. Once I have surgery I’ll probably know more about what “invasive mammary “ means it says no particular type. Being at the beginning is just plain scary.

Anonymous

It is sure scary. But I can't emphasize enough how many times the members on BCO have talked me off a very high cliff of anxiety. Keep checking in and letting us know how things are. We speak the same language.

Hugs!

Jt3

Thank you. I just get so scared

SEW77

I have just been diagnosed with 2.2mm, i seem to be reading that it may be small may not? My doctor seems happy to take the lumpectomy and radiation route I have an appointment tomorrow for pre surgery assessment as op is a week later, i'm so worried that if I have this it will come back, should I have a mastectomy? Please any advice would be great.

Moderators

Dear SEW77,

Welcome to the BCO community. We are sorry about your breast cancer diagnosis but glad that you reached out to our members. While you are waiting for others to respond you may want to check out the information on our main site about weighing the differences between Mastectomy and Lumpectomy. We hope you will stay connected her and keep us posted. Let us know if you need any help with navigating our site. The Mods

Georgia1

Hi Sew and so sorry about your diagnosis. The choice of lumpectomy vs masectomy is a very personal one, and depends on several factors. Sounds like if your doctor is recommending lumpectomy you have no lymph node involvement? And your BC is ER+? If you can provide the information in your biopsy report we will certainly try to be helpful. But in general, if you have radiation following a lumpectomy, the odds of BC coming back are the same as if you choose a masectomy.

The link the moderators provided is a good place to get started but feel free to ask more questions.

Jt3

Lots to learn here SEW77. Sorry you are here but we are here too in Support of your decision.

Thank you all for your support. I just got my MRI results and there are a couple more suspicious areas in my left breast for malignancy and odd tissues of interest. My right breast is clear on MRI completely for reference and X-ray and bloodwork are clear as well. Thank God! My Dr said my kind of breast cancer tends to come back. Anyone heard this? It’s the lobular type. Articles please! I am leaning away from lumpectomy towards BMX since Because now they wanted to do an MRI guided biopsy. If it’s negative and I do lumpectomy then I will need radiation with the lumpectomy and a lot of checkups down the road for both breasts based on this lobular type.I have scheduled to talk to a plastic surgeon now since I used to be like an A/B cup and blasted up to a heavy DD. I am done having children in my body since the 3rd Pregnancy was hard And lost the two before it. I am still waiting genetic test results.

Georgia1

Hi there JT3. Lumpectomy vs masectomy is obviously a tough, very personal choice. I had two tumors: one IDC/ILC mixed and one ILC. After talking to four doctors and two hospitals all concurred I was fine with lumpectomy, three weeks of radiation, and Tamoxifen. The studies do show that ILC has a slightly higher risk of recurrence late in life, and in the second breast, BUT apparently Tamoxifen and AIs work really well on ER+ ILC. So that was my decision and so far so good. Good luck making your treatment plan and let me know if I can help at all.