Was the lump actually formed 6 years ago?

hlya
hlya Member Posts: 484
edited June 2014 in ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)

I heard it usually takes 6-7 years to forum a lump,  which means I got ILC 6 years ago when I didn't know yet?  I am trying to figure out the trigger...

Thanks.  

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited April 2009

    Don't try to figure it out. It's all a crap shoot. Nothing you could have done would change the outcome. You'll drive yourself crazy! Yell

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  • idaho
    idaho Member Posts: 1,187
    edited April 2009

    I agree with Barbe.  My Dr. told me that my stage 1 probably just started forming a year ago!  He also said it doesn't matter what you have done, or what you will do, if you are going to get cancer you are going to get cancer.  It makes sense to me because I see a lot of women on these boards that are vegetarians, marathoners, etc etc .and they have cancer.  Just focus on the future and get well.  peace to you, Tami

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  • Kleenex
    Kleenex Member Posts: 764
    edited April 2009

    I agree - trying to figure out the trigger will make you crazy. It's not like they have any idea, really, what causes breast cancer. On paper, I had perhaps a 1% chance of developing it, based on what they know. I do joke that I was so annoyed that my sister got huge breast implants 10 years ago that I created cancer in myself. Sometimes I think, wow, what if I engineered this massive survey for women like me, with virtually no known risk factors, and see what we all might have in common... I have different theories on a daily basis - what if it's this GUM?!!!  - and then I just slap myself and tell myself to knock it off. Everything in moderation is about the best we can do. Please try not to worry about it - you will have enough to do in learning about and choosing from the many treatment options...

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2009

    my gyn said  most bc takes about 8 to 10 years before it can even large enough to be felt.

    Anne

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited April 2009

    Anne, it does depend on which type of cancer it is. Some are faster growing. Thats why they suggest yearly mammograms, otherwise we would only have to return 8 years after our last one! That would be good... 

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  • lexislove
    lexislove Member Posts: 2,645
    edited April 2009

    Ok...

    I did not have ILC, but IDC. I do not think my tumor was growing 5-8 years. When I first discovered my lump it was about 1-2cm. 6 months later 8cm! the fact that it did grow fast, I think now, saved my life.If it grew slower I would have not found it untill much later. The Her2 saved me..lol

    The history......2 months b4 I felt my lump, November 2006 I had an strange sensation in my BC breast. It was a tingly feeling it went and came.At that time I did a breast self exam weekly... I felt no lump. January 2007 there was the lump.  Undecided

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  • Maire67
    Maire67 Member Posts: 768
    edited July 2010

    .

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  • IllinoisNancy
    IllinoisNancy Member Posts: 722
    edited April 2009

    My surgeon told me that my 1.1 cm ILC was probably growing for 10 years.  It really creeps me out that it was in me for that long.  Sometimes I wonder if I would have been better off to just leave it alone.  Do you really think the doctors know what their talking about???

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  • unique
    unique Member Posts: 554
    edited April 2009

    What I'd like to know is why mine was NOT a lump, but more of a ridging. Why don't they see these on a mammo? What good is a mammo? Anyway ...

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  • lexislove
    lexislove Member Posts: 2,645
    edited April 2009

    Maire67,

    I just saw your stats. You will be 4 years in June! Congrats. I saw that you are Her2 as well. Maybe thats why it grew to the size that it did in a period of time. Did you also do Herceptin?

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  • AnneW
    AnneW Member Posts: 4,050
    edited April 2009

    Unique,

    Lobular cancer tends not to form a lump. It spreads like a thick spider web. My ILC felt like a thickening or ridge, too. Neither of my cancers showed up on mammo. Mammos are not perfect. Self exam is not perfect. MRI is not perfect. U/S is not perfect. We can only do the best with what we have. That said, many women DO find their cancers by mammo, especially at the DCIS stage.

    Anne

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  • Maire67
    Maire67 Member Posts: 768
    edited July 2010

    .

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  • Lunalin
    Lunalin Member Posts: 63
    edited April 2009

    I am sure I had my ILC for several years. I always had "calcifications" and ulrasound in that breast. I skipped 5 yrs of mammos and guess what? I had a 5 cm infiltrating tumor. I am doing just fine 4 years past. Had mastectomy, chemo, a 3 hr. scar revision with biopsy last year. I am on Aromasin, still have pain in my arm, everyday. I love life, my ever-growing family and wouldn't have done anything differently. I still hate the way I look and find shopping difficult (all those low cut blouses and dresses). Life could be worse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • fortunate1
    fortunate1 Member Posts: 644
    edited April 2009

    I always thought I could rely on the mammograms. I found mine myself, in dense lumpy breasts. I told myself to keep a watch on it, and then forgot about it for a while - big guilt trip. It wasn't visible on the mammo but sure showed up clearly on the sonogram. It's scary to think that a screening mammo wouldn't have found it. Keep doing your self exams! We're a larger part of the cancer screening team than I knew.

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  • hlya
    hlya Member Posts: 484
    edited April 2009

    Lunalin:

    Wow! 4 years! You are great! Life will be getting better for you for sure!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2009

    I wonder the same thing...how long was this growing in my body. I had my regular mammo last year.At that time I insisted on them doing an ultrasound on my right armpit-the lymphnode was enlarged. They said it was ok, but they found a calcification in my left breast. I had a core biopsy done and I was clear-no cancer. So, tell me how they missed a mass that has grown to 5.9 cm in one year??? Before the MRI they thought it was 1.5 cm. I got to view the images on the Radiologist computer. It was pretty awesome. He could spin it in 3D. After seeing the images I concurred, I need a mastectomy. There were at least 5 bright spots, which represent the cancer.

    As for when I first developed the cancer...I believe it was August of 2006. Everything that could go wrong in my life did-job (left a good one for the worst job in my life), family disconnected and I found out my love of 2 1/2 yrs was married and reuniting with his wife. I was never at a lower point in my life. I thank God that I'm not in that frame of mind now.

    Even this isn't as bad for me. I am strong now and I am more positive. I have a much better relationship with my daughter. Unfortunately she had to experience some anxiety of her own to appreciate me. Wisdom is gained by experience.

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