LARGE tumor size!

My mom had IDC at 7.2cm. No nodes. For her they only did a single mast, back then. She is fine 29 years later.

Julie

I am so grateful that you ladies started this discussion.  I also had a large tumor, 7.5 cm. I had a simple mastectomy, no node dissection.  My post-surgery path report showed a microscopic trace and a submicroscopic trace in my nodes, so I am now beginning the second stage of chemo, which is Taxol x 12.  I will have reconstruction post radiation.  Lexi, thanks for normalizing this for me, as I know this process is doable as well.  I hope we all can stay in touch and support one another.

In solidarity,

Tiffany

Javert, 5 months of radiation seems rather a lot, are you sure it wasn't 5 weeks? May be not so bad as you have thought!

Hi All,

My onc told me that these ILC tumors tend to be large because they rarely show up on a mammo.  Mine showed up as a density in my mammo that was then identified in an ultrasound.  These are sneaky tumors that form in a line rather than a distinct lump so they are often missed in a self exam or in an exam by our doctors.  Mine was missed 2 weeks before my mammo when I had my physical.  Frustrating! 

Roseann

califorme, you sound just like me.  a big %^&*&*^ tumor (my numbers matched yours).  I had chemo, then surgery (that *^&%&^& was tiny by then, and there actually two, but so small that they were toast).  i topped that off with rads and tamoxifen, and that was 5 years and a lot of great living ago.  Be well.

take care,

--Hattie 

Now that's the Mac Daddy of tumors.  I never heard of any that large or that heavy and in only 4 months.  What a nightmare.  I'm so glad you are doing well.

Roseann

I am new to this forum.  After reading your post I had to reply.  I was diagnosed in march of this year.  After years of feeling a lump in my left breast.  My mammography was always showing negative results. My sonogram showed a cyst.   Finally, after three years my dr. took a biopsy and BINGO!!!! BC.  I had a double masectomy.  My tumor was 12cm!!!  with 14 nodes involved.  I was devasted when I got my path report.  The path show ductal with lobular features.  I have had one kemo treatment so far and due for my next one this Friday.  My oncologist decided on a every other week aggressive regimen four treatments of A C followed by 4 treatments of taxol. with a shot a nuelasta the day after treatment.  I am a total and completer wreck half the time.  I know the BC has been there for at least 2 years. 

I've been reading the posts on the IDC site because that's where I thought I belonged but now I'm not so sure. I was diagnosed with IDC but my path report said that "the pattern of invasion is more typical of lobular carcinoma".  Due to other factors though, it was classified as IDC. The mass was 4.6 x 2 x 1.6 cm - long and skinny!  Plus I had another area of DCIS in the same breast that was 4 x 3.1 x 1.2 cm. My breast tissue is classified as dense - it hid this cancer really well. I discovered the lump 2 weeks before my annual mammo. It showed up as less than 1 cm. US showed it as closer to 2 cm and the MRI showed the same thing.  What a surprise to find out after surgery that it was more than twice that size. I had TCH + Avastin (Beth Trial) and had Herceptin + Avastin for the remainder of the year. Just ended in Feb. I started Femara last July & also had radiation last summer.

I also am so glad to see this thread.  I was diagnosed on 9/8 of this year after a neg mammo.  They did a biopsy as they did not like what we were all feeling followed by an MRI, Cat Scan etc etc.  They found the tumor and decided it was 4 cm.  By the time the MRI was done they decided about 6cm and after a Bi mx on 10/28 it ended up being 8cm with 2 other smaller tumors.  Start chemo on 12/9 and doing a clinical trial followed by radiation.

My frustration is that my mom just had her Mammo and she was telling me this and my first response was thats nice but now we know there is history in our family of ILC that won't be picked up.  She will be insisting on an MRI after our conversation.  It seems for absurd that the industry is content generally with a mammo when it is common knowledge that those of us with ILC get left out.  I think most of us suspect that the cancer has been in our bodies for 2 years+.

Sorry for the venting but I would like the future to have a better chance at early diagnosis then we did.

I wish all of you the very best of luck and I am 8 days away from the start of Chemo...a bit nervous to say the least.

Thank you it is good to know that I am not the only one that finds this train of thought regarding mammograms someone useless.

Leigh

queenjazz - Your story could be mine. BS said pretty much entire breast involved. After DD AC/T chemo "only" 3cm residual and 5/8 positive nodes. I've tried to get stats too, but BS just says don't focus on that. Doesn't sound good does it? Now I'm not healing well from BMX/TE and have had to delay rads. What caught me by surprise was the nodes. PET didn't light up anywhere but breast. Was not expecting 5+ nodes after chemo. Hang in there and take one day at a time.

My dx was Dec. 2005:  Lobular tumor was 15 cm  2 lymph nodes positive - I had abdominal tram-flap reconstruction because of capsular contracture of my implant - they did 6 TAC chemos, 5 weeks of radiation and 5years of tamoxifen - and I'm still here to bitch about it! Right now I am not doing anything adjuvant - quality of life is important to me and I hated tamoxifen and Aromasin - just can't make myself do anymore - hope it isn't stupid.

Hi Ellie1959,  I just wanted to say congratulations on reaching the 5 year mark.  It's no small thing as far as I'm concerned.  I've finished 5 years of Femara and like you am thinking it would be great to just stop.  I'm too afraid to do that, though, so will probably keep taking it.  I don't think anyone is "stupid" for making the decision that feels right for them.  That's especially true given the lack of information we have to go on.  I'm just glad to be here!