ILC surgery

Hi Lola,

Her situation sounds a lot like mine except that she is probably younger.  ILC is more common in post menopausal women and tends to be slower growing and difficult to find because it can be easily missed in a mammo.  I'm 1 1/2 years out and doing great.  I had a lumpectomy.  ILC forms in a tubular rather than a round shape which is why we can miss it in a self exam.  I also had 33 radiation treatments which weren't that bad and I now take Arimidex to control the estrogen balance issues.  I will take that for at least 5 years.  If she is younger, they may give her tamoxifen.  If it isn't in her lymph nodes (they will check that out as part of the lumpectomy) she may not need chemo.  If she is node negative, as for the OncotypeDX test to see if chemo is necessary.  I did not have chemo.

It sounds like she is on her way to being cancer free.  Try to relax and take one step at a time.

Roseann

I'm wishing the best for you two on Thursday!

Your worries and concerns are very understandable.  It's a shock to both of you.  It's a good thing that she is facing it with a positive attitude.  That was the way I faced mine and just accepted that I would have a lot of treatment to go through.  Since I was the patient and not the caregiver I can only imagine what you are going through.  I'm sure it's hard to be on the "sidelines" and wanting to help.  Your support, love and concern are going to be wonderful for her.

It sounds like they were able to catch this early which is great.  All too often ILC is not detected until later stages because it is often missed on the mammo.  After she is through this then followup survellieance should include MRIs which do a better job of seeing any new ILC.  I'm not sure what the follow up routine is for an early stage but something like alternating mammos and MRIs seems reasonable.

The prognosis sounds very good.    

I was called back for a second picture on the right side after my annual mammo. I have been getting mammo religiously for years. (I am 55).  A biopsy confirmed BC. I had an MRI which really magnified things. I had a 6x4 cm of LCIS. I could feel NOTHING.  I had a mastectomy and inside that flat mass was .7mm ILC. SNB was clean. My Oncotype score is 18.  No chemo, no rads.  Am on Tamoxifen now.  My BS said LCIS was growing in there for 8-10 years!  Never caught on a mammo before this? I was called back one other time about 5 years ago but after 2nd picture taken, they said I was good to go. In reality it should have been caught back then.  I worry every day it will show up in the other breast but my BS did not recommend removing the other breast.  I just try to move on the best I can. I am undergoing breast reconstruction and will be getting a nipple on Nov. 16th and tatoo of the areolo will be done in January. I was want to get adjusted to the new normal and move forward.  I guess getting off this discussion boards would be a start.

I think your partner will be fine. My oncologist and BS said LCIS/ILC is probably the "bette" type of BC to get. Very slow growing and responds very well to hormonal treatment. Chemo does not help much unless the Oncotype score is high.  Best of luck and try not to worry.  I know that is hard to do.