ILC follow up in first year

sgreenarch
sgreenarch Member Posts: 528
edited June 2014 in ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)

Hi, Everyone. Thanks in advance for your advice. I want to know what kind of screening has been recommended during the first year after diagnosis for you. n July I had a mammogram which found one 2cm tumor followed by an MRI which found a smaller, 9mm tumor in the same breast (wasn't visible on the mammogram. Had a mastectomy left side, in July.) Right breast shows all clean in mammogram and MRI.

Because of this I can get insurance approval for a yearly mammogram and an MRI. The idea is to stagger them, mammogram followed by an MRI six months later, and then continuing with each once a year. The good news is that I feel I'll be watched every six months (will also see breast surgeon and oncologist doing visual/manual checks.) My concern is what about this first year? I'm now at about the six month point since diagnosis. My oncologist says that it's not necessary to do a mammogram or MRI yet; that it can wait for the one year mark since I was checked so thoroughly in July and since lobular seems to be slow growing. However, I'm nervous since this isn't something that anyone could see or feel. My mammographer also seems to feel that waiting out the first year is ok. Curious how you've all dealt with this? Thanks

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Comments

  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited January 2011

    I had my first follow up after a year but will now be monitored every 6 months with alternate MRI and Mammo/Ultrasound. The main reason for that is they did find something at my first post tx mammo. It was missed on my mammo a year ago - not a recurrence.

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  • nowords
    nowords Member Posts: 423
    edited January 2011

    I actually waited over a year to have the remaining breast MRI and Mammogram because the GP and the Oncologists differed about what to do .... I had both done almost 18 months after my previous MRI and mastectomy...all clear...My oncologist recommends annual tests...if I want them more often, the GP makes a case to my insurance and they will pay for them...but I really am okay with every year....If it comes back, I will be upset for sure, but I would rather not have to do rads and have lymph nodes messed with...so I would like it caught early...an annual seems to be the standard at the Mayo for my case. Even though I was stage 3, I was grade1...slow growing...

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  • toomuch
    toomuch Member Posts: 901
    edited January 2011

    I was diagnosed just a week before you but I have only had a lumpectomy thus far. My ILC was picked up by self exam and was not seen on mammogram. I had an MRI in July which showed it. For some reason, my radiation oncologist wanted another MRI prior to starting radiation. I was happy to have a 2nd MRI in December. I don't think that there is any utility in screening for recurrance with mammograms for me since my tumor wasn't seen on a study 8 months before and 3 days after I felt the lump. However, yearly mammograms are still in order to screen for other primary cancers. I will have a mammogram and another MRI prior to having a BM in August and then I will have an MRI once each year.

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  • momand2kids
    momand2kids Member Posts: 1,508
    edited January 2011

    Hi

    I am also doing the alternative screening every 6 months- with two onc visits, a pcp and gyn visit- so six times a year someone or some machine is checking out the girls.  Had a lumpectomy, chemo and rads.

    the first year is hard because you are trying to line it all up--but it does eventually fall into place.  At the one year mark, I had a mammogram- couldn't have an mri until I was at least a year out of treatment.  so the first year was a little strange for scheduling.  I agree, lobular does tend to grow slowly--- if your onc is suggesting no testing and you trust her-then wait and enjoy the freedom!!! 

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  • mymountain
    mymountain Member Posts: 184
    edited January 2011

    I'm also on the every 6 month plan mammo/mri alternating. Onc, surgeon,ps, and gyn once per year.  I'm considering dropping the mri as it seems like overkill to me.  it wasn't the ilc that showed up on my mammo, it was the dcis that was riding along with it.

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  • JeanH
    JeanH Member Posts: 281
    edited January 2011

    I am a bit newer to the cycle -diagnosed lete October 2010, lumpectory and SNB December first and waiting to start Chemo now. I am already scheduled for my first follow up MRI by the BS in June to coordinate with my followup visit with her and 6 months later (December) the Mammogram. Basically a screening every 6 months.  She wanted a new baseline MRI at the end of the chemo sessions.

    My lump was originally picked up during my routine annual mammogram/sonogram. Now BS thinks I probably had when I had the previous scan a year before but because our cancer is so"Subtle" it did not show up even when they reexamined it knowing where it is now.

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  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited January 2011

    I had a bilat so no mammos or MRI's for me....onc does blood work including tumor markers at each visit as well as detailed history and physical...he will do scans if syptomatic.....

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