Undergoing treatment for stage 3

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mandm43
mandm43 Member Posts: 4
edited July 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

My lobular cancer was not picked up by mammogram or ultrasound in 2012, only 18 months later in Sept 2013, where it had grown quite large and multi-focal. As I had very dense breasts and had had cysts in the past I assumed that it was fibrocystic. Even the surgeon said the lumpiness felt like glandular tissue! I am in the process of undergoing radiotherapy, after surgery and chemo were completed. My oncologist said that the chemo / radiotherapy treatments are precautionary and referred to my cancer as "the cancer you had" which I am happy about. Also highly estrogen positive so I have started taking tamoxifen. I was excited to find this forum and it's uplifting to hear that so many people survive stage 3 for a long time

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  • mary625
    mary625 Member Posts: 1,056
    edited June 2014

    Dear mandm43:  welcome to the forum!  You'll also find great support in the ILC forum for lobular cancer.  I too was in the same situation as you where my lobular cancer eluded mammography until I found it myself when it was quite large, probably 7 cm.  You're on the other side of the worst of the treatment, so give yourself a big pat on the back.  There are many of us doing well here in Stage III and ILC, and you will too.  One question-have you considered aromatase inhibitors instead of Tamoxifen?

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  • TectonicShift
    TectonicShift Member Posts: 752
    edited July 2020

    .

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  • mandm43
    mandm43 Member Posts: 4
    edited June 2014

    Thanks for the replies. Mary625 I am pre-menopausal so I don't think the aromatase inhibitor are applicable to me

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  • peacestrength
    peacestrength Member Posts: 690
    edited June 2014

    mandm43 - welcome...your story sounds similar to mine with dense breasts.  My bc was buried under glandular and cystic tissue and a 2.5 cm benign mass. You'll find these boards to be full of helpful information.

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  • LKSHER
    LKSHER Member Posts: 209
    edited June 2014

    I also had a 3cm benign mass connected to my IDC.  It had been there since I could remember.

    What are your thoughts on how that affects our prognosis?

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  • peacestrength
    peacestrength Member Posts: 690
    edited July 2014

    Lksher - I'm sorry I just looked back at this thread and noticed your question.  I don't think my benign mass affects my prognosis.  I haven't asked my MO though.  If that benign mass wouldn't have been there, my bc would have been found sooner.  It had been there for years as well as a similar sized benign mass on my non cancer side.  

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  • madeditor
    madeditor Member Posts: 25
    edited July 2014

    Hello all,

    I just had a lumpectomy and 6 of 17 lymph nodes removed on July 3. I also had a complete hysterectomy (thank goodness no cancer there) at the same time. Returning to work Monday, although I have no idea how that will go once I begin chemo, followed by radiation. A long journey, for sure! I meet with oncologist in a few days. Wish me luck.

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