New diagnosis - my mother - yesterday

Shannonworries
Shannonworries Member Posts: 3
edited January 2015 in ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)

Hello,

My Mother was diagnosed with invasive lobular breast cancer yesterday. It is in her lymph nodes, arm pit, swollen left arm, they're seeing shadows on her ribs  and spine. Bone scan next week. Treatment plan not yet in place. I don't know what any of this means. I know it's not good. I'm so worried for her; maybe myself too. Any input, experiences, advice is truly welcome. I thank you all in advance.

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  • Lojo
    Lojo Member Posts: 303
    edited October 2014

    Hi Shannon - 

    I'm so sorry about your mother. While there is no definitive answer yet about whether she has had metastasis, it sounds like that is what they are concerned about. Although I have early stage BC, my mother had BC and bone metastasis (20+ yrs ago) and so I am generally familiar with this scenario. The good thing is that if there is metastatic disease, there are much better drugs to manage it at this point than there used to be. You can post this question on the board for families of stage IV patients, and they might have some more information - but the bone scan will pick up any bone metastasis and a CT will look for metastasis elsewhere (lungs, liver). Depending on the results of the bone scan / CT, she will get a surgery plan in place (maybe) and chemotherapy or hormone therapy plan in place (likely) and maybe radiation if a growth is causing pain on the bones. ILC is typically a slow growing cancer, and it is usually hormone receptor positive, and in many cases anti-hormonal drugs can really slow down any growth, are relatively easy to tolerate and can provide a good treatment plan and provide a good quality of life. 

    Best

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  • lgoldie
    lgoldie Member Posts: 120
    edited October 2014

    I have a friend who had same, without all the mets and Invasive Ductal Carcinona at the same time.  She had it out, unilateral mastectomy, chemo.  She's good today 6 years later.  It was a battle.  Chemo is un fun, but she made it

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  • Shannonworries
    Shannonworries Member Posts: 3
    edited October 2014

    thank you! More answers as we await.

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  • WinningSoFar
    WinningSoFar Member Posts: 951
    edited October 2014

    Dear Shannon,

    I'm so sorry that you and your mother are going through this.  It is a shock and frightening too.  If your mom has to have metastasis, the bones are the best place to have them.  There are better drugs than even 10 years ago, and there are also drugs that help with side effects, if she has to have chemo.  The hardest time now is waiting for all the testing to know what her treatment plan will be.  Take deep breaths--it will be ok. 

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  • Shannonworries
    Shannonworries Member Posts: 3
    edited October 2014

    Thank you Alex!

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  • ductal
    ductal Member Posts: 65
    edited January 2015

    diagnosed 3b 2009. given dire prognosis. chemo, radiation, terrible burn, staph, severe neuropathy feet and hands, x 4 years, severe abscess across stomach, 11 months to heal, sweet, sad, adolescent so sad, bone pain, loss of knees, lumbar extreme pain, skin problems, etc. so many more stage 4 2012 constant diahhrea, etc aunt, 2 grandmothers, my mom,2 in laws all diagnosed. my message is not to bring you down but to give you hope. miracles do happen.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2015

    Just a hopeful story; my good friend was dx with ovarian cancer, stage IV, which has a terrible prognosis, much worse than ILC, any stage. She is living well 10 years later after a bone marrow transplant. I give you this hopeful story because right now you need to hang onto those happy ones. Don't dr. Google because the stats and info you find there are old and many are unsubstantiated. Your mother has every chance of living years, so hang onto that, sweetie.

    Hugs

    Claire


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