HELP- MRI showed 7.5 cm Tumor

WifeMomTeacher
WifeMomTeacher Member Posts: 42

Surgeon called today and said MRI showed 7.5 cm tumor. This is frightening as can be. I won't google anything still, but I am aware that tumor size corrolates to staging and prognosis. The ultrasound didn't show any lymph nodes, and neither did the MRI. The MRI also didn't show the pectoralis muscle being involved. I am greatfull for that and trying to appreciate the good news for now, but am terrified at the size of the tumor. I know it is not overestimated, because I can feel it, and I know it's huge. It's grown rediculously since I found it less than 5 weeks ago. Please tell me some good news about ILC being this big and turning out okay. I am 29 with a 5 year-old daughter, and this is all too much.

Comments

  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited May 2016

    Quite a few people have large ILC tumors at diagnosis probably because it is more difficult to detect.

    Try not to be too alarmed about the size, if it has not spread outside the breast the prognosis should be good.

    What was the biopsy showing as far as Nottingham score and estrogen progesterone status? Also HER2 is a good indication of aggression.

    Really it how well it will respond to treatment, I wouldn't get too hung up on size.

  • YATCOMW
    YATCOMW Member Posts: 664
    edited May 2016

    Just wanted to tell you that mine was 8cm......wasn't seen on mammogram or sonogram......I also had 17 nodes positive. I will be 12 years out this month.....Hang in there.

    Jacqueline

  • WifeMomTeacher
    WifeMomTeacher Member Posts: 42
    edited May 2016

    THANK YOU. I am very sorry to hear that, but it does make me feel somewhat better to know I may not be doomed. I am trying my best to be positive, but am very anxious.

  • Optimist52
    Optimist52 Member Posts: 302
    edited May 2016

    Hi I have been following your posts and really feel for you. My MRI last year showed a 6.7 x 6cm tumour, it turned out to be 4 x 3cm after surgery. I've seen this referred to on other posts here, somehow on the MRI it appears larger than it really is. So please take hope from this, it's really only until pathology comes back that you will know the true size. Then you may be able to have an Oncotype DX test to determine need for chemo. This is such a stressful time but it will improve.


  • kar123
    kar123 Member Posts: 273
    edited May 2016

    Mine did not show up on any imaging and was 7.5cm. 2 nodes positive. Coming up on my 6 year diagnosis date. I had neoadj chemo and it shrunk it significantly then surgery and then radiation. You are going to get through this. One step at a time.



  • Jgab
    Jgab Member Posts: 37
    edited May 2016

    My MRI showed 8 centimeters. I flipped. My surgeon was confident there was much institu and calcifications. My actual ilc was found to be 4 cm of in situ with foci of invasion. Nothing is final until final pathology. I know it is easy to say, but I wish I could go back and calm myself down. I am in the middle of chemotherapy right now, but it does get so much better. Please know that things will get better. This is virtually the worst part. Not everyone with ilc gets chemotherapy. In fact it seems to be rare. Many people control it with hormonal therapy

  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited May 2016

    My breast surgeon said MRIs are 99.9% accurate...till he got mine wrong

    Mine was supposed to be 7mm and ended up 1.8cm, but as others have posted, theirs ended up smaller than expected. No way to know till they are in there.

    ILC tumor size is less reliable for prognosis, so try not to let whatever happens freak you out too badly. I know it is so easy to say, but since there is nothing you can do at the moment, take deep breaths and wait for the actual information.

    Best to you.

  • Annette_U
    Annette_U Member Posts: 111
    edited May 2016

    I feel for you! I had a big one in 2013 but no nodes positive - You just never know until they get it out. Hang in there and try to stay calm. Your on for the ride - just soak up the professional help and lean on your family and friends. You will get through this!

  • HelenSwope
    HelenSwope Member Posts: 1
    edited May 2016

    my tumor was 13.3 cm. giant! I've had double mastectomies, chemo, radiation,and reconstruction. Even though there was lymph node involvement I am doing well. A tough road in the beginning but hanging in there. Listen to your doctors and listen to yourself. Ask questions and be informed along the way. Good luck and God bless you.
  • WifeMomTeacher
    WifeMomTeacher Member Posts: 42
    edited May 2016

    Thank you all so very much. Your comments make all the difference in my sanity right now.

  • dtad
    dtad Member Posts: 2,323
    edited May 2016

    Hi there. I know how scary this is but I also have a success story. My friend was diagnosed with ILC 5cm and 6 positive nodes. She had a BMX, refused the recommended chemo but did Arimidex for 5 years. That was almost 15 years ago and she is fine with no recurrence. Hope that helps and good luck to you. Please keep us posted....

  • grandma3X
    grandma3X Member Posts: 759
    edited May 2016

    thank you, dtad!

  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited May 2016

    dtad, they probably thought your friend was crazy not to do chemo. I think they under rate the effectiveness of AI drugs. I didn't do chemo when my oncodx was 34, so many thought I was taking a huge risk. In life there is risk everywhere, I don't believe in chemo as an insurance policy. Good to hear I am not the only one who doesn't listen to everything doctors advise.

  • Carlymel
    Carlymel Member Posts: 8
    edited May 2016

    My MRI showed my tumor to be 5.4 cm and also found other hot spots in both breasts. I had a bilateral mastectomy and learned that my tumor was actually only 4 cm and there were no other tumors or abnormalities in either breast. My lymph nodes were negative. MRI's can show the tumor as being larger than it actually is. Please don't panic. I was given an excellent prognosis in spite of my relatively large tumor

  • dtad
    dtad Member Posts: 2,323
    edited May 2016

    Meow.....Actually my friend's MO told her she was crazy not to do chemo but her BS was ok with it. Her daughter was about to have a baby and she did not want to be sick. They did not do oncotypes at that time but she would have refused chemo no matter what it was! Sometimes we just have to go with our gut. As we know the docs are not always right! Good luck to all....

  • beth1965
    beth1965 Member Posts: 455
    edited June 2016

    Hi - yes most ILC girls have large tumors as others have said I had 9.2 cm tumor and 17 positive nodes and 2 more tumors 1 cm and 2 cm in my nodes

    I am still here its 4 years for me

    breathe - you got this

    Take an hour or 10 to read in this forum all the woman that are alive and well with ILC and large tumors. Some of us have many lymph nodes as well. I found this helped me - hugs to you


  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 2,781
    edited June 2016

    Mine was hockey puck size and multifocal. Because it was so large and about ten years old we decided to do double mast. as it tends to lurk in other breast. I'm happy I did that. 11nodes out because they thought one was cancerous even though no tests showed node involvement but one onc thought he felt one enlarged. Now that I'm much older and smarter I would have pushed for more tests cause I have lymphedema.

    Get educated about lymphedema cause docs know squat about it but pretend they do.check out the lymphedema thread. Wonderful resource if your having ANY nodes out.

    I know how you feel about raising kids with this disease.its scary but take one day at I time. I do and it's been since 2004.My kid was in grade 7,all I prayed for was just to see her graduate.she's been out of school for six years already. You'll be ok

  • Marie715
    Marie715 Member Posts: 46
    edited July 2016

    Just want to post as another ILC survivor with a tumor that was 11cm. and I had 18/21 lymph nodes with cancer in them. I am 2 years post-treatment.

  • Sunnyone22
    Sunnyone22 Member Posts: 191
    edited July 2016

    Marie, thanks for your great post. Did you have a mastectomy? (It isn't clear from your signature).

    Also, how are you doing now:? What kind of follow up do you have at 2+ years?

Categories