My tumor seems to be growing fast?

Does she mean it's grown since the MRI? Does she have an idea of how big it is based on palpitation? If so, does that size correlate with the MRI? Did the surgeon say how big it was based on palpitation? Has the oncologist felt it twice or is she going off of what the surgeon told her? I guess my point here is--has the same person felt it twice and decided it's grown?

My onc had wanted neoadjuvant chemo based on an MRI which turned out to be overstating the tumor size. I went with my surgeon's opinion based on feel and opted for adjuvant chemo. My surgeon's argument against neoadjuvant chemo in my case was that since there was a question as to true tumor size, doing chemo first would destroy the true picture of what was going on. Node status would be lost, and in my case I would have ended up having a lot of axillary and chest wall radiation that I wouldn't have needed b/c they were playing it safe not knowing exactly what had gone on before chemo.

That being said, neoadjuvant chemo may be the right way to go in order to shrink your tumor down and possibly preserve the breast. I don't know, but it's important to get the surgeon and oncologist on the same page and see how certain they are about the size of the thing.

Do you have your pathology report? Check it and see what grade your tumor is. Unless it's grade 3, or its mitotic count is high--2 or 3--I can't imagine it's cranking along at such a rate that it's changing from week to week. Obviously I'm not a doctor and have limited experience with this, but just my thoughts.

Good luck--I hope all turns out well for you.

I think that your onc is wise to test for a chemo response if that's what he is doing. ILC does not respond to chemo v. well. I am frustrated that no trials have tested withholding chemo for ILC. I am undergoing 6 TC's and worry whether they are helpful. I have all the side effects including itching like crazy all over which is a rare sensitivity to TC. I don't have the link but if you google "Does Neoadjuvant/Adjuvant Chemotherapy Change the Natural History of Classic Invasive Lobular Carcinoma?" you should be able to locate it

Susan, I would hold off on any decisions until the surgeon reexamines you. You may need neoadjuvant chemo anyhow, but you need more information to work off of at this point. I had 4 different estimates on size of my tumor based on different imaging used, and the tumor ended up being the size the surgeon thought it was based on feel.

Best of luck, and keep us posted.

Hey Susan, I had a muscle pulling feeling also at dx before surgery. Mine was a pulling from the shoulder under my arm. It was explained to me the tumor could be could be sitting above a tendon, crowding it. Best of luck next week, and let us know! Marsha

Susan, I'm confused. If they have told you mastectomy anyway why are they doing chemo first? I absolutely would insist they get that tumor our FIRST! There are some studies that show chemo is not that effective on Lobular Carcinoma. Usually chemo before surgery is to try to save the breast, shrink the tumor in order to do a lumpectomy. I'm not trying to tell you what to do, but if it was me, I would insist they do the mastectomy first and get the cancer out of your body. ESPECIALLY if they think it is growing. Hang in there, it is so hard to make these decisions. I had a single mast done in Dec and am now having the suppose "good" breast removed Oct 1. The tumor was pleomorphic which is considered more agressive and the thought of doing chemo and rads again just is too much for me. Hugs to you, let us know what is happening, Marsha

My lobular tumor was huge - 10 cm. My onc gave me a choice of chemo before or after, but he was swaying towards chemo after. He discussed with my surgeon who was adamant that I get the tumor out first. I also just wanted it out. I did get clean margins.