hello, 2 Wks ago I was diagnosed with lobular BC. Was told at 1st visit that I would probably only need lumpectomy & radio therapy, 2nd visit was told ultrasound was showing more tumour than the mammogram, MRI shows tumour is approx 5cm with some sort of tendrils coming off it… So now I’m to have a mastectomy.
my question (finally) is does this now mean I will have chemo therapy?? Or is it possible I would just get radio therapy?
is it possible to work whilst having chemo?. (If I have chemo) Will I be able to go skiing at Xmas?
i know I’m probably being a bit naive about all this, I only get 6mths full pay, so will need to get back to work if even just for a while.
feeling more pee’d off thinking I might miss my ski holiday than my breast or possible loss of hair!!!
i did ask for bilateral mastectomy as I thought I could get back to my running & Dog walking a bit quicker, but alas they said no… Rant over!!
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Hi Trumpet
Welcome to the BCC Forum. While you are waiting for some replies I’ve attached a link to one of our publications “Understanding your pathology report” as I thought it might be helpful.
breastcancercare.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/bcc161_understanding_your_pathology_report.pdf
You might also find it helpful to call our Helpline for information and support. They are open from 9-5 on weekdays and 10-2 on Saturdays. The number is 0808 800 6000
Very best wishes
Janet
BCC Moderator
Hi Trumpet,
I also had lobular cancer and was told I would only need a lumpectomy and rads. However once the tumour was removed it was bigger than expected, and when my numbers were crushed by oncologists I had an 12% benefit from having rads and tamoxifen along with chemo as opposed to a 7% benefit of rads and tamoxifen only. I was left to decide whether I would go through chemo and when I asked my oncologist his opinion, he said that if I were a member of his family he would recommend I went for it, so I did.
I tolerated the chemo well and managed to work through all of it, but nor sure I could’ve done a skiing holiday!! Saying that, I did train for and complete the moonwalk in Edinburgh half way through treatment and found that the more I walked, the better I felt. The chemo did make me feel quite nauseous and incredibly tired, but that was just my experience and every individual is different. Two friends I made while going through chemo were more affected by it, while a colleague who’d been through it a couple of years earlier only suffered slight fatigue.
I would def have the mastectomy if I were you, and I would also push for a bilateral since there’s statistically more chance of lobular cancer occuring in your “good” boob. I had WLE x 2 to obtain clear margins and am now on a waiting list for an elective bilateral mastectomy with immediate DIEP reconstruction. I had wanted a mastectomy from the off, but my surgical team managed to convince me that I only required WLE. Once through treatment, I’ve not managed to get over the mastectomy issue, and my surgical team have been listened to my worries and agree that for me, mastectomy is the only way I can move forward. As my surgeon said, there’s no point in treating just your body if you’re mentally unable to recover.
Sorry for going on a bit and hopefully you won’t need to go through chemo at all. Rads for me was really easy compared to chemo, but again, I might have been really fortunate in how my body reacted.
Whatever treatment you require, I wish you every success with it. Take care. Ann x x
I do think a little bit of stubbornness can get you a long way through chemo. I found that keeping my life as normal as possible really worked for me. Some mornings I just wanted to lie in bed, but made myself get up, and the more I did, the better I felt. Bit like a hangover really! ? (Although I did have the odd duvet day) Sure you’ll be whizzing down those ski slopes come holiday time. Ann x x
Oh and keep at them for a bilateral if that’s what you want. Wishing you loads of luck with that one!! Ann x x