I was diagnosed in October 2024 with Invasive lobular breast cancer that has spread to my lymph nodes and up to my subclavian vessels. My first line of treatment is targeted therapy and Letrozole and hopefully to have surgery in the future
Is there anybody else out there who has been given targeted therapy before surgery? It would be great to know how you are getting on. It seems most have surgery first. I would love to hear others stories and journeys that had targeted therapy first
So sorry for what you are going through. It is hell, endlessly waiting for updates and test results, and constantly worrying about how the tumour is doing
I had a 4.5cm lobular, hormone sensitive tumour with 3 nodes involved and just 0.5mm clearance to the chest wall muscle. That was 17 years ago and I am still well. I took arimidex (an AI like letrazole) for 5 years and then switched to tamoxifen for 5 years. That time I had a mastectomy first, and chemo and radiotherapy to follow.
Then 6 years ago I found a lump in the other breast and it was a herceptin pos ductal tumour (2,5cm). This time I had targeted chemo first. I only got 3 of 6 rounds of chemo in, when I fainted and broke my humerus. They couldn’t continue with chemo because of the fracture, so they went straight to the mastectomy. Lo and behold, the post op histology showed a complete resolution of tumour. It just goes to show how incredibly powerful the chemo is when half the intended course managed to obliterate 2,5 cm of tumour. I am still fit and well, and have just taken up running to try and stay that way.
I think the whole area of breast cancer treatment is evolving and improving quite quickly. I also think the targeted therapies pre-op are becoming more common so the surgery can be better planned. We just have to trust in the medical system to do the right treatment for us, and it is certainly becoming very individualised. I help out at Moving Forward courses (check them out on the website for after your active treatment) and it amazes me how everyone goes through a different pathway. Also remember that the nurses here at BCN are always available to chat to on the helpline.
Anyway, I wish you all the best and hope your treatment goes really well
