Stage 1 lobular breast cancer, anyone no treatment after surgery?

@brightlight66 Yes, we're pioneers alright...partly because we are determined to advocate for ourselves & not just accept "one-size-fits-all"! Somewhat unrelated but interesting, my radiologist told me that the 5-day radiation therapy that I had (& is proven to be as effective as longer plans, wildly more convenient
& less harmful in other ways, too, was clinically tested mostly in England because US companies didn't like the fact that it was less profitable. Can you believe that?! In other words, nothing prescribed to us should be taken at face value. Thanks for the info! I support yout efforts 100%!

@jmab You got it exactly about not accepting "one-size-fits all!
Thanks for sharing about the 5-day radiation therapy clinical results from ENGLAND. It figures that US companies were after the profits.
I believe that is why there's no funding for breast cancer clinical studies looking at lower doses of AIs...just not profitable and is in conflict with selling more drugs. When I told my Oncology Nurse Practitioner that I was taking Exemestane 3X/week, she dismissed it as ineffective. I didn't bother to share that Dr. Andrea De Censi, oncologist from Italy, who has done the research, recommends taking every other day if one has side effects. Europe and the UK seem to be more progressive than US here.

@ytendoll There is a good tool called "predict breast cancer" from Cambridge University. You can enter your specific details and play around with the different treatment options to see the expected outcomes.

@brightlight66 I agree! I wonder if it's because there is less empathy here for women having to suffer through these treatments. I'm convinced that 1 reason the half-dose (10 mg) Tamoxifen is slow to be approved is that it will be less profitable to the drug companies. You need to be skeptical to wade through the cancer treatment minefield! Keep up the good work!

I agree with all...US companies are time and time again more interested in profit than population outcomes. I have lived in several socialist countries, including England, and the strategies there are to minimize costs and pay attention to outcomes - but their nationals have complaints about the social health care system too. Wouldn't it be nice to hit a happy medium?! Maybe someday... Happy New Year all - and good luck with your treatment plans!

@jmab I saw this article on this website and thought of you. FYI:
https://www.droracle.ai/articles/79964/what-are-the-options-for-low-dose-tamoxifen-tamoxifen-citrate

@brightlight66 thank you! 😊

@spud62 My mom was just dx and just finished removal ( surgacal )of an IDC. THX! looks like ai or radiation at83 yrs old only bumps survival 2%.

Hooray for you! As patients we tend to lean into our physician ‘s advice as gospel but I totally agree with you! I e had a rather large lump in left breast over two years. Was told “nothing to worry about “ over a year. Then went to ob-gyn for endometriosis (found when I had MRI for pneumonia) she examined my breast and the immediate reaction was very telling. After further tests was told “it’s ILC” and went through several months of tests and biopsies then told I would need mastectomy. I was failed in so many ways by the medical team I could have sued and won I’m certain. But I decided to use my energy to fight the cancer instead. I had to travel 90 minutes each way to my surgery oncologist but was relieved when she offered the 6-9 months on letrozole then a lumpectomy. (I had lumpectomy on right breast more than 22 years before—which should have been considered from the get-go!) Now I’m 7 months on letrozole with lumpectomy scheduled for March—but oncologist now says if I need her to go back in to get the circumference needed per pathology report—it would probably mean a mastectomy. I am so upset as I had gone this route at her direction to prevent a mastectomy! Now the extreme tiredness from the medication and the thought of having to take it for 5-10 years following surgery is wearing me down. I turn 79 in a couple weeks and like others, am thinking just talent chances without taking anything g and live my best life for whatever time God allows. Wondering what others think about this…TIA and thanks for “listening”.

@buckokey Hang in there! The Letrozole may in fact be shrinking the ILC tumor for lumpectomy surgery which is why it was recommended. HOWEVER mastectomy is often recommended for ILC because ILC is so diffuse and surgery gets clear margins.
I wanted a lumpectomy too, but finally accepted that I needed a mastectomy which showed positive pathology margins (not clear). Then chemo to kill whatever cancer cells were left, a second surgery to get negative margins (clear pathology) and radiation. Because the ILC was so sneaky, I'm very happy that it's out and did not have any reconstruction. Honestly, I am glad to have had a mastectomy as there's no residual ILC. Now I'm on Anastrozole to prevent a recurrence and I'm doing my best.
So to answer your question, the Letrozole may in fact be shrinking everything so that you CAN get the lumpectomy, but if you need a mastectomy, please accept that the most important thing is that it's so important to get it all out because your life is a blessing and you are a most important part of this world.