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Invasive breast cancer: What's next?
Breast Cancer | Last Active: Aug 16, 2023 | Replies (32)Comment receiving replies
You are so right about perceptions. I went with everything they could throw at it and never looked back. ILC is a different animal for sure. It can hide (and DID) in my case. The skill of my surgeon at the time was key (clear margins) and knowing to take the 16 nodes (of which 10 were positive). Going in, we thought my cancer was 1a. Ended up being 3c. Fortunately, AI is agreeing with me. Dana Farber had a very nuanced approach to my care, and I'm looking at 8 years of the AI total (after 2 years Tamoxifen). Also had Zometa for 3 years. Didn't go to Dana Farber until I wanted a second opinion on aftercare, and am glad I did. Diagnosed 2/19. Such a personal decision (especially what we decide to do as part of the survivorship phase).
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I'm happy you went with Dana Farber for a second opinion. While I feel in very good hands, my oncologist is crazy busy and I saw a NP for 3 month appt to review Letrozole. No mammo for a year (in Oct my regular mammo month). Since my ILC was hidden behind a large dense breast with a large benign cyst I feel very lucky! Although I do think it may have been caught earlier had I heeded MA required Density Letter and asked for supplemental scans over the years. My gyno did request a MRI 10 years ago which looked good but again I think another MRI would have been helpful over the last 10 yrs. Why so stingy with MRI for even dense breasts. The NP said MRI only offered at 1 year if I had the BRAC gene which fortunately I do not. I will ask in Oct. if I can have a survivorship plan which includes an annual MRI. I'll keep you posted and just wondering if you could shar your surveillance plan with your 3c stage ILC. xoxo