← Return to High risk, NOT from BRCA but from typia, such as ALH, ADH, LCIS

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@katnotcat

Hello,

I had a breast reduction in Oct 2022. ALH was incidentally found in my left breast and PASH in my right breast. I have an oncologist at Dana Farber in Boston and i am on a high risk protocol (my mom had DCIS). I had a baseline breast MRI in January and then started Tamoxifen in February 2023 (its not fun). I have gained about 13 lbs since the tamo and am worried that my chest will get bigger. Lately I have been experiencing sharp pains in my left breast (prob for last 3 weeks but recently its been consistent throughout the day). The anxiety around all this is the worst. My mammogram in May took a couple of weeks to report because of cellular changes due to surgery (the baseline MRI had same result). My oncologist wanted to wait until this coming breast MRI (november) to see what shakes out. Im very nervous that there was something else left in my breasts that will need further treatment. I am at the point that I would elect to have the masectomy if anything else is found. Has anyone had a similiar experience of wait and see? From what I have read ALH can quickly progress into IBC? Also, read that PASH is benign but its noted in all my medical records. Not sure why its so important other than its pretty rare?
Ive only been dealing with all this for a year...I cant imagine dealing for an extending period of time. Or having to have further, intensive treatment.
Any advise would be appreciated!

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Replies to "Hello, I had a breast reduction in Oct 2022. ALH was incidentally found in my left..."

Hi @katnotcat, so many decisions to be made with ALH and PASH. It's not easy and anxiety-inducing for sure. I'm tagging fellow members like @fronterae @delormv @cindylb @casa @tommie57 @sorrel who can share their ALH experiences with you. And @annac3 has PASH.

You may also be interested in these related discussions:
- Atypical lobular hyperplasia: Did you have surgery?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/atypical-lobular-hyperplasia/
- Tamoxifen yes or no?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tamoxifen-yes-or-no/
- PASH with invasive ductal carcinoma
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pash-with-invasive-ductal-carcinoma/

When will you have the breast MRI? How are you doing?

My experience may be similar in some ways and not in others...but here's my experience. I have had a bi lateral mastectomy for invasive Lobular Carcinoma (in 2015). In 2013 I was diagnosed with LCIS (lobular carcinoma in situ). I did 6 month check ups and two years later had invasive cancer, Stage 1. I think, at the time, it was reasonable to wait and see but if I knew then, what I know now...I would have opted for the bi lateral mastectomy in 2013....but I didn't and the doctors couldn't know. I was lucky my cancer was caught early but I hit some bumps along the road. First, I worried a lot, second the lymph node biopsy of the Stage 1 bi lateral mastectomy resulted in lymphadema of my right arm, which has caused me many problems over the years and third....the oncologist who I was seeing for check ups ignored my breast lump I found and told me to 'wait'. I didn't wait and I'm grateful I asserted myself because I would have been much worse off if I hadn't moved forward as quickly as I did. It should be noted that my 2013 LCIS diagnosis was in my right breast and my invasive cancer was in my left breast. Lobular Hyperplasia seems to show up in both...hence, the reason I opted for the mastectomy. I was in my mid 50's at the time and I opted not to get reconstruction. The extra surgery, time and pain wasn't something I wanted to experience. I don't regret that decision...especially now that I am diagnosed with two autoimmune conditions. My body probably wouldn't like foreign objects inside my chest wall. Heck, at this point....my own body doesn't even like itself, ha ha. Push for your rights, be your own advocate, get second opinions, reach out to others (as you're doing) and research on safe, reputable sights and get a good idea of what many medical professionals feel. Do what your instincts tell you to do as well. You know your own body and mind. Hugs

Hi @katnotcat, on December 2022 I was diagnosed with ALH in my right breast. I was 50 at the time with very dense tissue and family history(sister with DCIS at the age of 36, she did double mastectomy). My breast surgeon did a excisional biopsy. I had Genetic Test in January results negative. I am in a close surveillance monitoring with alternating MRI’s and Dx mammograms every 6 months. I went to an oncologist that suggested to take Tamoxifen, I decided not to take them because all the side effects and just to keep monitoring with MRI’s and Mammograms. On June I had my MRI and was ok, but in July I had a follow-up mammogram after surgery and they found more clusters of microcalcifications in the same breast. They did a biopsy in two different areas. Both of them with ALH. The doctor told me that I don’t need surgery. I have another Dx mammogram in December 5th and appointment with the Nurse Practitioner the week after.