27 year old lobular carcinoma

youngdogmum
youngdogmum Member Posts: 250
edited February 2019 in Newly diagnosed
Hi there,
I’m 27 and based in Brisbane just now. 
12 days ago I was diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma. I don’t yet know lymph involvement but am guessing it’s likely (nothing showed on USS or palpable however.)
My surgeon has recommended a full lymph clearance.
Is there anyone else out there this young with lobular? 

My biggest fear is leaving my husband behind without any children, what if my illness causes him to miss his chance of having kids with someone else one day? 

Unfortunately I’m a nurse so know a bit too much about what I’m about to go through. 
I have a mastectomy in 3 days and axillary clearance. 

Trying to remain positive.
At what point did you ladies meet your oncologist? I’m not meeting them until next week when the final pathology/sizing etc is back after surgery and they’ve had an MDT to decide my treatment plan. Is this normal? I’m public.
«1345

Comments

  • kmakm
    kmakm Member Posts: 7,974
    edited February 2019
    Hello and welcome. I'm sorry you joined us, but I hope you find it as helpful and supportive as I have.

    There is a young women's group here which you might like to check out.

    https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/group/10-young-women

    I didn't see my oncologist until after my wide local excision and a re-excision for margins, and all the pathology was in. Treatment options can change after surgery as the mammograms and ultrasounds often don't accurately reflect the size of the tumour. So yes, it's normal as far as I'm aware, to see your oncologist at that point.

    We've got quite a few medical trained patients here, I'm sure they'll be along soon to advise on how manage BC in your position.

    Make sure you speak to your oncologist about fertility issues at your first appointment. I'm not sure what you mean about leaving your husband unable to have kids with someone else. Are you able to clarify?

    I know it's hard, and we all do it, but try to not jump too far ahead. Don't cross any bridges until you come to them. Predictive grief is not helpful! One step at a time lovely. Big hug, K
  • youngdogmum
    youngdogmum Member Posts: 250
    Hi Kmakm thanks for the reply :)

    Ive been trying to find that link for the group thanks for sharing.

    I should have added that my body and bone scans were clear 😃 

    As much as I want to not jump ahead, I am far too aware of the possibility of recurrence etc and as we don’t have any kids yet, I’m not sure we will be able to.
    I meet again today with fertility to discuss harvesting eggs and freezing embryos, however I’m hearing that longer term tamoxifen is showing better results in young women (10 years over 5 years) 
    This is of course by my own readings and not from an oncologist, but I suppose I’m scared if I take longer term tamoxifen and we don’t have a baby, then something happens later to myself and he hasn’t had any children. Is that awful of me to take a medicine longer to prolong my life but not give him the opportunity of children? 
    Oh these dark morbid thoughts! Time for a play with my dog I think to cheer me up. 

    Thanks for again for replying ❤️
  • kmakm
    kmakm Member Posts: 7,974
    See what the fertility experts say! There are people out there who've had kids whilst managing hormone therapy. Sometimes the percentages the doctors talk about are tiny. And there are also surrogates who could carry your baby for you.

    Have you discussed these fears with your husband? K xox
  • arpie
    arpie Member Posts: 7,521
    Hi @youngdogmum ... Sorry to see you here, but the wealth of information from those who’ve gone before you may help to allay some of your fears.   

    Great that your body and bone scans are clear.  That’s a good start.

    I was diagnosed with ILC in Jan ‘18 and had breast conserving surgery/lumpectomy, dodged the chemo bullet and had 4 weeks radiation and now on hormone tablets.   My pathology was good.  Clear margins and not in lymph nodes and I was back doing basically everything I love doing within a month of surgery, tho had to be wary of road bumps for some months (holding my boob to lessen the ‘bounce’)

    Try not to 2nd guess everything before you see the experts ... Dr Google will just muck with your head.  Everyone’s situation is totally different and what worked for one may not work for another.  I didn’t see my Med oncologist til after I had my radiation .... tho my surgeon and his team had advised me early on that I would be going on to hormone tablets to lessen the chance of recurrence ..... but I was already menopausal. 

    Take one day at a time, get over the surgery first, the rest will slot in place over time.   It is a scarey ride, but we are here to help you thru it.

    keep talking with your husband as he will be just as scared as you are ....., I hope you have supportive family and friends to help you out after the surgery as you will have some restrictions in movement initially.  

    Take me care and all the best with your surgery and pathology results.  Xxxx
  • Sister
    Sister Member Posts: 4,960
    Hi, Lunch is almost over so I'll be quick ... Check my profile for diagnosis and treatment for ILC.  Mine didn't show in the nodes until I had the first surgery with sentinel nodes taken.  Second surgery, I had the axillary dissection.
  • Zoffiel
    Zoffiel Member Posts: 3,372
    edited February 2019
    Yes, that's normal @youngdogmum. They need the path reports for the MDT to make recommendations. Depends where you are, but it seems likely you will be referred to an oncologist as soon as the results come in.

    My cancer was ILC too, but i was 43 when I was first diagnosed. It's interesting that you surgeon is recommending a full axillary clearance straight up.  I'm wondering if you are in a regional area where that procedure is more common as there is often no facilities for sentinel node surgery or if that is your surgeons usual approach or if they feel you are likely to have second level node involvement? It's worth asking about that as a full clearance can be problematic later and many surgeons try to avoid them unless it's absolutely necessary.

    Your concerns about fertility are absolutely valid, . Ask lots of questions. Mxx
  • kezmusc
    kezmusc Member Posts: 1,544
    HI @youngdogmum,

    Just wanted to say Hi and welcome to the forum.  Mine wasn't ILC so I cannot help in that respect. 

    However, I will jump in and agree with @Zoffiel regarding the axillary clearance.  I am sure you are aware It's a fairly invasive procedure with a number of risks and possible long term side effects and it generally isn't something surgeons like to do unless it's necessary.  

    I was 45 when I had this procedure along with lumpectomy but it was done because we knew there were lymph nodes involved from the beginning, so no choice.

    I would say I recovered very well from it all things considered and yes your age probably will help in that respect as well.   I did a ridiculous amount of exercise for both strength and making sure everything was draining well. There was minor cording at the beginning but that went quickly with exercise and physio and have been fortunate that I haven't had any trouble with lymphodema. The strength in that arm is as good as it ever was except with weight on it up high.

    In saying that though there are numb parts (shaving is still weird), super sensitive parts, it still pulls at full stretch, feels kind of oddly puffy at times and still tingles mildly when I use the lawn mower. That's after 2 and a bit years. As Zoffiel said, we don't want to scare you off but information is somewhat lacking at times unless you push the issues. 

    I guess it depends on how comfortable you are with what you have been told and how content you are going to be about having had that procedure if it all comes back clear ( which of course we want it to) and wasn't necessary...

    Trust your instincts and never be afraid to ask as many questions as you need to.

    Best of luck lovely.  Keep us updated with how you are going.  There is always plenty of support around.

    xoxoxoxox
  • Sister
    Sister Member Posts: 4,960
    I agree with the others.  The issues with the underarm are the most difficult part (physically) with the surgery so it pays to be pushy.  I have ongoing cording (I'd never heard of it before and my current GP has never heard of it but it affects many of us), have little sensation but odd pains, and worry a lot about the possibility of lymphoedema.  If you need it, you need it but it's not something to go into lightly.  And it's something you don't get told much about beforehand.  As @zoffiel says - you will deal with this the same way as you deal with any crisis where you are the centre of attention.  While I appreciated help, I didn't want to be crowded and I let some good friends deal with keeping people up to date until I got a blog sorted.
  • youngdogmum
    youngdogmum Member Posts: 250
    Hi all,
    I re-read my notes and I’m actually supposed to be having grade 1 and 2 clearance.
    Sorry for the confusion, I remember him initially saying total clearance. So much info in the last 10 days has gone into my brain 😬
    ive tried attaching my dog photo, hopefully it works!! She’s about to turn 2, Bonnie ❤️