Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Lori's Survivor Story

What happened, in summary

Lori was 64 and living in Fairbanks, Alaska, when her lobular breast cancer was found through routine screening. A yearly mammogram in 2021 showed architectural distortion, and follow-up ultrasound in January 2022 found jagged edges on imaging. A February 2022 biopsy confirmed invasive lobular carcinoma. At that point, there was no known node involvement. Lori had a lumpectomy in March 2022. After surgery, the team found cancer in the third sentinel node. Four sentinel nodes were removed in total, and no additional nodes were taken. The diagnosis pushed Lori to research ILC and ask her surgeon and oncologist how lobular breast cancer was treated. Friends who had also been diagnosed with ILC connected her with Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance resources, where she found information that was easier to understand and use for decision-making. As of September 2024, Lori was in survivorship and had joined research groups that monitor cancer treatment experiences. She was also working with an LBCA Local Advocacy Team to educate people in her community. Her story focuses on screening, node involvement discovered after surgery, and the need for more treatment approaches designed specifically for lobular breast cancer. Lori also emphasizes the value of reputable education and persistent self-advocacy during follow-up care.