Stage II HR-Positive Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Karen's Survivor Story
This breast cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Stage at diagnosis
- Stage II
- Subtype
- Invasive Lobular Carcinoma
- Biomarkers
- ER-positive; PR-positive; HER2-negative; grade 2; inherited genetic testing negative
- Sex
- Female
- Treatment
- surgery, chemotherapy, reconstruction, hormone therapy and targeted therapy
- Outcome
- Care Ongoing / Survivorship
Treatment course, step by step
- Double mastectomy → 3 months of chemotherapy → breast reconstruction → ongoing endocrine therapy plus targeted therapy.
What happened, in summary
Karen moved from Seattle to Honolulu in July 2023 to lead an oncology service line. Two months later, at age 43, she found a breast lump despite having had a clear screening mammogram 9 months earlier. She had dense breast tissue and a family history of young breast cancer, although inherited genetic testing had been negative. An urgent-care physician ordered the ultrasound that began her diagnostic work-up.
Imaging showed multiple tumors across a large area, making mastectomy the only surgical option offered. Karen chose a double mastectomy. Final pathology found an 8.5 cm grade 2 invasive lobular carcinoma with associated lobular carcinoma in situ. The cancer was estrogen- and progesterone-receptor positive and HER2-negative. All 4 sampled lymph nodes contained isolated tumor cells. These isolated tumor cells were classified as technically node-negative. Her pathologic stage was IIB, while her prognostic stage was IB.
Karen then completed 3 months of chemotherapy and underwent reconstruction. She continued endocrine therapy and a targeted therapy.
At the time of her story, Karen was doing well, walking 3–5 miles each day and adjusting to treatment-related menopause. Her experience as both a patient and an oncology leader strengthened her commitment to improving cancer care and expanding research opportunities for people living in Hawaii.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance. Read the original in full
How we source and attribute stories Accuracy and limitations
These are lay summaries of published cancer stories, for information only. No two cancers behave the same way, and nothing here predicts your own diagnosis or replaces advice from your oncology team. Read the full disclaimer