Stage II HR-Positive Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Tanya's Patient Story

What happened, in summary

Tanya was 47 when a routine mammogram in November 2020 led to a callback for a 3D mammogram. Small calcifications were seen, and biopsy first showed ductal carcinoma. While waiting to meet a surgeon, Tanya followed a friend’s advice and saw a high-risk cancer nurse practitioner. Genetic testing was negative, but the nurse practitioner also ordered a breast MRI. That MRI changed everything: it found a large lobular tumor that mammograms had completely missed. Instead of a lumpectomy, Tanya moved toward bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction after a second opinion helped her accept the plan. Her tumor was 3.2 cm, with no lymph node involvement. Treatment decisions were complicated because her Oncotype DX score was 27, while MammaPrint came back low risk. Tanya ultimately chose 4 rounds of chemotherapy. One month after completing chemotherapy, she started tamoxifen. Through her diagnosis and treatment, Tanya searched for information about lobular breast cancer and found LBCA’s resources especially helpful. A few months later, her mother was also diagnosed with lobular breast cancer, even though both women had negative genetic testing. Tanya later joined the LBCA Board of Directors and supported Nebraska legislation for supplemental breast screening coverage. Her experience also reinforced the value of MRI for difficult breast imaging.