Stage II Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Alma's Patient Story

What happened, in summary

Alma had always been vigilant about breast self-checks and annual mammograms because her mother had been treated for breast cancer. After moving from St. Louis to Australia with her husband and 2 sons, she began having recurring pain on her left side and under her arm. A mammogram looked normal, and 2 doctors reassured her, but the pain persisted. Alma found a breast specialist on her own. A quick ultrasound identified a suspicious mass, and a biopsy confirmed cancer 2 days later. During lumpectomy, the tumor that had been missed on at least 2 mammograms measured almost 2 inches, about 5 cm. The pathology report showed invasive lobular carcinoma, a subtype Alma had never heard of before. Information online was limited in 2017, and she felt she had to raise the lobular diagnosis herself during care. Her treatment plan included chemotherapy, radiation, and 10 years of tamoxifen. Four and a half years after the initial diagnosis, Alma found a local recurrence. Once again, scans had looked clear, but repeated pain under her arm told her something was wrong. Alma later connected with LBCA and began advocating for better awareness, imaging access, and research connections for people with ILC, especially in Australia.