Stage II Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Tamra's Patient Story

What happened, in summary

Tamra, a registered nurse and care coordinator in Cleveland, was diagnosed with Stage II invasive lobular breast cancer on September 24, 2024, after her yearly mammogram. She did not have the usual warning signs such as a lump, breast thickening, or dimpling. Looking back, she realized there had been a slight change in breast shape, but she had dismissed it. Her imaging showed a faint architectural distortion, which was especially important because she had dense breasts. Her oncologist described the diagnosis as both good and bad news: invasive lobular breast cancer was serious, but it had been caught early. Tamra was offered 2 main surgical paths: a complete mastectomy without radiation, or a partial mastectomy/lumpectomy with radiation. Chemotherapy would be considered after the MammaPrint genomic analysis of the lesion. She spent many sleepless nights reviewing research on invasive lobular breast cancer and found the evidence base frustratingly limited. In the end, she chose partial mastectomy with radiation and concurrent bilateral breast reconstruction at Cleveland Clinic, where she works. As of January 2026, Tamra was still navigating treatment decisions and had become motivated to support LBCA’s call for more lobular-specific research, clearer guidance, and patient community. Her nursing background helped her ask questions, but it did not remove the uncertainty of choosing between reasonable options.