Stage III Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Jacque's Patient Story

What happened, in summary

Jacque, an academic advisor and mother of 2 grown children, found a hard, gritty, annoying lump under her left arm and breast in 2019. Her OB-GYN agreed it should be checked, but a mammogram and ultrasound were initially reassuring, and the radiologist told her to keep an eye on it. When Jacque later noticed a change, her new OB-GYN ordered a needle biopsy in early December. That biopsy led to the call telling her she had breast cancer. Jacque and her husband went to Pittsburgh for a second opinion, where she was diagnosed with Stage III invasive lobular carcinoma. Treatment began soon afterward. She completed 6.5 months of chemotherapy, had 2 lumpectomies, and then traveled daily to Pittsburgh for radiation during COVID, with her husband driving her each day. Since the previous December, she had been taking Tamoxifen. As of December 2021, Jacque was continuing hormone therapy and learning how to live after what she called her COVID cancer year. She found LBCA materials while sitting in a hospital waiting room and used them to better understand why ILC is different. Her experience taught her to ask for help, accept support, and keep asking questions. Her story also shows how second opinions can clarify a difficult lobular breast cancer diagnosis.