Stage IV Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Beth's Patient Story

What happened, in summary

Beth had recently turned 63 when she shared her experience with pleomorphic invasive lobular carcinoma. Her first diagnosis came in 2005, when she was in her early 40s and working in oncology drug sales. The cancer was Stage II pleomorphic ILC with lymph node involvement. Beth went through chemotherapy, had no radiation, and later completed hormone therapy. Because she knew breast cancer and oncology drugs well, she tried to live fully without assuming the cancer was gone forever. Sixteen years later, while living in New Zealand and just before turning 60, Beth learned that her ILC had spread to her bones. The discovery happened after rib pain was checked while she was being treated for an unrelated injury. Before starting metastatic treatment, her care team gave her time to travel around New Zealand. After returning to the United States, Beth connected with LBCA and began focusing on research advocacy. She joined a breast cancer advocacy research group at her medical center, supported an ILC research grant application, and planned to donate tissue to help create a cell line. Beth described about 2 good years of swimming and biking while living with metastatic ILC, followed by another progression and plans for another trip to New Zealand.