Nicki, a healthcare professional, shares her story of being diagnosed with Lobular Breast Cancer aged 54, the choices she has had to make regarding treatment, and how she is now in training for a 10k run.
Following a routine breast screening, I received an appointment to attend my local breast clinic. I was 54 years old, completely fit and well, and in training for my first half marathon. I completely expected to go to the clinic and be told there was nothing to worry about – especially because I had no symptoms. However, on July 16th 2024 my life changed.
Further mammography showed a cluster of microcalcifications in my right breast. I had a stereotactic biopsy and a marker was also placed. I am a healthcare professional and my eldest daughter is a doctor. We both came away from that initial clinic appointment feeling that I had been told I had cancer without the ‘cancer’ word actually being spoken.
A few days later I returned to the clinic to have confirmed that the biopsy had shown I had Pleomorphic Lobular Carcinoma in Situ (LCIS) and some tiny areas of invasive Lobular Breast Cancer. This discovery then prompted an ultrasound of my breast and armpit to check my lymph nodes. They were all clear and an MRI of both breasts also showed nothing. I was reassured; my cancer was so tiny it could not be seen on any imaging and it was just the microcalcifications (a by-product of the cancer that could be seen on mammogram).
Towards the end of August I had a wide local excision / lumpectomy as day surgery and made a good recovery. There was a 3 week wait for the results. But the results day was not what I was expecting! There was extensive Pleomorphic LCIS with further invasive cancer with no clear margins. The surgeon’s recommendation was for a mastectomy.
In early October, I had a right mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. I couldn’t have my preferred option of reconstruction using my tummy fat because CT angiogram had shown a lack of adequate blood vessels for this type of surgery to be successful. However, my silicone implant reconstruction is great and an excellent match to my left natural breast. I have no nipple, but will be discussing the available options with my plastic surgeon in June 2025.
Who knew the choices for nipples… reconstruction with tattoo, 3D tattoo or a prosthetic stick on one, or just leave the breast as it is – I have a horizontal 6.5cm very fine scar across where my nipple used to be. I also had sentinel node lymph biopsy at this surgery where a single lymph node was taken to be absolutely sure the cancer was not in the lymph. I was in hospital for 6 days, mainly because the team wanted my drains to be removed prior to discharge.
A long 3 week wait for results followed. However, I was also ‘busy’ recovering from surgery with the support of my daughters. A gentle walk every day was all that was allowed so as to limit any fluid build up around the implant.
Results day came and fortunately the cancer was grade 2 stage 1 – so small and contained within the breast. It was triple positive, which means it was receptive or aided in its growth by oestrogen and progesterone and also had a protein called HER2 which made its growth more aggressive.
I didn’t need radiotherapy and had a very good discussion with my oncologist, aided by a tool called PREDICT to help me make an informed decision about whether I should have chemotherapy and Herceptin for the HER2. We concluded that any benefits from this treatment in preventing recurrence were by far outweighed by the side effects. So I am simply on an endocrine blocker called Letrozole, and taking 1 tablet a day for 10 years, which is my most effective treatment to prevent recurrence of my cancer.
Routine breast screening has literally saved my life! The cancer was pleomorphic and triple positive, so fast growing. My breasts are dense and my cancer Lobular… it couldn’t be seen on mammography, ultrasound or MRI; it was the microcalcifications that indicated the cancer’s presence.
I am so fortunate the cancer was discovered so early, prior to any symptoms and this has meant the treatment has been minimal – not requiring radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
My fears are for my other breast, knowing that Lobular Breast Cancer can often be hard to see on imaging but I will be having yearly mammograms at my breast clinic, where the imaging is more sophisticated than that used for routine screening. The Letrozole will also support the slowing of any growth of new cancer.
My life has resumed a new normal. I’m back at work full time and back to running 5km – building to 10km – for my first proper run at the end of June for Cancer Research UK.
I am feeling very grateful I have survived my Lobular Breast Cancer, mainly because it was detected so early and because of the amazing team that looks after me.
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