kimmycakes' Journey with Invasive Lobular Carcinoma
Survivor: Breast Cancer > Invasive Lobular Carcinoma
Patient Info: Finished active treatment less than 5 years ago, Diagnosed: over 10 years ago, Female, Age: 59, Stage I
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Experience Icon Descriptions
Procedure: Drag this icon to show a procedure.
Radiation: Drag this icon to show a specific radiation therapy experience.
Drug Therapy: Drag this icon to show a specific drug therapy experience.
Clinical Trial: Drag this icon to show a clinical trial experience.
Side Effect: Drag this icon to show experience with a specific side effect.
Oh No: Drag this icon to show when something bad happened (e.g., cancer’s back, lost job).
Celebration: Drag this icon to show when something good happened (e.g., last treatment, hair is back).
Loss: Drag this icon to show a time of loss (e.g., lost hair, lost loved one).
Decision Point: Drag this icon to show a time when you had to make a tough decision.
Other Care: Draft this icon to show a time when you needed other care (e.g., hospice, psychotherapy).
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Diagnosed
Oh No
Wow, who would have ever thought I would be saying I had breast cancer. I was very careful about my diet, exercise and other lifestyle choices. There was no history of breast cancer in my family so the diagnosis was almost surreal for me.
Lumpectomy
Procedure or Surgery
I had a lumpectormy to remove my cancer; when they went in they had to take out a little more than expected but that was fine with me. I am a fighter and very strong and positive person. I went back to work within two days and never missed a day of work after; still went every day for radiation and continued my exercise routine. I felt it was important to keep my life as "normal" as possible. I am a very private person, so no one in the community knew of my diagnosis or surgery except my family and a few close friends. I had very minimal side effects of radiation treatment; but I did have the weeping or sweating as they call it under the breast; it was very managable.
External radiation
Radiation
Radiation was a breeze.....
Emu oil
Clinical Trial
Mayo Clinic is trying to see if emu oil is more effective than the other oils currently used for the breast after radiation. I have yet to hear the resuls as they have not secured enough volunteers that I am aware of.
Side Effects
I didn't have side effects that I would describe as "notable," other than the sweating that occured during the last two weeks of my radiation.
Finished treatment
Celebration
My family and I celebrated with a night out when I finished treatment. I also attend the Cancer Survivors Day at Mayo clinic that is held each year in celebration of life.
Hormones or not, lumpectomy or breast removal
Decision Point
I had a few decisions to make with my cancer; one being whether or not to have my breast removed or a lumpectomy. Considering the fact that my cancer area was so small and didn't go into the lymph nodes I chose a simple lumpectomy. I am happy that I did. I also had to decide if I wanted any type of hormone therapy. After speaking with my physician at Mayo Clinic and hearing the options I opted not to have additional therapy because the percentage rate (recurrance) was less than .5% and I do not want to put chemicals of any sort that I feel are not necessary in my body due to the fact that we have such a balanced system the way it is.