My friend had a mastectomy recently. Her diagnosis, classical lobular carcinoma, with LCIS. Multiple nodules were found, the largest tumor being 3.5 cm, over three quadrants. I'm glad she elected to have the mastectomy.
She appeared to be node negative, but closer pathology revealed a small sentinel node met, but 14 or 14 additional axillary nodes were negative.
She is ER+ at 70% and PR+ at 20%. BRCA 1 & 2 negative, Her2/neu negative.
She is being offered dose dense A/C if she wants it, (and ovarian suppression or ablation), followed of course by Tamoxifen (she is premenopausal.)
Anyone who knows lobular knows that her best bet is hormonal therapy, but she is struggling with the risk vs. benefit of chemo. The benefit for lobular patients is low, and even then researchers and doctors are uncertain whether any real benefit exists from the chemo itself or whether the ovarian suppression induced by chemo is what offers the small (2-8%) benefit of A/C for these patients.
Oncotype DX assay results are forthcoming.
Meanwhile, is anyone else here in a similar situation?
Thank you.