Elke learned she had Invasive Lobular Breast Carcinoma from a mammography.  In terms of treatment, she had options.  Elke considered a lumpectomy, but found herself having to choose between a unilateral mastectomy or a bilateral mastectomy.  She chose a double mastectomy.  Following a successful surgery, she was prescribed estrogen blockers.  Elke eventually went into remission in 2014, and while she still goes in for followup visits with her oncologists, those visits are becoming less frequent.  She has returned to her job, and when weather allows, she gets to her job on her bicycle.

 

Elke, a native of Germany but a resident of Golden, Colorado, always made sure to go in for an annual mammogram.  One year, after such an appointment, she received a letter asking her to come in for a followup visit.  From that followup visit, she learned she had Invasive Lobular Breast Carcinoma. 

 

Her initial wish was to undergo a lumpectomy, but that was excluded rather quickly because of the size of the tumor.  That meant she had to make a decision between a unilateral mastectomy or a bilateral mastectomy.  She consulted a few friends who had been diagnosed with breast cancer, but the greatest source of influence came from an x-ray technician who reminded her if only one breast was removed, she would have to continue to come in for mammograms.  That said, Elke decided to go with the double mastectomy.  The surgery was compatible with chemotherapy, so instead she went with estrogen blockers.

 

The procedure was a success, but afterward, Elke spent a week in intensive care, then rested at home for a month.  She still takes the estrogen blockers.

 

Elke received good news when her oncologist informed her she had gone into remission and would no longer have to come in for a visit every six months and could instead be seen once a year.

In large part, life has returned to normal for Elke.  She is back at her job, rides a bike to work and when time allows, she loves to go hiking.

 

By way of advice, she says to take each step of the cancer journey in stride, and to at all times, do what is best for you.  She also suggests listening to your body, and in and out of the doctor’s office, always serve as your own advocate.