Lobular breast Cancer yearly mammogram with contrast or without?

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Was hoping others with experiences of lobular cancer could please help me understand the yearly follow from treatment regime please? Have my apptmt this Fri all being well and its with the breast surgeon who performed my 2 surgeries Jan 2022 and Feb 2022. The apppointment will include a mammogram, obviously no results that day but will not be with contrast. When I queried it as my scans following a biopsy Nov 21 tht showed lobular cancer were both with contrast that beng a breast MRI and mammogram was told they (mammograms) are not done with contrast during Friday  clinics. Bit confused.  My Jan 2021 basic 3yr mammogram came back clear Jan 2021 11months before diagnosis. Told that basic mammograms can still be useful which is helpful to know but if I then would be asked to return to have another with contrast would prefer to have had just the one with contrast  and avoid two waiting for results times if you get my drift. The basic yearly mammogram initially for ILBC may be a standard thing in the UK of course. Certainly bit confused at the moment.            Thk you and all the best to those in treatment and awaiting results.  

  • Hi, I had a mixed IDC and ILC tumour, but did not know until after my mastectomy and the pathology results. My original diagnosis, by mammogram and MRI was IDC. My first yearly mammogram was without contrast, but on the other breast of course. 

  • Thank you Cloudier for taking the time to reply. Hope you are doing well with your treatment now. 

  • Thank you. I’m surprised you haven’t got anymore replies though. I completely understand why you would prefer to have a contrast mammogram, because like you, the lobular cancer did not show up on my original scan. I have seen on this forum other posts about ILC, and some people mention that they have a MRI scan, not a mammogram. Maybe this depends on where you live? I dont think it would be unreasonable for you to ask, if you think you would prefer that. 

  • I had a tomo (3D) mammogram in my remaining breast.  It takes pictures in “slices”.  

  • I had a 20cm lobular tumour that was missed for 6 months as it didn’t show on a normal mammogram…,

  • Thk you for reply. I will look up the 3D mammogram. Haven't heard of tht one or at least tht specific name. Life gets a little blurry after various treatments and scans. Its like... when does it all stop and any normality return....   Hope all is well with your treatment plan or as well as can be expected under such circumstances. 

  • Thank you.  Done surgery, chemo, radio, just started Zoladex monthly and Letrozole, had my first Zoledronic Acid infusion and in a fortnight I start Abemaciclib and then I’ll finally start to know what my new normal is going to be like - partly excited partly afraid but determined to make the best of it…,