FRILC

Front Range Invasive Lobular Carcinoma Patient Network

Connecting patients, researchers and clinicians in the Front Range on Invasive Lobular Breast Cancer

Connect with us on Facebook - Front Range ILC Patient Network Private Group

Our Mission:

The Front Range ILC (FRILC) Patient Advocacy group serves as a community for invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) patients, caregivers, researchers, and clinicians in the mountain west from the Colorado Springs, Denver and Ft. Collins regions. We represent the 15% of breast cancer patients diagnosed with ILC and are here to provide networking, support, education, advocacy, and fundraising for ILC.

Our Goal:

FRILC is dedicated to supporting individuals who live in the Colorado Front Range diagnosed with ILC.

Who we are:

Founded in 2023 by Dr. Donna Charlevoix and Dr. Tracy Cushing, both ILC patients, and Dr. Matt Sikora (Group Leader of the Sikora Lab), FRILC supports ILC advocacy and awareness.

Tracy Cushing: Tracy was diagnosed with lobular breast cancer in 2021 and as a physician, she is using her medical and public health background to advance understanding and research into lobular cancer. This is her fourth year of advocacy, and she has served on both the Board of Directors and the Research Committee of the LBCA, as a Department of Defense Patient Advocate Research Grant reviewer and has completed the Komen Advocates in Science process.

Donna Charlevoix: Donna was first diagnosed with LCIS in 2009, the cancer returned as metastatic ILC in July 2019. Since her metastatic diagnoses she has dedicated herself to developing peer-networking and raising awareness of ILC. She serves as a volunteer for LBCA, , SBC, LBBC and is a peer-to-peer support leader for METAvivor. She is actively engaged in multiple advocacy areas including research, science, politics, and grassroots advocacy.

Judy Haber: Judy was diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma in 2023 and realized she had no idea there were different types of breast cancer. She started looking into ILC and realized there was not nearly enough information for her. She found FRILC in September of 2023 and has been learning as much as she can ever since. She had to advocate for herself and realized she was also advocating for others with ILC, as well. Judy is getting more involved with advocacy and what that means for her, and how she can help others, as well.

Carolyn Reuss: Carolyn was diagnosed with de novo metastatic lobular breast cancer in 2024. She is early in her advocacy journey, and has been delighted to find the Front Range ILC Patent Network. She is using her experience as a technology innovation leader to build awareness of ILC and accelerate new research. Carolyn is an Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation 2025 scholar, and is expanding her advocacy experience to support her ILC patient peers and to support cancer research and public policy.

What we do:

FRILC organizes local networking events for our community, engages in local/regional breast cancer advocacy events, and partners closely with the Sikora Lab in holding outreach and education events.