New here....

Kriddie

Hello all-

My mom was dx on June 2nd and had a mastectomy w/expander on her left breast on June 30th.  She is recovering well from surgery and has been told that she should probably prepare herself for 6 months of chemo and possibly rads because the cancer was close to the skin. 

She is 61 (almost 62) in great physical shape and this beast came out of nowhere.  She had her annual mammogram in August of '07 and was found her lump herself in April.  It scares me that it grew so fast.  From not being visible on the mammogram to being detected during a SE makes me think it grew very fast. 

I'm an only child, although an old one (39!) so I have been helping out my father as much as possible.  I'm just so scared and I hate that my mom is looking at all of this chemo.  My mom is very active and very much a part of my two daughter's lives and I fear the unknown of how chemo and this whole thing will change all of our lives.  Everyone in my family kind of looks at this as a temporary "blip" and that we'll get through it and life will eventually get back to how it once was.  I feel positive most of the time but it's when I'm alone and doing nothing that the awful, dark and scary thoughts move in. 

I've learned so very much from this board and all of the wonderful people here.  I have been disecting my mother's path report and the basics are this: IDC, two tumors, #1 2.5 cm, between .5 and 1.0 cm.  Er+ Pr+ HER2 not amplified.  3/15 nodes were positive.

A couple of questions:

Blood/Lymphatic Vessel Invasion: Absent/Not observed  (Does this mean the cancer has not entered the bloodstream?)

Tubule Formation: Minimal, less than 10%  (What does this mean?)

Nuclear Pleomorphism:  Moderate increase in size score=2 (What's this?)

Mitotic Count:  Less than 10 mitoses per 10 HPF score=1 (What's this?)

In the node studies it references "isolated CK7+ tumor cells with no tissue reaction"  what is CK7+?

I am looking for some "reassurance" that only 3 of the nodes showed involvement of the 15 examined.  I know there is no knowing but can anyone give opinions on it being "hopeful" that since only 3 nodes were positive, it was removed before it could spread further?  Does the not observed report in the lymphatic vessel report indicated that?

I'm sorry for the long rambling report, just looking for a little info and everyone here seems to so knowledgeable.  My mom is the type to take things one step at a time but I like to know as much as possible ahead of time.  Sometimes I think this can be a bad thing.

Thanks in advance.

Kristin  

LUVmy2girlZ

Kristin~

You are a sweet daughter, I am sorry you and your mother are going through this difficult journey....but remember, Breast Cancer is a survivable disease!  Though we have no "cure" unfortunately have 1 out of 7 will be diagnosed w/ BC...and with that stat comes excellent technology!  Most say radiation wasn't as bad as chemo yet, I read and some have had difficult times w/ radiation and not chemo.  Bottom line is you want to get RID of the cancer and surgery and therapy can help.  Take it slowly one step at a time and one day at a time.

I can't really decipher her biopsy results...but I took mine to my Primary Care Physician...alot sounds more scarier than it was...he/she ( or surgeon ) can go over that w/ you and your mother.

Stay strong and keep the faith you will be surprised just how well your Mother will do!

Much LUV

cwbyjnkies

Hi Kristen,

 You are a mindful daughter. Gather as much information as possible. By this, I mean in the form of second opinions..especially in the realm of surgery, chemo, hormonal, radiation therapies. I was diagnosed with Invasive ductal carcinoma, stage 1, grade 3, node neg er+/pr+, her2 negative and then it came back positive through fish. I am having the oncotype dx test to check the level of recurrence. At first I thought the bilateral mastectomy and tamox. hormonal therapy would be enough, however that her2 test threw a curveball along with the grade 3 status. Moffitt cancer center stands firm in hitting the original prog hard with treatments....in an effort to prevent recurrence and follow up with alternative treatment to rebuild immune system. 

Before my diag. I was an avid soccer player, took care of myself, no history....this truly is a club that no one wants to be a member of. Lastly, call the American cancer institute, they have a lifeline and are full of infinite knowledge...