IDC survivors who had lumpectomy and rads

kdholt

Sometimes I worry I did not do enough. Should I have done chemo? Mast? I only had lumpectomy and rads and tamox. Are there any 5 year or more survivors that chose  the same treatment that I chose and are still cancer free?I am a year out from treatment and am experiencing a lot of anxiety for some reason about this. Thanks for your stories.

kdholt

Any one?????

ADK

I am only three years out and I only did lumpectomy & rads but did not do tamox - and I seem to be okay.  I figure no matter what, it's a fifty fifty shot - either it will recur or it won't.  There are so many women who do everything and still have a recurrence and there are so many more who don't and are fine. 

Anonymous

kdholt---my mom did lumpectomy, radiation and tamoxifen and is now a survivor of over 22 years without a recurrence.  I wish you continued good results.

Anne

Anonymous

kdholt

Im a little over 2 1/2 yrs out now and doing well....I think with a grade 1 tumor the chances are less of it returning but then I see others who have very similar dx's to me and they now have either redurred or have mets...

Makes me sad to say that once we are dx'd with the crap we have to be dillegent for the rest of our lives.

When I made my decisions on treatment I decided that I would do what I thought was best for me and move on...ya right, the move on part is rough...I too often wonder how I will feel if it comes back and its seem that every ache/pain or dr appt puts me over the edge for a few days.

Best wishes

Jule

kdholt

Wow Anne! Your mom is a 22 year survivor. That is awesome. That gives me some encouragement. Thanks! I'd love to hear from more of you.

Debbie

MarieKelly

kdholt -

I only had the lumpectomy and did NOTHING else - refused antihormonals and radiation. It's been a little over 5 year for me and I'm fine so far... and so too will you be. In my opinion, you probably did far more in the way of treatment than was actually necessary, so don't worry yourself needlessly about it.

gwerfil

Dear kdholt,

I have almost the same diagnosis as you and I also chose not to do chemo. I did my homework, read all the books, talked with my husband, friends who are physicians, one of whom had the same diagnosis as mine and did not do chemo. She is an endocrinologist and she is seven years out with no recurrence. I also saw a female psychiatrist who treats many women who are coping with breast cancer and I made the same decision that you did. My tumor was 1cm. My oncologist at Mayo, where I was diagnosed and had my lumpectomy, said that the risks of chemo outweighed the benefits. I live on the east coast, so my follow-up oncologist at the University of Pennsylvania, a top doctor for breast cancer, said the same thing. If I had opted for a mastectomy--and believe me, I considered it, a stray cell could still be floating around somewhere in my body so either way, with ER and PR positive factors, Tamoxifen or Arimidex are the way to go for stage 1, grade 1. Most of the time I feel good about my decision. I think I'm angrier about having to take Arimidex than I am about the cancer. I've been taking it for about six weeks and I definitely feel some stiffness, which is not too bad, but from what I read, I could really be in for it in a few months, in which case I might switch to Tamoxifen.  I know the worry and anxiety can make you crazy, but most women with your diagnosis are advised not to risk chemo. And if you had done anything differently you'd still worry about it coming back. We are all stuck with those feelings sometimes.

Take plenty of Vitamin D3. My vitamin D was so ridiculously low at the time of diagnosis that you'd think I had never been exposed to sunshine. I'm sure you know that the latest news on D is that it is critical in protecting breast health and even memory!  I feel that with BC, I'm always going to worry about something, but I don't think you made the wrong choice. I was having a hard time with anxiety until my doctor put me on some medication. It really helps. Now I can sleep and even cope--what a concept!  I had lots of other things going on this year--my mother nearly died three days after Christmas. She was hospitalized for months. As soon as she was released into rehab, I was diagnosed and I am her only support system. It was a long slog to be her advocate and to get her motivated, rehabilitated and happy. I had to stay motivated, too. She's ninety and doing OK right now, but the anxiety I felt from her issues and my own was absolutely overwhelming, causing panic attacks and sleepless nights.

You made the decision that most women with your diagnosis make. The decision that the overwhelming majority of oncologists and surgeons would recommend for your diagnosis and that is based on evidence and statistics. Sometimes I think the anxiety and urge to re-open our decision-making process stems from repressed guilt. Sometimes we blame ourselves for our cancer. I know I did, because I took fertility drugs and later, HRT. We are not to blame for our breast cancer. We live in a society that has high numbers of women with this disease. Food (hormones in chicken breasts, other meats and dairy products), environment, pressure on us to be in charge of birth control, looking young, staying attractive--methyl parabens in make-up and beauty products--all these things overload our endocrine systems and undiagnosed thyroid problems can contribute, as well. You were diagnosed early and that is so very much in your favor. I'm sure you are taking good care of yourself. I think you made a good decision and that you will be fine.

Barbara173

Hi, my mom was just diagnosed with stage 2 invasive ductal, and has a 2cm tumor. She is getting another biopsy this week for microcalifications. We got one opinion for lumpectomy, and will see another doc this week. I realize that the lymph node and tumor need to be analyzed to accurately determine treatment. I am wondering if there is any correlation between tumor size and lymph node involvement.

Barbara173

What stage was your mom, and did she have lymph node involvement? Bless her, and thank for the positve story. We need to hold on to hope!  My mom was just diagnosed, and I am having trouble with sleeping and eating, and my mind wandering!