Chemo for IDC?

Halah

I know this is probably different for each person, but I was just wondering if most people with IDC get chemo? I will be getting a BMX so I haven't been properly staged yet and don't know if there is any node involvement. I just hope I won't need chemo.

My cancer was found during a follow up mammo. The surgical onco did say yesterday that it is possible that the cancer was there last December and not caught, when they found an abnormal density which was found benign. Also when I saw the mammo results on Jul 3, there were these little specs of calcifications. And then the images from July 9 when I had  my biopsies, my entire breast was all clouded up with this white stuff showing up on the images (calcifications). So it appears that it is quickly progressing.

My surgical onco said chemo is up to a medical onco which I have  yet to see. So what do you think? Would you think that I need chemo? 

DiDel

Hi Mindy! Glad you found this site!

After you MX and final pathology comes in that will help you decide. Pathology will tell you what grade and overall size of the tumor or area of cancer. Also, since you are ER+ and PR+ you will most likely have the Oncotype DX test. This is a genomic test that looks at the genetic markers of your tumor and assesses the risk of recurrence and if you will benefit from Chemo. This test was what helped me make my final decision., If you want to understand it more you can go to their website oncotypdx.com for further clarification.

Good luck through surgery! Therer are lots of helpful threads on this site for whatever your questions are.

Diane

mareruss4

Hi winter storm,

I was recently dx in July my cancer was found similar to your on my yearly check up they noted that my tissue had grown in size since last year and look like califacation on it from previous biopsy. Turn out i had IDC. Did surgery Aug 9th was suppose to have bilateral mast. When i woke found out nodes tested positve so they remove them and only took one breast right now. Dr wants to wait on other one to after my treatments then go back and remove the other one and do reconstruction at the same time.Go back this week for final path report then to chemo dr for a plan of treatment.Like you I feel that its been there just never caught before.

GOOD LUCK ON YOUR JOURNEY

Marion

tryn2staycalm

WinterStorm:

I was told by my oncologist that if your tumor was larger than 2cm chemo is pretty much standard.  Mine is also grade 3 which is highly aggressive therefore as soon as I'm healed from my SNB (Aug 16) i will be having chemo followed by  5 weeks Rads (Lumpectomy July 16).  I am Canadian and sometimes we have different guidelines but not by much.  Good Luck and remember if we need it to get healthy we will get through it. 

Cathy

grneyd5600

Winterstorm,

The chemo decision will come once they determine the node and the size and location of the tumor.   I had a normal mammo in Aug 09.  Found a lump in the right breast during a self exam in March 10.  After all the tests, mri's and biopsies we discovered I had IDC in the right breast and 2 benign tumors (with changing cells) in the left breast.  Went into surgery for a BMX with everyone believeing no lymph node involvement.  Turned out I had 4/22 lymph nodes involved.  Chemo was a necessary factor at that point.  My best advice for you is to plan for the worst (chemo and radiation) and hope for the best.  Hang in there and ask questions of the breast surgeon. 

Good luck with your surgery and keep us posted on your progress. 

Halah

Thanks Jackie, Cathy, Marion, and Diane. I'm learning a lot from you guys and I appreciate it. I'm just sorry y'all are going through this as well. My surgery is scheduled for Aug 30th so getting kinda nervous.  But I guess once the surgery is behind me, it's on to the next step and no looking back. I just need to focus on one step at a time and not get ahead of myself. But yea, difficult in practice. Thx again...

hipchik47

Hi Winter and everyone,  Marion, I don't understand why the dr did not fulfill your request to have a bilat.  When I went into the operating room I expected my surgeon to do what I asked for, a bilateral mastectomy.  I would not have been a happy camper if I came out of surgery still having 1 breast no matter what they found.  I am also from Florida and had my surgery at Moffitt. Hip

CherylQ

Hi everyone,

I am going for a bilateral mast even tho the IDC is only in one breast.  I will have a unilateral mast followed by chem and rads, then the "un-cancer" breast will be removed at the same time I have the reconstruction done.  Outcomes have shown better recovery and less issues with healing after rads.  As a scientific nurse, I have read, called, and reviewed just about all there is on this topic.  For me, I like this approach, knowing all my options has been helpful.

marjie

I always like to find a fellow Canadian - wish it wasn't here though!  How are you making out?  I just had my lumpectomy and snb on Aug 19.  Now I guess I just wait.

Luah

Hi Marjie:  There's a whole forum devoted to fellow Canadians -- look under Community Support and Connections in the forum listing at the top.  Join us over there.

mareruss4

Hi everyone,

Well seen the chemo Dr. and Radation DR. this week after final path I guess I am stage 3a 4 of my nodes was positive and I guess there was some Lubular going on to. So I guess it's 6 mos of chemo then radation then hormone theraphy. Had a MUGA scan also done this week because one of the 3 meds can cause heart disease. Do my PET scan on the 9th to see if cancer any where else. Chemo Dr. gave me the sheets on the 3 meds. with all the side effects to go over be for you give consent by reading them sometimes you feel like if the cancer don't get you the chemo will with all the side effects like you have a choice in signing them hmm sign or die like you really have a choice in the matter. Guess I guess starting chemo the 15th.

ONE DAY AT A TIME

PinkSurvivor

I am 33 years old, I was diagnosed with IDC in my left breast 7-19-10, my boyfriend had found the lump 7-17-10, went to GYN doctor had a breast exam and she sent me for a mamo and breast ultrasound same day and was told within hours it was BC.  I had a biopsy the next day IDC, then all the other testing began, CT Scans, Bone Scans...etc.  I had a port placed for chemo 2 weeks ago, scheduled for a SNB this coming Tuesday and then plan on starting chemo second week in Sept.  I will do 6 months of chemo and then I will have a double masectomy.  I have a 5cm tumor and also a 1.8cm tumor both in my left breast but I am opting to go with the double, because I don't ever want to go thru this again.  If my SNB comes back negative I will be able to get breast reconstruction at the same time as BMX, if it is positive I will have to have BMX and then radiation before I can do reconstruction.  I also tested positive for HER2 so I will have to do a year of Herceptin which is giving 1 every 3 weeks in my port.

I don't know about all of you but all of this feels so surreal, I feel like my life has changed literally in the blink of an eye.  I am so thankful for all the support from family, friends, co workers, bosses, doctors and even strangers but it still SUCKS.  I am thankful for technology and being able to communicate with other brave woman going thru the same thing as I am, because no one else can truly understand what it feels like to be diagnosed with BC.

God Bless

Luah

Tina: So very sorry you had to join this club no one wants to join... plus, at such a young age. It sounds like you have received great timely service and have a solid plan in place. Hopefully that will ease your anxiety somewhat.  But it is surreal, isn't it? I think we have all felt that - one day we're going through all the normal motions of our life, and then out of the blue - WHACK! - and nothing is the same.  It's been almost a year since my diagnosis and I'm now on the other side of treatment, trying to pick up the mormalcies of my life, although everything feels very different. There are some silver linings though, like the amazing people I've met along the way. All the best to you.

Fighter_34

It feels like my life is crashing and I can't do anything to stop it. It sucks but I am thankful for early detection. Diagnosed 8/30/2010 w/ IDC stage 1. I have joined the club, but I am thankful that I know GOD, and that HE will let me see my children grow up. I am scared, I am shaked, I am hurt, and I love my husband & kids. Why now? Is all I ask. Why now?

My husband just lost his father, he was laid off is full time job, and now THIS!!! I am just upset....

mareruss4

fighter_34 - I'm with you there cancer STINKS it's like that all you hear any more is that someone has cancer. My mom has was DX last year with pancreas cancer and has been battling that for a year. So when I got my DX this year I felt the same way WHY NOW I have enough on my plate with my mom and her cancer.

Sorry to hear about your husband being laid off. Here something you may try I meet with social Security yesterday for disablity since my treament is gonna take awhile since im stage 3a the person there seem to think I could get the disablity. My neighbor told me about that she had melonma cancer in her leg about a year ago and had to have treaments and she got disablity for it. Any little income helps out.

BEST WISHES

WhichWay2run

I, too, am curious about chemo for my diagnosis.

I've read that for my type, etc. that it is not beneficial...at least not percentage wise.....considering the risks of chemo and radiation.  I recently read that Taxol increases mortality .3-.7% !  It doesn't seem intellegent to recommend chemo for a less than one per cent increase in mortality. 

Any thoughts?

Thanks, Peggy