IDC (Infiltrating/Invasive Ductal Carcinoma) 2011 Sisters

VictoriaB

Hi Ladies,

I was recently diagnosed too and I am trying to decide treatment plans. I had a lumpectomy (close margin) in August, re-excision in Sep (still close margin) and now the onc wants to do a liver MRI---yikes! I am going to see another surgeon for a second opinion. 

I'm glad I found this site, and you all, since some days can be overwhelming!

kal21

In my case  only had core biobsy sono then lumpectomy.Than becase of no nodes and small went to just rad. Not sure why your doing MRI also. Chem demends on your stage and grade, which you normally find out after surgey with a onco test.Will be thinking of you.

Kathy

deniseday

tldrose, did you have double mastectomy with reconstruction at the same time??? I have finished 8 rounds of chemo and I'm scheduled for double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction (not TE), on October 28, 2011.  I'm having trouble finding others on this site who have had the immediate reconstruction.  My sentinal node biopsy was done before treatments started and it came back clean.  I just had an MRI and a PET scan post treatments last Friday. 

brendaclee3

Hi Rosey,

    I had IDC, stage I in 1998, chemo for eight months and mastectomy.  The chemo was no problem at all.  My hair didn't fall out and I never got sick.  The severity of the side effects depend on the concoction of chemo they give you. My cancer has never come back and I just finished the DIEP procedure at the Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction in Charleston, SC.  I am totally  happy with my new breasts made from my tummy fat. I'm just so thankful that I am a breast cancer survivor.

rachelvk

I guess I should join in this group as well. I recognize some familiar faces from the other 'subgroups' I'm finding myself in. I was diagnosed in August, bmx with some type of reconstruction scheduled for Oct. 26. I had one CT scan as part of the pre-DIEP determination, which will cover my abdomen, but so far no other tests; insurance squashed the request for a PET scan. Just hoping the Stage 1 dx really still is Stage 1, since I'm triple negative and Grade 3.

Denise - a lot of women have a bmx with immediate recon - or do you mean specifically implants (not DIEP or lat flap?). Check out the Sept and Oct surgeries threads for some good discussions and experiences as women made their decisions and had their surgeries. 

Snoopy73

Brendaclee3 - Woohhooo Thanks for "stopping" by and giving us your words of encouragement. Its always so uplifting to meet a BC survivor. Thanks.

I started Radiation yday, scheduled to have then for 5 days/wk for 6 weeks. My RO and Nurse Practitioner are awesome!!! 

luckygmrabbi

Hi Rosey26, I was stage 1 grade 3, PR-ER-Her2nu+.  I went through TCH for 6 rounds and then radiation for 3 weeks (16 rads total) but RO I went to said there was no reason to endure radiation longer than that.  I had no lymph node involvement and margin area was clear.  Chemo completed 7/29 and radiation 9/30.  Hair is already growing back and absolutely no SEs with radiation.  Hang in there and keep a positive attitude when possible.  I dreaded the chemo but once they got the anti-nausea drugs right, I got through it pretty well.  I've worked through the entire treatment period.  Worst was the watery eyes caused the the taxotere...that was the most miserable.  That stopped just last week so I am very relieved!!

Hindsfeet

My biopsy was this week and I heard yesterday it was IDC, grade 3, como solid type. I won't know more until final pahtology report after surgery. I will see the surgeon Wednesday. I won't be doing chemo, my choice. This is my fourth dx so I will be getting a mx with reconstruction. I'm going to do all I can to build up my immune system to fight this cancer.

tldrose

@deniseday - yes I had an immediate reconstruction. The procedure is call DIEP Flap. If you have any questions, I would be happy to help answer them.

SAB

susarella, my first post here to tell you that I had lumpectomy and rads only.  I don't think it's that unusual for women with smallish tumors, no node involvement and clear margins.

SAB

Oh, and the final factor would be your oncotype score, which will help determine if chemo would help in any substantial way.

groovygirls

I had immediate reconstruction with silicone implants. Love them and the recovery time. It is a somewhat new procedure but could not be more thrilled

marty50124

you will have to see how the chemo does on your body, it tired me out alot, still not normal and it been a year

Anonymous

Hello Ladies, I was recently diagnosed IDC grade 2, 3.1 cm of the right breast. I am meeting with my oncologist on the 2nd as well as having an MRI. I will be having the sentinel node surgery and placement of the port on the 9th of Nov. My surgeon is recommending chemo prior to surgery, with radiation after surgery. I have read through so many posts and have not seen one person post that they had chemo before surgery.. any ideas on this??

SpecialK

lory48 - neoadjuvent (chemo before surgery) is often done with patients who are negative for ER/PR/Her2 (triple negative) because it is necessary to determine if the chemo is working before surgery.  Also if your treatment plan is lumpectomy it can be helpful to shrink the tumor prior to removal so as to be less disfiguring/easier to get good margins.

WaveWhisperer

Hello, well, count me in, Diagnosed 10/14/11 with high-grade IDC. Had lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy one week ago today. Met with breast surgeon yesterday to go over pathology report. Tumor 1.1 centimeters, margins clear, cancer cels in one of 3 lymph nodes. ER and PR positive, HER2 unamplified.  I meet next week with medical and radiation oncologists to see what they recommend as next course of treatment.

Interested in knowing what to ask next...

Thanks for this thread! 

Anonymous

I have learned so much since my last post. I LOVE this site. I will start chemo on the 15th. I am still waiting on the BRCA to come back. I think that will help me make the final decision on surgery, as right now a lumpectomy is the scenario.

Snoopy73

Hello ladies; welcome Lory48, I am sorry you have to join us but this site and the women here are all amazing!!! All the best on youir treatment plan!

auntienance

Lory48, if you check out some of the chemo boards, you will find a lot of ladies who have or had chemo before surgery.  You've come to the right place, so welcome!

odie16

Hello all.

I was dx with IDC in June 2011, had  BMX surgery in September and will get my permanent implants next week. No positive nodes so no chemo & no rads for me. Just Tamoxifen for the next 5 years. Have learned so much and found great comfort in these boards. 

Joan811

WaveWhisperer,
Has anyone recommended an oncotype score for you since your tumor is small and ER PR +?
Some have not done chemo with a single node positive; but the grade of the tumor could figure in.  The onco score looks at specific genes to assess the growth behavior.
Good luck with the oncology consult.  You will get through, and find lots of support here.
Joan811

Anonymous

Hello all,

Today I had a second biopsy for 2 more areas found in an MRI. I will be waiting on the results from that. Tomorrow is the sentinal node and port placement. This evening I spoke with my BC navigation nurse. I questioned the chemo start of the 15th based on teh outcome of the biopsy and the posibility of a mastectomy-vs the proposed lumpectomy. I stated I have not even met with a PS to discuss immediate reconstruction. Her exact words "Lory that is not an option for you" what? I have read so many post here regarding immediate PS after surgery. She added that she had never heard of that for my treatment plan. SOOO the question I have: has anyone had immediate reconstruction before rads?

I am soo  confused!!

WaveWhisperer

Joan, thank you and others for suggesting the OncotypeDX test. I had never heard of it until I joined this forum. I met with the MO today and she agreed that it would be helpful in determining the next course of treatment. Apparently the "micromets" in one node leave me in a gray area; some doctors consider it node-positive and others consider it node-negative. My tumor was small, but it's a grade 3. So there's no slam-dunk answer right now, even though she said radiation is a given, since I had a lumpectomy, and that an aromatase inhibitor would be recommended as well.

Again, thanks for so much good information and advice. 

TraciSacramento

I am new to this...my first post.  I am absolutely spinning right now and have read, researched and consternated for hours and hours. I know there are many here with much more serious/complicated dx and I feel a little embarrassed that I am making such a production out of this.  I was dx with IDC 1.5 cm, er/pr+, HER neg, sentinal node clear.  I had a MX on 10/5/11 with reconstruction started.  nodes and margins are clear.  My oncotype RS score is 17.  I am struggling with the chemo issue.  I know i should be jumping for joy and running with a "low" score and go with hormone therapy only, but I just can't seem to do that.  For a few months before my mammogram that found calcifications I had this nagging gut feeling that things were not all good and even delayed a few months.  Then told calcifcations at 10 o'clock...found clear lump close to surface. Told 89% benign...oops, you aren't in that 89%!  so I am having difficulty with statistics.  MO says no chemo, but my gut says do chemo.  Second opinion says chemo not likely to be beneficial, but my call.  I read the tailorx protocol which has intermediate spread 11-25.  I just feel like there is cancer in my body...my gut feels that.  But i then feel like I am being irrational and if i say i "want" chemo and then suffer serious, irreversible side effects I will feel crazy for saying I (with no medical degree) need chemo.  Oh please save me from myself!  I feel like i need to make a decision at some point as i have all the info.  Anyone want to weigh in here?

Joan811

Traci, First, I felt just as you did - that because I was Stage 1 I had little to complain about; however, when we are diagnosed, we go through the same emotions and tests and treatments.  The surgery or treatment types differ, but the emotional roller coaster, fears and life interruptions are universal for us.
 I had a very similar diagnosis.  I had a lumpectomy, clear margins, etc.  My M.O. ordered the oncotype score and mine is 13.  Because she is involved in a clinical trial, she has lowered her "intermediate" to the range you describe.  I was told, just as you, that there was no evidence that chemo would help or wouldn't help.  she told me to give her my decision the following day.  It took me 2 weeks which is why I have not even started my radiation yet, and it's been 10 weeks since surgery and even longer since diagnosis.
I really had a hard time with the decision. I did not take chemo.  One 2nd opinion M.O. said chemo would not be ordered for me.  Another M.O. weighed in on a phone consult and said the same - no chemo.  However, my score was 13.
Here are a few things to consider.  Did you have a single site, or, are there multiple sites?  The chemo targets the cells that have left the primary site and may eventually form a tumor elsewhere in the body.  Also, were your mammos very clear?  (You can ask your BSurgeon that question). I was "assured" not to worry about other sites because my mammos were clear and showed no other suspicious sites. [No dense breast tissue or fibroids for me.] That made me feel more comfortable that my cancer was local. My body was telling me "no chemo" but my mind was saying "do all you can". Sorry, I cannot help you specifically with your decision. 
Also the oncotype score is an overall prediction of the activity of your cells.  These tools are reliable guides, but do not come with guarantees.
It is good to read, but not too much - anything you can imagine happening has probably happened to ladies on the discussion board. I try to remember that those who have been cancer free for a time are less likely to be posting; therefore, you hear more challenging stories here.
Good luck, and feel free to send a personal message. There is also a very helpful thread "calling all stage 1 sisters) where everyone is stage 1.
Once your decision is made, you may feel better that you are moving forward.
I know it's tough, and you'll find a lot of hugs here!
Joan

Joan811

Lory48, I hope your biopsy result were clear.  It sounds like you are being prepped for surgery this week? Is it just the node biopsy?    One thing that many ladies have realized is that it is OK to take time to get the best doctors, surgical and treatment plans. You are entitled to seek answers to your question about reconstruction.
 Don't be afraid to continue to ask questions, even right before surgery.  You may have options that are there but are not presented unless you ask.  Your navigation nurse may be wonderful, but at this point, you should be speaking directly with surgeons and M.Os.  Can you contact a large medical center or teaching hospital?  They frequently offer options that are supported by latest research. 

I know the pressure is on for you....try to find the path that works for you.
Wishing you peace and a good outcome.
Joan
PS - SpecialK expained the reason for chemo now -not uncommon.

Moderators

Hello! For those new to IDC, a fine source of information can be found at the main Breastcancer.org site, specifically the section about IDC - Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. Links from that page will take you to more info about: Signs and Symptoms of IDC, Diagnosis of IDC, Treatment for IDC, and Follow-Up Care for IDC.

Judith and the Mods

odie16

TraciSacramento,

Welcome to the group no one should ever have to join...Let me say that I can so relate to your post. I realize I don't have half the challenges of some of these women but that does not change the fact that we too have cancer and are facing serious decisions. Please do not ever feel guilty or minimize your emotions.

As for the chemo, I too had a low Oncotype score so I am not a candidate for chemo. For me, I was terribly relieved however you really need to make your own decision based on your comfort level and trust your own gut!!! Example in my case, I had a small tumor on the left thus could have just had a lumpectomy w/radiation however chose a BMX due to a calcification cluster in the right as well. Just felt that I would be going thru this again in 5-10 yrs if I didnt do the BMX.... When I saw my oncologist for the first time, he smiled and told me "good call"... Sometimes we just have to go with our heart and do whatever feels right...

Hope you find peace with whatever decision you make and will be here to support you as needed.... Hugs!

jody0918

Hi, I am jody and I just found out on Wednesday that I also have IDC. I also have no idea of what the technical terms are but have a feeling I will soon know all too well what they mean. All I know at this point is my numbers were 1.97cm;  grade 3 and no obvious lymphnode involvement visable. So as you can see....all I have is the path. report from the hospital where they took a core biopsy when they did a mamogram. I found the lump  in the shower 3 days earlier and finally got in to be checked. I am to see a surgeon on Wednesday and from what I have read there are several approaches to this thing. And what is it about waiting and running tests and using up valuable time before surgeries? Ladies...I appreciate ANY and ALL advice and insight. Did I mention I just turned 61 and they told me this on my 45th wedding anniversary???  Oh well...hope to talk with you ladies about good reports and good news for all. Thank you for listening. Jody

Ginger48

 Jody- so sorry to welcome you to the group but you are in the right place to get lots of information and support. Good Luck on Wednesday!