So much unknown... need help

AngelFaith

I am looking to find out if anyone has had a similar situation, in any way, and what treatment you had..

Dx with DCIS & IDC, multi focal, 5 tumors, largest being 9mm. er+ pr+ her2-  grade 2   Recommended mastectomy..

MRI couldnt be done so...Screening ultrasound of lymph nodes showed enlarged nodes under arm.

Screening ultrasound showed several undiagnosed areas in opposite breast.

Does this mean bilateral cancer? does this mean it has spread to lymph nodes?

Surgery was scheduled for UMX next week, but now what? neoadjuvant chemo? more biopsies? lymph biopsies? chemo?

It all seems to be getting worse and worse and all positivity is dropping faster and faster.

bgirl

AngelFaith - Mastectomy is usally recommended for multi-focal.  Try not to jump too far ahead.  It may feel like an emergency, but you usually have time to get all the info and then make a decision.  If largest is only 9mm, then they are all under 1 cm which is a good thing.  Neoadjuvant chemo is normally given to shrink large tumours to facilitate surgery.

I had an MRI which showed something, but it turned out not to be cancer, so you can't be sure about biateral until it is biopsied. So they may want to do another biopsy.   Lymph nodes can only be determined after surgical removal and pathological examination.

Try not to panic and make sure you take the time to understand all the info they give you.

AngelFaith

Thank you. I've calmed down a bit since... The lymph nodes actually appeared normal in the report.. But three biopsies are scheduled for Wednesday... Was your suspicious area from the MRI biopsied? What did it turn out to be? Again thank you!!

peepgirl

AngelFaith,



I have been, and in some sense still am, where you are now. Found a lump in one breast which led to MRI and discovery of 3 lumps in other breast, all biopsied and all IDC. Since it was in both I elected to have BMX 2 weeks ago. I have to go back tomorrow for lymph node removal as final path report showed lymph involvement on left, contrary to initial report. I will also be having radiation, chemo and hormone therapy.



My husband and I keep wondering when we will catch a break as, like you said, it all just seems to keep getting worse and worse. I just keep reminding myself that it is better to find out as much as we can now, even if that turns out to be multiple areas of involvement, so that we can come up with the best game plan to fight this thing.



Good luck to you!

comingtoterms

I also had a suspicious area on my other breast. I had a biopsy which found it benign. Just because your lymph nodes are swollen doesn't necessarily mean they are positive for cancer. I had 27 removed because of swelling and there was a micromet in one. It was borderline positive and in the end it was called negative.

Please hang in there. We all know how frightened you are because we all have been there. I think that the notion of having multiple tumors makes you a bit more scared - you feel as though your body is a cancer-making machine. I still wrestle with that and it has been 3 years!

Hold on tight. There will be answers. They just aren't there yet. This is the hardest part. Namaste.

Tammy