diagnosis of 2 types of breast cancer

chicaroo44

i am 44 years old and was diagnosed with idc, stage 2, of my left breast april 15, 2013,  they didnt know the receptors or the grade (when the idiots took the biopsy they didnt get enough tissue to have that analyzed). i was sent to a breast specialist who decided to do an mri.  the results of the mri reflected that there was not only a mass in the left brease but also a small mass in the right breast.  i went to a new breast center and had them do a biopsy on the right breast,  that came back as idc, grade 9/9, stage 1, triple positive.   my breast surgeon automatically ordered i have the brca test.  it came back positive as well.  i opted to have a double mastectomy may 17th with reconstructive,  i had no lymph node involvment and all of my margins are clear.  my breast surgeon ordered a mamaprint on my tumors and the results came back as my left breast being stage 2a, grade 9/9, triple negative (indicative of the brca1 positive) and the right brease being stage 1 grade 9/9 idc triple positive.    i get my port put in tomorrow and start chemo on the 27th.  the cocktail on my onco is putting me on is carboplatin and docetaxel (6 infusions) with herceptin and then an additional six infusions of herceptin.  then temoxifen for 5 to 10 years.    everything ive read about the triple negative is horrible.  my mother passed away at 56.  (she didnt take care of herself)  she had breast cancer as well.  but she refused chemo.  she smoked like a freight train, didnt eat properly, did drugs and was an alcoholic,  she live for 30 years past her diagnosis.  she had three sisters with cancer as well.  all of which have lived passed it and are healthy thriving woman in their sixties,  her mother did pass away of ovarian cancer in the early 90's but by the time they caught it it was to late.    i do not want to die.  i love my family,  i love my kids,  i love life.    i will do whatever it takes.

stride

Hi Chicaroo, there are threads for both triple positive and triple negative on this site that might be helpful for you. Sounds like you hit the jackpot! There can be multiple types of cancer even within one tumor. Remember that a lot of the information you read online about breast cancer in general, including triple neg, is out of date. If your mother abused her body and still lived 30 years past her diagnosis, imagine how much better off you can be if you take care of yourself!

Heidi9256

I have just been informed that I have two types of breast cancer as well.  I was originally diagnosed with IDC, HER2+, Grade 3.  Complete neoadjuvant TCH chemo (6 cycles) then had a bilateral mastectomy.  A 2.5cm tumor was removed during surgery and the pathology came back as chondrosarcoma of the breast.  Bone cancer in my breast???  Yep and it's just been sitting there brewing while I did chemo for the IDC.  Chemo does not work on sarcomas.  So my official complete diagnosis for both cancers is carcinosarcoma.  I hit the jackpot as well.  A chondrosarcoma in the breast is extremely rare - less than .01% of breast cancers.  This is so rare my doctor can't even give me a prognosis - she says there aren't enough cases to calculate any numbers.  Standard treatment for a sarcoma is removal and radiation and then wait and see if it comes back.  Since sarcomas have a high risk of recurrence this is not good enough so I'm headed to MD Anderson in Houston.  They have a Breast Center and a Sarcoma Center.  I have a 10 year old son so I need to know I've done everything that is possible to kill this thing.

Chicaroo:  you are getting the same chemo that I did.  It isn't fun but it is doable and it will go by faster than you think it will.  I finished on 5/30 and I am beginning to feel much better and already have hair growing back.  The TCH also worked very well on the IDC.  There was no evidence of that cancer after the chemo - just the sarcoma.  I think you'll do great.

Una2008

Heidi...I was just browsing lokking for other women with rare breast cancers and  I read your post.  I am from Houston, TX and I am currently being treated at M D Anderson.  I was initially diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer and had a mastectomy.  M D found not only a TNBC but also that is has choriocarcinomatous differentiation.  The cancer cells are producing HCG...normally produced by a placenta.  Its very rare, only about eight known cases so far.  I can't help your situation but I just wanted to share with you because I am sure we have some of the same fears.

Heidi9256

Una... my cancer cells were producing cartilidge like you'd find in your knee.  Go figure.  I got a call today from my MO who told me another pathologist looked at my biopsy and doesn't think its a chondrosarcoma.  He thinks it's a metaplastic breast cancer.  Rare but not as rare as chondrosarcoma.  A sample is being sent to MD Anderson to figure out what it is.  Metaplastic breast cancer would be a better diagnosis as it is a carcinoma and easier to treat than a sarcoma.  There is virtually no history of breast cancer in my family so I'm not sure how I managed to produce two in the same tumor.  I can't even begin to describe the emotions I've had in the last week and a half - all the way from complete despair to OK, I can do this.  I have a 10 year old son so I'm planning on being around to see my grandchildren. I had a PET scan yesterday that came back good so that's the first step in the right direction.  Thank you God.

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil, for though art with me..."  We can do this.

chicaroo44

im so so sorry ladies.  i hope that you are able to get the treatment needed with a good prognosis.  i HATE cancer.  just sayin.  i started treatment on jun 26th and the first six days were the worst.  im actually feeling really good now.  went on a road trip with hubby last weekend to drop son off at camp and heading back up to pick him up this weekend.   i can deal with six bad days... hopefully the treatments dont get worst as they go along... i pray anyway.  i started losing my hair on wednesday so had my head shaved thursday.  very interesting. lol  i kinda have the g.i. jane look.  the whole family shaved their heads.    my next treatment is thursday.   i will keep you all in my prayers.     we can all do this... we are fighters, strong fighters.

Anonymous

Chicaroo, so sorry you're going thru this. If it means anything, I was dx'ed in 1996 with TN, my medical professionals at the time didn't give me much hope. Well, THEY WERE WRONG! While I was dx'ed last year with another type of bc, I'm doing just fine thank you! So, take a deep breath, relax, do what you feel is necessary and plan a good long life ahead of you! It may not always be the easiest, but you're just on a detour for a bit. Best wishes!