Now I get to join your group!

bethq

Hello, I had a BMX with TEs and SNB a week ago for presumably DCIS. Today I saw MO and was told it is IDC stage I grade 2 but only 1.1 mm so no chemo . He strongly suggested Tamoxifen. Also SNB was neg. The other parts of the report...well... tubule formation 3, pleomorphism 3 and mitotic rate 1 but that dang Ki-67 was "high" with no number and we await the HER2 status. My question is, with the Ki-67 high should I ask about chemo? he said he never does it for a cancer so small but did not mention the Ki-67. I'm not asking for trouble but when he talks about Tamoxifen to lessen the chance of recurrence in the bone/lung, I'd like to do whatever else might be possible too. Oh I am ER/PR pos. of course.

Any ideas?

Thanks..

farmerlucy

Crap  bethq. So sorry. Just the news you didn't need as you try to recover. 1.1mm is so very small. Is that a micro invasion? You might ask about doing the Oncotype test. I'm not sure they can do it on an IDC that small. Perhaps they could do it on the DCIS and correlate it to the IDC? My ki-67 was high too (22) but my Oncotype was quite low (3). My onco doesn't seem to put a lot of stock in the ki-67.  I've always wished I had a  second opinion on the pathology. Sorry for the disappointing news.

bethq

Yeah he basically laughed when I asked if he even considered it or chemo for cancer that small and said "no way"...not that I want it....I just want to be thorough. I can't wrap my brain around the new diagnosis. I am glad the surgery is over and I don't need chemo, but not happy about Tamoxifen and now worrying about this coming back somewhere, sometime.

bethq

Farmer Lucy we have the same exact stats now!

Anonymous

I also had a "high" ki-67 but a "low" oncotype score.  My MO put way more weight in the oncotype than the ki67.  Interestingly enough my biopsy pathology scored my mitotic rate at "3"..and it was Grade 3...however, after BMX pathology, the mitotic was scored as "1" and my Grade went down to 2.  Again....my MO said things get read differently and put his faith more in the oncotype.  I was happy to avoid chemo!

bethq

It is all  very confusing. When I meet with the BS again tomorrow she said if my diagnosis changed at surgery she will sit with me and go over a new game plan, so I look forward to this!

farmerlucy

Beth - I know right where you're at. I was soooo mad after my surprise dx that I'd have to take Tamoxifen after all. And the fear of recurrence is a hard thing to accept  - but you do - eventually. 

bethq

Farmer Lucy, that is one question I haven't asked my Drs yet. With this chance of recurrence, what type of monitoring will be done? Do we get occasional PET scans or just go by symptoms or what? Thanks.

farmerlucy

My onco sees me every three months for about 2 1/2 years, then every six for a while then once per year to year 5. I have the option of seeing her once a year for years 6 to 10 which I will do. She does no testing except routine blood work and no scans. She said I'd know about a recurrence before she does. ( Gee - I REALLY hate that word!)