So many questions...

98765

I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma after my mammogram found a 1.2cm spot on my left breast (upper, inner). I am estrogen and hormone positive and HER2 negative. I have an appointment on the 26th to meet with my team of caregivers. I am praying I can just get a lumpectomy and radiation. Is this ever possible with this diagnosis? I feel great! The only thing that bothers me every now and again is some twinges in my breasts. I am praying I can get out of this with no chemotherapy, and I am so worried about surviving. I need some reassurance that this is completely curable. Looking for any advice and input! Thanks!

AnniebNJ

Hi there, I am sorry you are going through this. I had idc, 1.7cm, er+, pr+, her2-. I was able to have a lumpectomy, radiation and hormonal therapy, no chemo. After the lumpectomy I had an oncotype test done to determine if chemotherapy would be effective. My score came back at 19, low intermediate range, so chemo would not have benefitted me. I did not have any nodal involvement either. Being highly hormone sensitive is a big plus, hormone therapy is very effective. So, yes, it most definitely is possible to go through this without chemo.

Editing to add that I just saw your other post. Please take a deep breath, yes, you have breast cancer, and yes, it is highly treatable. Your info so far closely relates to mine. I got through surgery and radiation with very few side effects and now take 1 pill a day to keep it from coming back. I feel great, and am not dying from this disease.

hodgy

98765 we understand your sincere worry. This is a very scary time for you. I am so sorry you are going through this. I was diagnosed in January 2015 with invasive ductal carcinoma IDC 1.2 cm ductal and 5 mm invasive, ER +, PR+ at 90 %, Her2- , 0 nodes. I was very similar to you. But remember, we are all very different and no two cancers are the same. I'm just sharing my experience with you to help alleviate your fear. You will get through this.... I chose to have a lumpectomy followed by radiation because my cancer was very small. I was not given an oncotype test because I was told I was a very low risk for recurrance. I strongly suggest you insist on having an oncotype test. I would have liked to see an official low score on a blood test to reassure me I had a low recurrance rate. I wonder every day what that score would have been. I had 2 lumpectomies in February on my right breast. The first lumpectomy did not show a clear margin so I had to have another one. The second one showed a clear margin. This does not mean this will happen to you. You will have many choices to make. Chances are based on what you have written you will be able to chose a lumpectomy with radiation. I was sore from the lumpectomy for a few days but it wasn't bad at all. The radiation wasn't bad either. It made me very tired. But I still worked part time and excercised almost every day. So you can do it, too! Best advice is to keep a positive attitude and you you will get through this scary time. Best wishes!

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ElaineTherese

Yes, definitely get an oncotype test if you want to know about 1) whether or not the risks of chemo outweigh the benefits, and 2) your chance of recurrence with or without chemo. By the way, the oncotype test assumes that you will be doing hormonal therapy because you are ER+. If you decide not to do hormonal therapy, the oncotype test's numbers will not apply to you.

Best wishes! You have a small tumor, but don't mention the grade. If it's Grade 3, that may push your oncotype test number up. But, as a Grade 3 myself, I don't feel hopeless. Chemo works very well for cells that are rapidly dividing.