Diagnosis with IDC

gremx003

I already started a topic in the wrong place so I am starting over here.

My name is Marie
and I am 52. I was diagnostic last week with IDC. I can't stop crying and being
scared. The examples of people I met in my life with BC are not very
encouraging for me and some were IDC. I am scared to die or to suffer. I know
probably everyone here have the same fears. This year I went to a different
place for my routine mammogram and they picked up on it, BUT they are telling
me it was there 2 years ago and no one saw it. So for me it means it grown
inside me for 2 years while I was on Hormone replacement therapy. I know
nothing, my family doctor is not telling me anything at this stage and referring
me to a surgeon that I will meet for the first time on Tuesday. Family doctor
gave me a copy of the biopsy report that I don't understand anything on it, all
I know it is saying "Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma with features of
tubular Carcinoma with evidence of Microcalcifictions". I don't know
what's next, what will happen. How do they find out if it spread inside me or not?
I am so devastated and so are my kids. I can't stop crying.... Any tips or
anything to just give me a bit of hope?? I apologize for English mistakes, it
is not my first language.

 

Italychick

Marie, so sorry. Just take a deep breath. When I received my diagnosis, my doctors told me the cancer had probably been there growing for 8-10 years.

Did they estimate a size for the tumor? What is your next step? A lumpectomy?

Don't make yourself crazy until you know exactly what you are dealing with. Just deal with what is in front of your right now and try not to let your thoughts wander too far down the road. One step at a time. You don't know enough yet to start asking yourself the "what if" questions.

Gentle hugs. Having been where you are, I know how scary it is right now. But once you know everything and get a recommended plan of action, things seem less crazy.

Ellelou

Hi gremx003, I wrote you several messages in the other thread.

Take someone with you who can write down and take good notes about what the surgeon says. For me, my husband went with me and took great notes. Your someone can help you understand what the surgeon says. You will be upset and scared and won't remember everything the surgeon says.

They cannot tell you what stage your cancer is (how severe) until they do the surgery and look at your lymph nodes. It takes some time and you might have to do tests after the surgery to figure out your stage and a treatment plan IF cancer is found in your lymph nodes.

You have IDC which is a very common type of breast cancer. Me too.

So, stay in touch and us and let us know what the surgeon says.

Ellen

gremx003

I don't know what the next step is other than meeting with a surgeon on Tuesday.  If I look at your profile, how did you find out all these things ?? during surgery ?? I don't know how big, neither do I know the G_her2 or anything about the Lymph nodes.  Thank you for your note......

gremx003

Thank you and yes I am following your advise, someone is coming with me (my husband) to take notes.  I will let you know the results....

Ellelou

I had IDC and another large area of DCIS and so I had to have a mastectomy. During the surgery they also removed some lymph nodes and looked at those and saw there was cancer in the lymph nodes in my armpit area. Cancer in 10 of the 13 nodes removed. So that meant we had to be concerned if the cancer had spread (carried by the lymphatic system to my bones, lungs, liver). So a few weeks after surgery I had additional tests that showed that it had in fact gotten into my spine.

But back to you, everyone is different and most people's breast cancer is caught way before mine was. I have a friend who just had a lumpectomy, no cancer in her lymph nodes, and she did 6 weeks of radiation and is doing really well. After a cancer tumor is removed it is checked for hormone receptors and so you will be informed as to your cancer is hormone positive or negative in a pathology report.

BarredOwl

Hi Marie:

I posted in your other thread before. Right now, when you don't know anything, it can be very scary. Things will hopefully get better after you meet with the breast surgeon, and learn more about what is going on.

The surgeon will probably review the results of your recent imaging (e.g., mammogram results) with you, and the result of the pathology report from your biopsy. Sometimes, additional imaging (e.g., magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)) might be recommended (or not).

If you do not have enlarged or palpable (can be felt) lymph nodes in your underarm, then usually the question of whether there are any cancer cells in the lymph nodes under your arm (axillary lymph nodes) will be determined in a procedure called "sentinel node biopsy". You will learn more about that from the surgeon.

Then, the surgeon will discuss various surgical options with you, and make a recommendation. Things like the estimated size of the IDC compared to your breast, and the receptor status (estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2)) of the IDC will be considered as you make various treatment decisions. Some treatment decisions might be made after surgery, when the pathology results from the breast tissue removed in surgery or other tests are available. Sometimes, you might seek a second opinion.

Italychick gave some good advice to try to take things one step at a time. After I met with the surgeon, I felt a lot better, and I hope the same for you!

Stay in touch.

BarredOwl

Waterstreet

May I join you all. I got diagnosed Sept. 16th with IDC 1.9 is the size, and I am clueless. I had a big needle biopsy and they took 5 or 6 big chunks of samples from my left breast, can they or do they do a pathology report from that tissue or do you have to wait till after your surgery to get that? My surgery is scheduled for Oct. 23rd. I met with the surgeon and I ask for a mastectomy but he said no were doing a lumpectomy and he said we will do the mapping on Oct. 21, implant a radiation seed on the 22nd and he will remove the lump and the seed during surgery on the 23rd and this will be followed by radiation, and chemotherapy. I was assigned a support nurse who never answers my calls so I am left to search the internet and these forums to get answers. I guess she is for after the surgery? I am a 66 year old widow recently retired. So I am going through this alone. I am trying to find out what to expect after the in and out surgery so I can prepare myself. They said I cannot take a taxi home so I enlisted my daughter in law for a ride. I guess there isn't much to the surgery since its in and out. I have had two heart attacks in the past and have a pre cancerous condition with my cervix, the lab results are not in for that yet. I keep having abnormal paps. I am seeing a new doctor net week because I keep getting labs back pointing to my kidneys not working properly. Two days after that I meet the radiologist who will do the mapping. Does your surgeon even look at your medical history or do they just work with the cancer? I am on Medicare and I have only used it since March of this year. Any input will be greatly welcomed.

gremx003

Please join us....I won't answer a lot because I am new here as well and don't have answers.

I had my biospy done 2.5 weeks ago but all I have now is a diagnosis, no size....I would love to have the size, i have the pictures but don't know how to get the size from them.  I have no one attach to my case, no nurse, no encologist and will meet the surgeon for the first time tomorrow.  All I can say is i know how your feel and I am there for you even if I am not a big help with answers right now.....hang in there and I've learned something this week from all these posts is we are not alone......

Outfield

It's a hard time, that time where there is so much unknown.

The family doc is likely not in a good place to answer many questions. First of all, you are entering into specialty care and it's very awkward for a doctor to try to answer questions about what another specialist might recommend or conclude. Second, all the information is not yet in so even the specialist can't answer all the questions right now.

You don't have the final answer about stage or size until the surgery, ever. They will use scans to estimate, but scans are not perfect. A needle biopsy can answer the question "Do I have cancer?" but really only that question, nothing more, unless nodes are also needle-biopsied and are positive for cancer. Then the needle biopsy tells you the cancer is also in the nodes. Nodes are not always biopsied during a needle biopsy, only if there is a large, concerning one. The needle biopsy does give a basic idea of the type of cancer, but the real answers come during surgery. The reasons needle biopsies are used are that they are quick and low-risk, not that they give a lot of answers.

You will almost certainly have scans before surgery. Sometimes doctors talk about those scan results as if they are as solid as surgical results, but they are not. They are pretty good, but not the gold standard. Sometimes a tumor is big enough on scan that chemotherapy to shrink it before surgery is recommended. In that case, you never know exactly how big the tumor was at its biggest, only an estimate, and the surgery is still the final answer.

Surgeons are only interested in medical history if it includes something that increases the chance of complications during or after the surgery. Heart disease and diabetes are examples, but they are not the only things.

I hope this is helpful. You have a lot of questions right now, which is rough because there just aren't answers yet. You will get those answers, just take care of yourself and get through this tough period.

BarredOwl

Hi Waterstreet:

Sorry about your diagnosis, and that your providers are not answering your questions or phone calls. That is upsetting and quite unacceptable.

I am numbering some points below, so others can easily provide additional comments or suggestions for you.

(1) "I was assigned a support nurse who never answers my calls so I am left to search the internet and these forums to get answers"

==> It is important to get your questions answered, and to get the information you need and are entitled to. If there is more than one contact "nurse", start by calling the main office to request a new assignment, because you have not been able to reach the nurse assigned to you.

(2) "I had a big needle biopsy and they took 5 or 6 big chunks of samples from my left breast, can they or do they do a pathology report from that tissue or do you have to wait till after your surgery to get that?"

The tissue removed during the biopsy was examined by a pathologist, who prepared a formal written pathology report. The surgeon's recommendation is based in part on that written report. You are entitled to a copy of the written pathology report from any biopsy. It may have estimates about size, and should include things like estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2 status.

Similarly, if you had a diagnostic mammogram, ultrasound or MRI, the radiologist prepared a written report summarizing the findings. This may have estimates about size. The surgeon's recommendation should also take these reports into account. You are entitled to copies of those reports also.

==> Call the facility and ask how you can obtain a copy of the written pathology report from the biopsy and reports from all recent imaging as soon as possible (e.g., on-line, pick up hard copies, or facsimile to your attention).

(3) "I met with the surgeon and I ask for a mastectomy but he said no were doing a lumpectomy . . . "

There are studies that indicate that lumpectomy plus radiation is as effective as mastectomy in terms of overall survival. However, there may be a lower recurrence rate with mastectomy. There are pros and cons to each. Many women choose lumpectomy plus radiation, and it can be an excellent choice.

==> Are you comfortable with the recommendation of lumpectomy at this point? If you are not comfortable, you do not have to agree to this surgery yet. You can obtain a second opinion at another institution about your imaging, pathology, and treatment options if you wish. I did that. Let us know if you would like more information about obtaining a possible second opinion.

(4) ". . .were doing a lumpectomy and he said we will do the mapping on Oct. 21, implant a radiation seed on the 22nd and he will remove the lump and the seed during surgery on the 23rd."

I had to have a mastectomy, so I am not familiar with this procedure, and have no information about it and who is a good candidate for the procedure. Do you know if a radiation oncologist involved in the procedure?

(5) Axillary lymph node assessment:

Are you scheduled for a "sentinel node biopsy"? Assessing lymph nodes is necessary for determining the actual stage, and what post-surgical treatments are recommended.

In the case of mastectomy for IDC, sentinel node biopsy must be performed prior to mastectomy (before/during the same operation), because it requires intact lymph channels which are disrupted by mastectomy.

(6) ". . .and this will be followed by radiation, and chemotherapy."

Your surgeon believes that post-surgical radiation and chemotherapy are likely, although he is not the main expert in this area. This will be finally decided when the results of the surgical pathology and lymph node status are available. After surgery, you will consult a radiation oncologist ("RO") and medical oncologist ("MO"), who are the experts in radiation therapy (RO) and endocrine therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy (MO).

Sometimes, people choose to have chemotherapy or targeted therapy prior to surgery ("neo-adjuvant" chemotherapy) for various reasons. Because of this, some patients with IDC consult with a medical oncologist prior to surgery.

As noted above, I am not familiar with the procedure in item (4), so it would be great if someone else can comment on that.

BarredOwl

Waterstreet

gremx003

Hi Marie I am Shirley, I am 66 year old widow and I'm answering your reply to me. Now I know someone who feels a lot like I do right now, you. So far I have had two Mamograms, one with ultrasound. I then had a biopsy they do with a needle and then an MRI using a contrast dye. I met with an oncologist surgeon and a support nurse and we set up a date for surgery. I chose mastectomy but the surgeon chose lumpetomy, he said they will make an incision under my left arm to check the lymph nodes during the surgery and remove any affected nodes while I am on the table. The tests showed the size of the tumor. 1.9 is mine. The support nurse they assigned to me never answers the phone. I hope you get better than I did on that. I have no pictures andthat puts you ahead of me. Seems I am a few steps ahead of you on other things. I know now that they are going to do a mapping on the 21st to mark where the turmor is on my body with permanent ink for the surgeon to know where to cut. On the 22nd they will implant a radiation seed into the tumor using a big needle and from what I have read that will also let them know which nodes contain cancer too. They will remove those nodes along with the tumor and the radiation seed on the 23rd surgery. The surgery will be followed be radition therapy, and targeted theraphy. So I think I m a little ahead of you but am divestated by the breast cancer as you are. I have been reading posts too. It is a real hard thing to live with when you are uninformed. I hope we can help each other and we will meet others on this website that will help us too. I agree with you, we are not alone and I have met some real nice people on this website and all the posts. Hang in there we'll make it together. I don't hardly sleep anymore so I read these posts when I an't sleep. I just retired last year, at the end of the year. Never thought I would be facing this now. I thought I would be traveling and taking care of grandkids after I retired. My house burned to the ground this past April I had lived there 22 years, everything I had went up in less than 6 minutes according to the firemen. I had gone to visit my son and his family or I would not be here. Now I am in another state and have a couple neighbors I say hi to. All my friends are back in Ark. So I'm starting over. I hope you have support of family and friends. My son is overseas but my daughter in law and grandkids are about five minutes away. I'm not supposed to tell the grandkids about my breast cancer so I ve been going nuts having to watch what I say. My daughter in law is taking me to surgery and picking me up after. I hope radiation doesn't keep me from driving or I won't get to my treatments. Thanks for posting back to me it means a lot to me. I'll be looking for your next post. Good luck Tuesday I ll pray all goes well for you.

Waterstreet

I never knew this was happening to people. Breast cancer is like another world. Thank you so much for replying to me. It is the not knowing that is driving me crazy. I was a teacher so I was always prepared when I walked into the classroom. How do you prepare for this. Your right the family doc won't discuss this. Neither will my gyn. I thought when they did the biopsy they used that to test for everything. They did tell me the size 1.9 and that it is invasive ductal carsonoma. So far they have scheduled a radiation implant and mapping I bought a book about breast cancer and I look up what I can. The mapping is to mark your body so the surgeon will know where to cut. My cancer tumor is not palpable. The Radiation seed Implant emits radiation into the lymph nodes so when they cut me open to remove the tumor they will know which lymph nodes are involved also. It will be planted in the tumor to help find the margin. That is all I got but I know there are others that didn't get that much. I have been eating myself into the next pants size I know I have to stop that. I was down to a size 12 then my house burned to the ground and I was a size 14 and now I am at a 16. I am trying to stop smoking too.

Thank you for your reply, I want to send you a hug. I will post along the way and will look forward to your replys.

Waterstreet

Hi BarredOwl,

Than you for your most welcome reply.

I like how you numbered these issues.

About #1 the support nurse. I called and I was told she is at a Convention and will return my calls when she returns in two weeks. I asked if there was someone else I could speak with and I was old I can sign up for counseling. Which I am considering because she is counseling cancer patients.

#2 The pathology Report - I go to a Center and the doctors choose what we can view concerning test results of any kind. When I called there they said I will get a printed copy at my post op appointment two weeks after the surgery.

#3 Mastectomy vs Lumpetomy I am the type that I just want it gone and I thought get rid of the whole breast and there is less to worry about, I just retired the end of last year so I am on Medicare, never used it till last March and I haven't found out how they pay. So I think an in and out surgery is common for those on Medicare. My neighbor does hospice and she says I have it made with Medicare but I really am not sure about it. So far they have paid everything past my initial copay.

#4 Is this a radiation oncologist doing the mapping and implanting the radiation seed, yes all doctors now are oncologists in there field. My surgeon is an oncologist too.

#5 Aux Lymph node assessment -The surgeon said there will be a second incision to check the lymph nodes.

#6 and this surgery will be followed by radiation, targeted therapy and chemotherapy....I get a consult with the radition onologist before the surgery and have a schedled appointment with him and his team after the surgery. I was informed of this this morning. I will meet the radition onologist on the 16th. again on the 21st for the mapping and post op with his team two weeks after surgery.

Thank you so much for your input, it really means a lot to me. Had you not told me I had rights I would not have called the center today.

keepthefaith

waterstreet, like barredowl said, the surgical pathology may differ from the clinical pathogy (biopsy). Are you military by chance? Just remember, it is ultimately your decision on your treatment. But, get all of the information you need, to feel comfortable with your decisions. I know it's hard when your mind is going in 10 different directions. I would recommend that your DIL go with you to your MO and RO appts to take notes or record the appt. And, get copies of your medical records as you go. I drove myself to the rads appts without a problem. Also, you might want to check out the Breast Cancer Resource Center. www.bcrc.org. They have a few locations in the Austin area. Best wishes!

Waterstreet

You guys are awesome, all of you. No I am not Military. I am retired at 66 and on Medicare and I really don't know much about Medicare and what they pay for. My neighbor is a hospice nurse and she says I'm in good shape with Medicare and my gap provider. I hope so. Looks like its going to be a long ride. I go to a health center and all the doctors are in the same system so we get our test results from a website. The docs minimise what we can view. They told me today I will get a copy of the surgical pathology report at my post op appointment. They have their own cancer center too. They are in Austin also. I have to drive 25 minutes to get to my cancer appointments and it will be the same for theraphy. I live 45 mintes from Austin. Thank you so much. I just might sleep tonight. Here is a hug for you too!

BarredOwl

Hi Waterstreet:

Sounds like you have made some progress. Using the numbering system above:

(2) Pathology:

I think they might have told you when you could get the "surgical pathology" report.

There are two types of pathology reports:

(a) a pathology report from the biopsy (on biopsy samples);

(b) a pathology report from the surgery (on breast tissue and lymph nodes).

Sometimes, they won't release the pathology report from the biopsy to you until you meet with a medical professional (e.g., surgeon). However, since you already met with the surgeon, the pathology report from the biopsy should definitely be available to you now. I have never seen anyone in the US unable to get a copy of their pathology report from the biopsy at the stage you are at.

==> Please call again, tell them you have already met with surgeon, have a surgery date scheduled, and would like to obtain a copy of the "pathology report from my biopsy performed on [date of biopsy]". If they refuse to post it on-line or give you a print-out, ask to speak with a supervisor or the surgeon about it. Optionally, ask your primary care physician to intervene on your behalf to get you a copy. Or see Beatmon's suggestion below.

(3) Mastectomy vs Lumpectomy:

Like keepthefaith said, the type of surgery is your choice. Sometimes, for medical reasons, such as the extent of disease or other medical conditions, one option may not be available or not be indicated.

==> If your concern is medical coverage, call and ask for a referral to the social worker. They can also help you figure out if there is any difference in coverage between these two surgical options. They can also help you find out if there are any other financial resources available to you. Here is link to an LBBC pamphlet about financial concerns:

http://www.lbbc.org/sites/default/files/LBBCguideF...

==> To learn more about surgical options, see this post about Lumpectomy vs Mastectomy Considerations:

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/91/topic/...

==> If after all this, you think you would rather have a mastectomy, ask for another appointment with the surgeon to discuss it some more.

(4) Radiation seed

You have taught me something new today. During my surgical biopsy (essentially a lumpectomy), they used a mammogram to visualize the tumor, and inserted wires so the wire tips marked the area to be removed later by the surgeon ("wire-guided localization"). I see that radioactive seed placement is an alternative to the wire-guided method I had, and is used to localize a non-palpable tumor. Accurate localization of the tumor is important to achieving clean margins, and hopefully avoiding the need for a further procedure(s) ("re-excision" or "resection") to obtain clean margins. I found this explanation in laymen's terms:

http://www.nebraskamed.com/article/65/radioactive-...

If the tumor is in your breast, they'd place a seed(s) to mark the tumor's location for the surgeon.

I could be completely wrong, but assuming you do not have palpable enlarged nodes, I think the lymph nodes would be mapped by a different method, which uses a liquid "radioactive tracer" and a blue dye. (It doesn't make sense to me that radioactivity from the solid seed would move to the node, because if it could move around, then the seed wouldn't be useful as a marker to find the tumor.) See below.

(5) Sentinel Node Biopsy

For mapping the nodes, usually a liquid radioactive tracer is injected into the breast a day or so before the surgery. It travels through the lymph channels into the breast and accumulates in the first node or nodes it reaches in the axilla (i.e., one or more sentinel nodes, depending on your personal anatomy). On the day of surgery, a blue dye is also injected into the breast, which moves quickly to the nodes. The surgeon makes a small incision and removes blue and/or radioactive nodes for evaluation:

https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-educatio...

You can look it up in the books you got also.

Keep us posted, and keep advocating for yourself.

BarredOwl

gremx003

Yes I guess you guys in United States are better than me in Canada...my pathology report tell me I have Invasive Ductal Carcinoma nothing more no grade, no size nothing at all....:(  I really hope to find out more tomorrow from the surgeon.

 

Outfield

Gremx003, your biopsy path report can't tell you the size unless the biopsy was the type where something is cut out in its entirety. The core biopsy is a big needle and gets only a piece of something. A core biopsy is easier, quicker and does not require a surgical suite. It's not that we're better down here, you just didn't have a surgical biopsy. Waterstreet is describing what I mentioned in the previous post - an estimate of the size by a scan. If the tumor is bigger or smaller when it's been taken out and examined by the pathologists, which it may be, that's the official size.

It really worries me that you all are being told what to do by the surgeons. You do have choices, if you want to be involved in making them. There are advantages and disadvantages to all your choices.

My own situation was fairly clear-cut because my tumor was really too big for lumpectomy, but for smaller tumors it shouldn't be the surgeon deciding the plan unilaterally.

Also, in the US they have to release copies of your records to you. It's against the law to refuse to do that. They don't have to do it right here/right now, but they can't withhold them unless they are related to mental health (those may require the provider's approval for release).

Beatmon

Simply go to medical records, request a copy and sign a release. They cannot refuse you a copy of yourrecords. They belong to you. There might be a small charge. I even always get a cd of any cat scans

Waterstreet

Thanks for the info, I will go there tomorrow morning. Thank you.

Waterstreet

Sorry I got caught up in the links you included. Then I went to the Medicare Web Site and scared myself. Found out I will be using my savings up very fast. Don't know where my friend got her information she must work with terminal patients. Cause if your alive and kicking you pay 20% of the tests, xrays and surgery. There are a lot of cancer medications they do not pay for. I am going to call tomorrow for the list of what they will not cover. I may look for another job before this is over. I went to the http://www.lbbc.org/sites/default/files/LBBCguideF... site and it took me to a sign up page so I signed up to get information.

Here are my plans for the numbered items.

Re # 2 - I am going there tomorrow to request the report they can't put me on hold and transfer me all over.

Re# 3 - I feel the surgeon chose lumpectomy because he knows I am on Medicare .I have to agree that its much less expensive.

Re # 4 and 5 - I am going to leave a message with his nurse asking about clarification about the Radiation seed and lymph nodes.

I am also going to ask to see the social worker or at least set up an appointment if she is not available. They had also offered a free counselor going to check into that too.

Thanks again for the help. My Bachelors Degree is for I/O Psycology this experience is making me feel I am back in the classroom.

cuddyclothes

Hi, Waterstreet -

Do you have a Medicare supplement plan? I have AARP United Health Care. Make sure you know everything about your insurance, but don't assume it's going to bankrupt you!

Make sure you get a breast MRI! They can tell a lot, much more than from a biopsy. You won't have all of the info you want, but more than you have. I can't remember in what order my information came. It helped to talk to my breast surgeon. I had a lumpectomy, and they also found calcifications. Fortunately, the calcifications turned out to be just calcium. The tumor was quite small. I just got my oncotype score back--tell your doctor to do the text. It's pretty standard now.

Good luck.

BarredOwl

Hi Waterstreet:

Thank you for the update. You are ramping up quickly and on your way now.

(3) Mastectomy vs Lumpectomy: "I feel the surgeon chose lumpectomy because he knows I am on Medicare .I have to agree that its much less expensive."

I would not assume that the surgeon's recommendation is driven by cost and reimbursement considerations in this case. Although this article is older (2001), it highlights the question of the combined costs of multiple interventions, and suggests that they are not that different in overall cost when assessed as described:

http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/93/6/447.fu...

Secondly, in the "Lumpectomy vs Mastectomy Considerations" post from Beesie (see link under (3) of my prior message), she cites various studies of comparative effectiveness. Breast surgeons are familiar with these and other studies, and many are concerned about possible over-treatment with mastectomy from the perspective of overall survival. Thus, when breast conserving therapy ("BCT") is an available option, it is often the preferred recommendation among surgeons who focus on evidence of survival benefit. That said, patient preference, which may reflect concerns about recurrence (as opposed to overall survival) and other subjective considerations, must be respected.

BarredOwl

BarredOwl

Hi Gremx003:

When you feel like it, let us know how your appointment today went.

BarredOwl

keepthefaith

waterstreet, I hope you had good luck in getting what you wanted to, done!

On the financial end of it...I don't know if any of you need this info, but I did get a grant to pay for part of my chemo, since I had a big deductible that spanned two years...ugh! It was through the Co-pay Relief Foundation, I believe. Your medical center can guide you on that, if it's still available.. I also got one of my Neulasta shots paid for... $3k through another organization. There are stipulations on your income, you need to have insurance, etc., but it was a God-send for me! At least I could see the light at the end of the tunnel and focus on my health without worrying so much about how I was going to pay for my TX.

Waterstreet

Yes I have gap insurance that I had forgotten about. I feel much better. They cover all that Medicare doesn't since I am past my copay for the year. I can save that money to buy another house that has a fenced yard for my dog. After I give up the ghost when I am about 110 my son can rent it out furnished. Little extra income to put my gandkids through college. HeHe!

Waterstreet

I have to go back tomorrow to get the Med Records. I am getting a new support nurse too! They actually gave me a choice I can get a counselor at no charge or a support nurse.

My test results are due back tomorrow to let me know if my cervix is cancerous too. My GYN says its rare with breast cancer but it can happen.

gremx003

We saw the surgeon today I guess the news are good considering the circumstances.  Surgery is
schedule for October 26^th.  I have to make the decision if I want a lumpectomy or Mastectomy.

What she said is during surgery they will remove lymphnodes if they are affected we are talking Chemo and Radiation if they are not affected we are talking Radiation only.

Right now today she said I am a stage 1 which I am happy with, …..if the Lymphnodes are affected we are talking stage 2 cancer

We liked her,she was answering all questions and taking her time.  She mentioned
that I will be monitored for the next 5 years in Oncology to make sure it
doesn’t re-occur.  So we really hope I will stay stage 1.  They will
know everything else about the cancer after they remove it and analyze it which
will take 10 days.

What do you guys believe in Mastectomy or Lumpectomy ??

Thank you for all of you....everything she talked about today I knew the words from you guys.

Love to all

BarredOwl

Hi Marie:

It sounds like your appointment went pretty well, and you had a good discussion and nice rapport with the surgeon.

Re your question, please read this famous post from Beesie about Lumpectomy vs Mastectomy Considerations:

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/91/topic/...

She provides links to some studies regarding comparative effectiveness and a detailed discussion of other considerations. I did not have a choice, but others will come along shortly to share their stories and thinking on this question.

BarredOwl

Waterstreet

Well you got quite a lot accomplished and we are about neck and neck now in our journey. I think this site can help us because the voice of experience is here. We just have to weigh the information gained here and make our choices. Sounds like you got a good doctor.