Just diagnosed 5/26 - Invasive Ductal Cancer IDC

My3rosebuds

Hello, I am new to the boards and grateful this board exists. Would welcome any insights, similar experiences, and recommendations. Last Thursday I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Cancer (IDC). I am 44 years old and have a 5-year old girl, who I want more than anything to raise her and see her grow up. Divorced last year and on my own on this. This news was devastating, especially since my maternal grandmother passed away from breast cancer at the age of 45.

Oncologist reviewed and gave a preliminary diagnosis of stage 1. It is estimated at 5mm. After reading this site, I believe they know more once the surgery is done. So I don't know what to think of the stage 1 at this point. The oncologist wants to do the surgery within the month, and all tests were ordered STAT so it leads me to believe this is more urgent than a stage 1. Or is this typical for any cancer diagnosis?

Genetic testing to be done this Wed. Has anyone done this? If so, how did it affect your decisions on treatment? Oncologist said if mutation then 40% chance cancer will come back so mastectomy will be recommended. If hereditary, then 5% chance? I hope I am sharing these statistics correctly. Anyone have this experience? They said it may take a month to get these results and the oncologist seemed to want to do the surgery sooner than later.

MRI with contrast medium scheduled for a week and a half from now. Then follow up with oncologist to determine course of action. How was the MRI experience? Have never had an MRI.

Once the MRI done, what had been your experience? Is the stage # then adjusted accordingly? Did any of you wait for genetic testing to determine if lumpectomy, mastectomy, double mastectomy?

So new to this and overwhelmed. Should I schedule the lumpectomy as soon as possible to get the cancer out of there, then may have to have another surgery once genetic testing results come in?

Thank you for any thoughts and insights shared. Blessings to all.

- Karen

HuskerFan

I'm sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis. I am 43 and was diagnosed with IDC in April and just had my BMX this past Thursday. The course of treatment is such a personal decision, but I knew I wanted the BMX even before I met with the genetic counselor. I did do genetic testing and am still waiting on those results. I also had an MRI and MRI guided biopsy and I felt they were both a relatively easy procedure. All of the dr appointments and information is definitely overwhelming. Try to take a little time to relax and do some research to make an informed decision. I'm 4 days out from my BMX and feel good and I have a positive outlook on my diagnosis. Good luck.

ElaineTherese

Sorry to hear that you find yourself here.

RE: the pace of care. In the US, cancer care usually occurs quickly. Mine occurred very quickly as my tumor was big and Grade 3. In other countries, cancer care might go slower for a small tumor with a low grade.

RE: MRI -- The MRI may give your medical team a more accurate idea of what is going on with you. For example, my ultrasound revealed a 3.9 cm tumor, but the MRI was more accurate and showed that it was 5 cm +. One node also lit up, and that node then tested positive through a fine needle biopsy. A breast MRI involves lying on your chest and having your boobs dangle down. There are lots of loud noises, and some people feel claustrophobic. If you don't like staying still in a confined place, you can request a sedative. I've had three MRIs, and they don't bother me.

I got my genetic testing done before I chose my operation. However, I was already doing chemo when the test results came in because my cancer was HER2+. Since I tested negative for genetic issues, I did indeed get a lumpectomy rather than a mastectomy.

Getting the cancer out of there isn't as big a deal as you think. Yes, get it out, but more importantly, see whether or not you will be getting systemic treatment (hormonal therapy, targeted therapy, or chemo therapy). Cancer in the breast itself is not a killer. Cancer that makes a new home somewhere else in your body could very well be what kills you. If you are ER+, you can get hormonal therapy. If you are HER2+, you can get targeted therapy (Herceptin & Perjeta). If you are Grade 3 or your Oncotype score is high, chemo therapy may be recommended.

Good luck!

TennisPink

Karen - I am also SO sorry you are just diagnosed -- the first few months are so difficult, so hang in there and please get as much support from friends and family as possible.  There are wonderful people on this board, too.  I am also 44 and have a 5 and 7 year old, and it has been very emotional.  They told me before surgery I was either stage I or II but the MRI looked very favorable for stage I.   After surgery, they gave me a full Stage I diagnosis.

Just because they want to schedule you fast, does not mean you are critical.  I had a friend who was NOT critical --caught super, super early and not aggressive and she had her lumpectomy within 2 weeks of her diagnosis.  Sometimes it's just where you are being treated.   I was upset when I was diagnosed on March 1st after finding a lump in my left breast in February and by April I still did not have a surgery date.   I finally asked my surgeon why I had such a long wait and she said that I had time and was still well within the standard of care.  They wanted to check everything carefully (genetic tests, MRI, consults, etc) and since they didn't feel I was critical and also she wanted me to take the time to carefully consider whether I wanted the BMX or Lumpectomy, so it was good to have the extra time in this case.  I thought for sure my cancer would spread everywhere in that time.  With all of my waiting, and worrying--- I was still Stage I at surgery, so I think it's safe to say they knew for sure that there was time   Surgery was May 4th -- 8 weeks after diagnosis.

The MRI was not bad -- it sounds like a bunch of different car alarms for 3-5 minutes each and the whole process takes about 35-40 minutes on the table. They also cover you in warm blankets and they give you headphones to deaden the noise and let you choose a Pandora station if your MRI center has the ones hooked up it.  Your head will rest face down on one of those face cushions you see on massage tables and you are looking down the whole time, so it's hard to know you are inside a machine.  After the MRI you will get the report 3-5 business days later. Mine showed a small, tiny additional mass and they did a biopsy--and I had to go back in the MRI for that biopsy 10 days later.  The biopsy found a teeny DCIS below the original IDC.  It was nothing horrible.  The lymph nodes looked good and that was all I cared about!

As for the choice between BMX and Lumpectomy -- it is agonizing and at first all I wanted was a BMX.    But after my genetic testing came back negative,  and my surgeon said a mastectomy was not medically necessary (though she was totally fine perfoming a BMX if that's what I wished)....I started to give more thought to the choice.   I did a lot of research, as well as speaking with cancer survivors -- both lumpectomy and mastectomy women  (one in each group was a 12+ year survivor).  It was a hard choice, but in the end lumpectomy won me over.  With an early, non-aggressive ER/PR cancer and no positive cancer genes, the outcome will be the same whether I keep or remove the breasts.  The difference was only 2% to remove my breasts--not a big enough 'peace of mind' for me to want to do it.   THe only peace of mind I wanted was 100% and none of us can get that.  My surgeon said if I ever change my mind in the future, she will perform the BMX for me.  Hopefully I won't ever need to change my mind, though. 

Yes - they are now doing 10 years Tamoxifen now...but my MO said that he will do 5 years Tamoxifen since I am pre-menopausal and then switch to 5 years aromatase inhibitor because I will be in menopause by then!

Good luck with your surgery choice --whatever you decide to do will be the RIGHT one-- there is no wrong choice when they give you an option.  Whatever makes you feel the best.

Angie052

hi. It's been a while since u were diagnosed. How are you doing? What choices did you make?

I too was just diagnosed. IDC IS all I know trigger now. My journey is just beginning.

Moderators

Hi Angie052, and welcome to Breastcancer.org! You've come to the best place for support!

This thread has been quiet for quite a while, so we'd suggest you starting your own thread in the IDC forum to help you get some great responses, advice and support.

We hope this helps. Please let us know if there's anything we can do to help you navigate the community. Looking forward to hearing more from you soon!

--The Mods