Biopsy - IDC and DCIS

Karmic108

Just came to know am positive to bc. Age 42

Size : 1.4 cm and grade2.

Should I contact a surgeon or oncologist.

keepthefaith

Sorry to hear you joined the club. You should contact both. I would find a surgeon that specializes in breast surgery. Get copies of your reports as you go and I would suggest taking a trusted person with you on your first appts. to take notes, etc. Best wishes.

Marymc86

My surgeon connected me with the MO and the RO. Surgeon first and they can refer you. Ask friends about good doctors if you have friends who work in the field or ones that have experienced breast cancer themselves. Sorry you have joined us. One step at a time.

Karmic108

Wondering how fast a medium grade tumor doubles up in size

Karmic108

Her2 -ve , estrogen +ve progesterone +ve

BrinkOfEternity

Mine was grade 3, practically triple negative, and the tumor didn’t grow for a whole month after diagnosis according to ultrasound.

I was very worried about waiting to start treatment as I searched for doctors, but looking back finding the right doctor is more important than finding a doctor fast.

Karmic108

Hope you find the right one soon. I am still new to this forum have very less knowledge.

The biopsy should tell the her2 estrogen progesterone. The radiologist called me the next day of biopsy and told am positive to bc and grade2.

I am wondering why she didn't mention the her2 estrogen pprogesterone status at that time. Do those results come late. For me the suregeon told me those results.

Breast surgeon told it looks like stage1. After the surgery only don't they tell the stage.

Still MRI and genetic testing needs to be done. They are in progress.

I have to meet the oncologist.

I have breast tissue in my left arm pit due to engorgement during nursing.

They say they don't do MRI on that part but they do on the lower lymph area only...

BrinkOfEternity

Yes HER2 result can take longer. Mine took an extra week to come back.

Actually I found my surgeon and oncologist already and both have been great! Make sure you get a 2nd opinion (from another set of surgeon/oncologist)after all the test results come back.

My obgyn recommended me to read Dr. Susan Love’s breast book and it was helpful for me to get started.

Karmic108

My MRI was done it was suffocating and praying so hard to be done and it was in 20 min. Head phones did not pass the music and had to hear all the bang bangs. I didn't care to tell the tech.. I was thinking how people took it when they had it there. Results 24 to 48 hrs.

And Monday I meet the oncologist.

Back in 2003 I had too much fun in the pcos forum on the methods to conceive and got so much support.

Looks like I have to stick around here during and post treatments and ever as they are so many variety of threads.

Karmic108

So Mri dx it as 1.9 cm. Oncologist is saying MRI might over read.

Is it true?

She wanted all those results to be read by breast surgeon and she looked as if MRI is all good.

Am Keen on the non caseating granulomata as well and have to discuss with the b surgeon.

Oncologist ordered bone and CT scans. Next week to be done. This Wednesday I will meet the b surgeon unless something changes

Also waiting on genetic testing rslts

BrinkOfEternity

I wouldn't worry too much about the exact size since even on the same ultrasound machine, if the technician tilts the probe slightly differently they end up with different measurements. Before surgery, I've had radiologists who tell me my tumor was 3.3cm vs. 2.8cm. After the surgery when they took it out,they determined it was 3cm.

Salamandra

My tumor looked much bigger on the MRI than on the biopsy/US/mammo. My breast surgeon was not concerned. She said that the biopsy itself can somehow make it look larger, or inflame it. It turned out to be a little larger than it looked on US but a lot smaller than it looked on the mammogram.

Karmic108

Had a follow up appt with the b surgeon and she mentioned to go and see the ID for the granulomata.

And they asked me to get the blood work done.

She read the MRI except that bc, all is clear. Am wondering why the MRI didn't show the non caseating granulomata which was shown on the ultrasound.

Just wondering if ultra sound is accurate than MRI.

Just a nominal follow up it was..

Will wait bone/CT scans and genetic testing and go to the next follow up

Karmic108

My tentative plan:

Lumpectomy to remove < 2 cm tumor.

Radiation for 5 days twice in a day

Hormone pill for 10 years.

I do work how should I plan on taking off. How many days are needed. I need to talk to my bs on that.

Surely one day for lumpectomy procedure. Do I need any more for recovery post surgery.

During radiation do I need to take those five days off as I heard it gives fatigue.

And post radiation do I need any more for recovery.

Salamandra

Hey Karmic,

I was really out of it for at least two days after my lumpectomy. If I had a physically easy desk job I think I would have been ok to go back on the 3rd or4th day after, if I really needed to.

I think the 2x/day rads schedule is still not that usual. I had 1x/day for twenty days. I took off work for the whole time plus a week and a half after, and that first week back was really hard. But I think the fatigue hit me harder than some others, and at/for my job I really need a lot of physical and mental energy (plus to wear a bra). But there were other women on the thread who worked through radiation, even at physically demanding jobs like mine - so I think it's very individual.

Karmic108

Thanks for the reply.

I should Target for having a surgery on a Friday if permissible by doc schedule and can go back to work on Monday.

I read somewhere the rads do not start until 3 to 6 weeks after surgery.

May be I should take off one week for rads if it is mon to fri and go back to work on Monday.

If the fatigue is more, I can take an extra week off for recovery.

Again these can be changed based on the post pathology report of the lump.

Also wondering if our immune system is going to be weak during rads

Salamandra

Yes, I had my simulation about 5 weeks after surgery and started radiation a week after that. They want to see that you've healed up properly before the next thing.

I don't remember hearing about a weakened immune system, but I don't know for sure. I wasn't warned to stay away from children or other disease vectors I think it's tough on your body because it's trying to heal the healthy cells from the radiation, and then wham, you hit it again.

As far as time off during radiation - for me the fatigue started practically right away but for a lot of women it is cumulative and they feel absolutely fine until half way or even further through. The fatigue lasts after the actual treatment too.

If you have some flexibility, I think the optimistic thing might be to plan to work for at least the first couple of days, but then take off at least a few days after. It's good if you can play by ear to some extent though.

Karmic108

Thank you! Mine is IT job have to use enough brain to focus.

CT scan is out.

Retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy. Acute tubular necrosis... Needs urinalysis then MRI if needed

Right liver lobe is big - mild hepatomegaly

Both ovaries big - pelvic ultrasound

I had pcos.cysts might be in there.

Not sure if everyone's CT shows something or other

On Wednesday onco gives some direction. She is pretty informative.

My anemic panel is out and am low on iron

Karmic108

I got all the reports. Only surgery is pending. Does it sound crazy to wait for two months to get the surgery done. Am planning to lose some weight as I heard when you start taking the hormone pill you start gaining weight. Or should I consider doing surgery and rads and do a few month delay and take hormone pill.

Mine is idc 1.4 grade2 dx a month ago

BrinkOfEternity

I would have had to wait a month to get the surgeon I wanted at Dana Farber. 2 months is a long wait...

Karmic108

Ma mammo radio active seed

Nm lymphoscintigraphy

Do everyone get these as part of surgery

Lecoll

I have the same question

My doctor has ordered both