Diagnosed one day before x-mas

02041977

Hello Team,

I have been diagnosed one day before x-mas with breast cancer on left breast the diagnosis is as follows :

- invasive mammary (ductal) carcinoma not otherwise specified (nos), grade 2 (nothingham grading system).

- dcis (solid with necrosis and calcification is present).

- lymphovascular invasion : probable

- lump of size 19.3x11.0 mm in left breast at 9 o'clock position

we are afraid of the surgery and after / long terms effects of chemo/radio therapy, are there any other natural or alternate means.

best regards

MountainMia

Hi. I'm sorry for your bad news and that you are here with us today. With such a recent diagnosis, you probably have not met with either a surgeon or oncologist yet, or have you? There are a lot of different surgical options, and I hope you'll talk with the surgeon (BS means breast surgeon) about them. If you are able to have a lumpectomy, the surgery and recovery are relatively easy compared to mastectomy with any reconstruction. But there are advantages and disadvantages to the different kinds, some of which are your personal preferences. So you'll want to find out more.

Also, until you know more, you won't know whether chemo is involved or not. Radiation may depend on which surgery you have. Getting a plan developed is, for many people, the hardest and most anxious time. But it's good to step through it and not wave it away because of fear.

There are NO natural or alternate ways to rid your body of cancer. Your doctors will discuss with you and recommend what they believe gives you the best shot at getting to a post-cancer life. You will also need to do your part, in terms of taking care of your body with good nutrition and exercise to the extent you can. But wishing it away will not make it go away.

We are here for you as a resource as you learn more and have questions, or need reassurance. I wish you all the best.

LivinLife

Welcome 0204...! I agree with MountainMia about treatment. It will be important you undergo some type of traditional treatment as you work to beat this cancer.... I agree as well about meeting with a surgeon and oncologist so you can discuss options, have a team you trust and are comfortable with and ultimately choose treatment options you are comfortable with. Please check back in as these appointments unfold. This is indeed a great site for information and support!

02041977

Thank you MountainMia & LivinLife

We live in Sharjah, UAE. We have met an oncologist and he has now suggested the following tests -

1) creatinine

2) MRI

3) ER, PR, Her2Neu, Ki-67

to determine the further course of action.

While searching the internet, i found the following websites : immucura.com & thelifeco-clinic.com & denvaxindia.com

have to talk to them to findout at which stage they are helpful.

does anyone in the community have idea on these treatments.

MelissaDallas

02041977, are you the patient, or are you posting on behalf os somebody else? You keep referring to “we.” Who is “we.”

Beesie

Creatinine test for breast cancer? Unusual, I think.

MRI. Yes, that's often done prior to surgery, to determine if anything more is lurking that wasn't seen on other imaging. It helps provide the surgeon with the most complete picture possible before he operates.

ER, PR and Her2Neu are standard on breast cancer pathology reports, and are absolutely required to determine the treatment plan. Usually those are available from the biopsy report. Ki-67 is not always done, it depends on the testing facility and the preferences of the surgeon or MO. Usually it does not impact treatment decisions. Depending on the ER, PR and HER2, other tests such as an Oncotype test or Mammaprint test might be done but tgis usually takes place after the analysis of the surgical pathology.

If you are interested in Alternative or Complementary treatments, you won't find much discussion in this forum but there are forums on this site that have been designated for discussion of those topics. Here are links to those forums.

Forum: Alternative Medicine

"This forum is a safe, judgement-free place to discuss Alternative medicine. Alternative medicine refers to treatments that are used INSTEAD of standard, evidence-based treatment. Breastcancer.org does NOT recommend or endorse alternative medicine. "

Forum: Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment

"Complementary medicine refers to treatments that are used WITH standard treatment. Holistic medicine is a term used to describe therapies that attempt to treat the patient as a whole person."

moth

Sorry you find yourself here.

Cancer kills. Modern medicine can stop some cancer from killing, using surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation.

There are no alternative treatments that work. If they worked they wouldn't be alternative, they'd be medicine. At best, some may be supportive, but likely for each one that helps, many impdede chemo or hormone therapy ..

To believe otherwise is to presuppose a massive conspiracy to deny people's treatment. I've seen cancer researchers talk about their work. They want a cure. And nobody would be able to keep it quiet if there was a new cure.

And yes, they look at nature. One of the most powerful chemos, taxol, is from the yew tree. So yeah, i call it my herbal remedy

Sunshine99

RE: the creatine, I believe it's associated with kidney function. I have my scans next week with nuc med and at CT scan. I will see my MO two days later and have my blood work scheduled for the day in between my scans and my MO appointment. Sorry if I'm rambling. I asked the MO's nurse if the nuc med injection or the contrast could affect my blood counts, and she said that it could affect the creatine. I think that's why they want to check. Creatine is part of the CMP (Complete Metabolic Panel) test. It's usually standard along with a CBC (Complete Blood Count).

Keep us updated. You'll find good information and support here.

Beesie

Yes, creatinine is associated with kidneys. It would be part of a standard blood analysis (CBC). It just seems odd (to me) to have that specifically noted vs. any other aspects of the CBC. For those on certain breast cancer meds, I believe that this is an important measure. I don't know if it is also important for those who are metastatic. But for someone just diagnosed? That seems unusual.

moth

scan with contrast is what comes to my mind for a creatinine.

But it should be part of full panel, incl cbc and liver fnxn.

OP, it's just a blood test.

The other tests are done on the biopsy sample to determine what type of breast cancer it is. Treatment really varies based on those markers.

Op, hope you meet with an oncologist and get their proposed treatment plan. You can also get a second opinion from another oncologist as sometimes they'll have slightly different approaches. Your age and overall health are also important factors.

It sucks and it's scary but it gets better

AliceBastable

I get creatinine checked BUT it's because I had kidney cancer and a total left nephrectomy, and I'm always checked before the regular follow-up CTs to make sure I can have the contrast. Unless you've got the same issues, or a history of kidney disease, I can't imagine creatinine being relevant to any breast cancer testing or treatment.

moth

AliceBastable, they won't do a scheduled CT with contrast on anyone at my facility without a current EGFR, which is derived from creatinine level

Beesie

moth, the OP mentioned that she'll be having an MRI, not a CT - and the MRI (vs. a CT) makes sense as a diagnostic pre-surgery test. I've had lots of MRI and have never required an eGRF check in advance (or subsequently).

I checked the NCCN guidelines. No mention of eGRF/creatinine testing anywhere as part of the work-up after a breast cancer diagnosis. Full CBC is mentioned if there is concern about mets, although I know that some MOs order a CBC even for early stage patients with no signs of mets. Of course protocols might be different in the UAE.

7of9

Sorry to see you here but its a good place to meet up with others going through what you are or who have walked this nightmare scary as hell road before.

I was diagnosed with a recurrence on Christmas Eve 2015...while at the grocery store! Doc was like, is this a good time...I was like. Uh, no, but done this before so its never a good time. Lets get on with it!!!

Nothing natural about my course...and after first diagnosis ( refused biopsy of nodes like a dummy so skipped radiation), 3 yrs later it was back! This time more surgery, hysterectomy, Arimidex, radiation, chemo, capsular contracture, replacement surgery, nipple surgery. Where did that get me? 5 yrs in 2 weeks baby! 5 more cancer free Christmas eves, 5 more birthdays, dizens more vacations and roadtrips.

You got this. At times you will want itvto just go away, but thats why we are here. Switch to organic, drink water, exercise, it all helps...but do the treatment. It works. Careful with any attivan or ambien they give. Those work too but watch ...a bear to wean down or off of. I probably never will. Cancer kinda blows your mind.