Inflammatory IDC - New Diagnosis Today

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Sherri_V
Sherri_V Member Posts: 159
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
Inflammatory IDC - New Diagnosis Today
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  • Sherri_V
    Sherri_V Member Posts: 159
    edited October 2009

    I was feeling okay when I originally wrote this:

    • Here's exactly what my pathology report says:

    Mass, Left Breast, FNA, Smear Cytology:  Ductal Carcinoma

    Comment:  The amount of mucous present suggests that this may be a mucinous or colloid carcinoma

    Well, today my husband and I met for the first time with the oncologist.  I liked her a lot.  But, I thought I had a "good" cancer.  She burst my bubble that it's actually Invasive Ductal Carcinoma and she mentioned that it had inflammatory tendancies.  She asked if I have noticed nipple retraction, etc. but all in all, she sounded very confident and told me that my cancer is curable.  THEN....I came here and read the boards and found the section for Inflammatory IDC and now I'm about to throw up!

    Because my brother died of a heart attack at age 39 (I'm 43), I have to get a heart test next week before she can decide what kind of chemo to use.  I'm getting a core biopsy, sentinal lymph node and a port installed.  I should be starting chemo in about 2 weeks. 

    Please offer words of encouragement if you have any...I'm getting a bit freaked out now :(

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  • Jadai
    Jadai Member Posts: 182
    edited October 2009

    Hi,

    I have heard of IBC but not Inflammatory IDC.  Maybe IBC is in fact Inflammatory IDC?  IBC is always staged at 3a or higher and I see that you are stage II.  Double check with you onc.  IBC is very rare and many oncs are not familiar with this type of BC.  Maybe you need some clarification of your exact diagnosis.  Not sure that I have helped any but I wanted to respond. 

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  • nicole1210
    nicole1210 Member Posts: 12
    edited October 2009

    Hi,

    My mom was just diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma grade 3.  She is stage 3.  We originally thought it was IBC and our surgeon told us it wasn't.  But we just got our second opinion and she said it is an Inflammatory IDC, which basically is the same and the same treatment for IBC as inflammatory IDC.  My moms breast looks just like all the pics i've seen of IBC and she has all the symtoms of IBC so i don't know why the first doctor said it wasn't but maybe because it didn't show up on the biopsy or the part of the biopsy they took.  But both oncologists we saw have given us the same treatment.  She's getting AC every two weeks for 8 weeks and then taxitol every 2 weeks for 8 weeks, followed by mastectomy and then radiation.  She is estrogen and progesterone positive so she'll take tamoxifen or one of those drugs after all is said and done for about 5 years. She starts chemo tomorrow so I'll let you know how things go.  The doctor said its curable.  So I'm going with that.  Stay positive and get a good support system.  ttyl

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited October 2009

    SLV,

    If you had IBC, the pathology report would say that. It says IDC so it is IDC.

    Re: mucinous or colloid carcinoma, see this article: http://breastcancer.about.com/od/types/p/mucinous_ca.htm 

    You already had a fine needle aspiration so why would you get a core biopsy?

    Have you decided you are going to get chemo first or surgery first?

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  • Sherri_V
    Sherri_V Member Posts: 159
    edited October 2009

    Thanks for responding!

    I was feeling very positive a few days back after reading that article.  However, after the bone scan, CT scan and blood work, something came back that referred to thickening of the skin and nipple retraction.  I haven't noticed any rashes or anything else that I've read about but when I saw the oncologist yesterday, she referred to my tumor as Invasive Ductal Carcinoma and made mention of  "inflammatory" and now I'm really scared.

    Apparently, the fine needle biopsy didn't give them all the needed info.  I don't know if it's estrogen positive, etc.  So, when they do the sentinal lymph node, they will install the port and get a core biopsy so that the oncologist can get the rest of the needed info. 

    She said that chemo is needed first so I will go that route.  After that, she said we'll have to decide on lumpectomy vs. mastectomy (how does one made an educated choice on this?) then follow up with radiation.  We have an appt. to go over my heart test result and the full pathology report on 11/5. 

    Sweating it out until then, I guess Frown

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  • lovemyfamilysomuch
    lovemyfamilysomuch Member Posts: 1,585
    edited October 2009

    Dear Sheri,  I do not have any answers for you regarding your diagnosis, but I do want to offer you SUPPORT and caring and I want you to know that there are many women on these boards who have experienced what you are and will support you.  I am sending prayers out to you!! In sisterhood, xo

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  • txred9876
    txred9876 Member Posts: 392
    edited October 2009

    I am so sorry you are having to come to this board but you will get much support. You can have both Inflammatory and Invasive ductal carcinoma at the same time. I did. I am 4 years out and am NED (no evidence of disease).  WIth inflammatory it is NEVER a lumpectomy because it is in the skin.check out this website.....http://www.eraseibc.com/index.html.

    Tina

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  • NancyD
    NancyD Member Posts: 3,562
    edited October 2009

    It's not classic IDC or IBC. It's a subset of IDC. I couldn't find too much on it, but the fact that your oncologist even knew about it tells me you are in educated hands.

    The treatment protocol follows the one for IBC because that is usually more agressive.  In the case of neoadjuvant chemo, when it's for IBC there is no question about a lumpectomy or mastectomy... the breast will have to come off entirely. IBC is just too agressive and can lurk in too many places in the breast.

    IIDC may be a different enough beast that breast conservation is possible. What you really have to discuss is how much a mastectomy will improve your survival odds.  If it's only 5%, you may decide it isn't worth it. But, if you are ER-, and therefore would not be helped by anti-hormonaltreatment, that 5% may be worth it.

    All things to talk about and research while you are going through your chemo. The decision doesn't have to be made until you are at the end of  that stage of your treatment. 

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited October 2009

    Dear SLV,

    I hate to be a pain in the #($&#$(&$ but pathology, bloodwork or bone scan do not identify skin thickening and nipple retraction. In my case it was the MRI report that mentioned "No skin thickening and nipple retraction identified". Check the CT scan report. It may have something. Do you have any visible signs?

    Before starting treatment get another medical oncologist's opinion. Ideally, this oncologist should be unrelated to the first one. Try a reputed oncologist at a teaching hospital for highest chances of getting best advice.

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