treatment for IDC

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ebarb
ebarb Member Posts: 38
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

I haven't met with a surgeon yet (have 3 appts.) and have an MRI on Tuesday. 

 I know all types of BC are treated differently but I am wondering what the course of treatement typically is, if there is such a thing?

I know I am facing either a lumpectomy or a mastectomy... but might this require chemo?  Or just radiation? 

Feeling ok, considering...  :(

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  • greytmom_17
    greytmom_17 Member Posts: 162
    edited May 2010

    Sorry you had to join us, but you'll find lots of answers here.  The answer to this questions is ...it depends.  Once the pathology comes back on your tumor, you'll know the grade and probably stage.  You'll also need to know ER/PR & Her2 status.  All of that will determine your treatment options.  For example, I was stage 1, but I am triple negative and had a very aggressive tumor so had a mastectomy and chemo.  Ask lots of questions when you meet with your docs, make sure you are comfortable with them, and that they are answering all of your questions.  Then, make the best decision you can and move forward on your treatment plan.  Good luck.

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited May 2010

    Go to the home page of BCO and look at all the information under Symptoms & Diagnosis, especially "Understanding Your Pathology Report", it will you a good understanding of what they will be looking for and questions for you to ask. Best of Luck! Ruth

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2010

    Ebarb - you are at the most difficult part of diagnosis -waiting for all the info and treatment.  When you have the entire path report, you will know your grade - which will give you more info.  I am assuming you are young (by your beautiful picture) and will tell you that my onc. considered me young at 44 (with no family history etc).  That indicates more doctors would want you to do chemo, but really there are tests such as the oncotype that will give you more info.  I was stage 1, grade 2 with an intermediate oncotype, so I did chemo.  It was CMF which honestly was easy to tolerate.  Had I had a higher grade  or oncotype I would have done C/T chemo or something stronger.

    With you age,  I assume your docs have talked to you about genetic testing - brac1/2.  That will also give you more info. for you to assess your treatment.  Even if your mom has not had BC - it can come for your fathers side.

    You do have some time, although we all know you don't FEEL like you do - I felt a bit like a ticking time bomb.  You are not.   

    Hang in there!  We are here for you! 

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  • joh
    joh Member Posts: 5
    edited May 2010

    Great that you have found this forum. I have been reading through the posts since I got diagnosed a month ago. I was fortunate to get 'fast tracked' after my diagnosis - got in to see surgeon quickly (a feat here in Canada). I had so much confidence in her and felt so much support from her (plus the tumor was less than 1/2") that I opted for lumpectomy and sentinel node dissection plus radiation rather than mastectomy, even though my mother and grandmother had BC. I am 54 but recently divorced and didn't want to lose a breast if I didn't have to.

    My surgery was 17 days ago and I got pathology results 3 days ago (except still waiting for HER2 report). Both my surgeon and I are very happy with outcome. I think that confidence in your surgeon is key to feeling confident about recovery and having a positive outlook. Also be armed with information. Ask questions. It is scary to read all the info about BC but better to know what will be ahead.

    Keep us posted.

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  • ishobie
    ishobie Member Posts: 96
    edited May 2010

    Hi, I too had to wait a few weeks to know everything. My mammo n ultrasound were BIRAD5 -highly suggestive of malignancy and I received that on a Friday afternoon. A roller coaster of emotions till I finally got a biopsy and an MRI, which the MRI seemed to show a much much larger tumor than I really had. I had a unilateral mastectomy on 5/3/2010, 0/3 nodes negative, Grade 1 IDC(0.7 cm)  and a lot of DCIS. Unfortunately I am HER 2+ so I will need some chemo and herceptin. The worst part for me was waiting and waiting to hear what the plan was etc and now the surgery is over and just waiting again to start chemo in two weeks. That is another roller coaster ride I am not looking forward to. Try to think positive, although I know its tough, and before you know it -you will have all your answers.

     good luck and please let us know how it goes

    Isabel

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