ER + / PR + / HER2-

PM on it's way

Dorothy12,

Yes, our diagnosis are very similar................see my signature line below.  I had an Oncotype test and scored fairly low.............17, but I went ahead with chemo anyway.  Partly because I was grade 3 and because we did find another small lesion that was mostly dcis in another part of the same breast.  I was scheduled for TC times 4 but had a reaction after treatment two so I was switched to 6 weekly doses of Taxol.  The chemo, although not a party, was very doable.  You will hear that from most of the ladies.  I then went on to 33 or 38 radiation treatments ( I guess it is a good thing that I can't remember, sort of like labor and childbirth, lol).   I am now almost 16 months into my 5 years of Arimidex.  This for me has been the hardest part of the journey, with the most side effects.  But again, doable.  And certainly better than getting more bc.

You should have your full pathology report soon.  Have you met with an oncologist yet?  Keep us posted and I wish you well.

Caren

Same stats - and so confused since I met with one onc and we didn't mesh. Trying a new one in a week. The first didn't want to do any testing, blood or otherwise and wanted me to jump into the arimidex bandwagon. I'm now not sure what way to go. I did have a session with my accupunturist today and he agreed i would need to reduce the estrogen in my diet. I had early meno at 38 with hystro.

Tonight I'm really hungry for chocolate in any form!

KeepingtheFaith,

I am glad you have your onc appt coming this week.  I of course am not a doctor, but I think just by the size of your tumor you will probably be a candidate for chemo.  The onc may suggest an oncotype test which will give you more info.  That being said, my tumor was 3.5 cm and my oncotype score was "low enough" that I could have considered opting out of chemo.  I decided to throw the book at the beast and did chemo followed by rads, and now Arimidex for 3 and ahalf more years.  Do not be afraid of chemo if you decide to go that route.  It is not a picnic, but for most of us it is quite doable.  You will find lots of support here with threads that are more specific to you once you decide on your treatment regimen.  Good luck with everything and let us know how you make out on Tuesday.

Caren

I can't help but wonder if your daughter isn't in major denial and she is distancing  herself as a defense mechanism, both of which are totally normal.  I had a different experience.  I have two daughters and a son and I am very close to all of them.  My girls "needed" to jump on a plane and make sure I was really ok.  My older daughter had a 2 month old at the time.  My son, who is usually very attentive, did not come down for a couple of months, the weekend before I was starting chemo.  It took him all that time to digest his own feelings about the situation.  My point is................everyone deals with this in their own way.  Be glad she has the new man in her life so she can lean on him.  Give her time, and be thankful that you do have a strong support system.  She needs support too and for now she cannot turn to her mom.  You will all adjust and will stand together on this journey.