Stage II Forum
Comments
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Hi Kathy:
It sounds like you are more conservative in your approach to treatment, as I was. I tried for lumpectomy and then had re-excission but failed at both.
Then I had mx on my bad side only in January with TE reconstruction. I am ER+/PR+/Her2nu- with a low OncoDX score. The OncoDX was the factor that my onco used to determine chemo or not with me. They told me with Stage II you normally need chemo unless you have "good cancer" which I guess I did. The benfit of chemo would only reduce occurance by 2% and he said the risks of chemo cuts that in half and for 1% it wasn't worth it. Hang in there and keep us posted.
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hello sistas
just wanted to share my good news.we dont have too much of that stuff on here but i had 6 nodes removed and all 6 nodes came back negative...doin the happy dance.THANK YOU GOD.
i wish cancer would get cancer and stop hurting all the people i love
huggggggggggs
K
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YAY!!!!! Good news for Grannydukes!
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That's fabulous news Grannydukes! Doing the happy dance and praising God with you!
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Phenomenal, GrannyD!!!! The words we all want to hear.
God bless us all.
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Kathy
just wanted to weigh in since we have similar dx-- I was ILC 2.5 cm no nodes, no LVI--- had a lumpectomy. My onco score was a 27-in the grey area..... so I opted for 4 rounds of AC and radiation. It was challenging, but doable.... I hope for an oncotype of 0 for you!!! But know, if you have to, you can do it..... good that the docs know about your sister--but that does sound kind of rare----
keep us posted
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I thought I'd report in and let you know I had an onco appointment on Monday and got a "green light" until January. I had hoped for a longer reprieve before the next appointment but still glad labs were ok.
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well it looks like a good forum as progressed, well done rumoset
.l have been given the all clear for another year all being well, it is like walking on egg shells with all the aches and pains l pray to god for us all girls.
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Hello everyone. I'm so relieved that my oncotype score was 11, so that eases my mind about going through chemo now that I won't do it. I didn't think I would because of my sister, but it would still have been a tough decision to make. The only thing we all want in to stop this BC beast in its tracks and stomp it into the dirt!! I'm day 11 into radiation now, with 19 to go and counting! So far, so good.
Great news bcincolorado and kira!!!
Kathy
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Congratulations QCA on the oncotype score! Hang in there with the rads. It will be over before you know it.
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It's great to hear all the good news coming out of our Stage 2 group! Yeah! Kicking cancer's a$$ and taking names!
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Hi London Virginia and other with similar circumstances.....I am 47 years old. I was originally diagnosed on August 17, with DCIS (5cm). I elected to do a double mastectomy. After biopsy, turned out I had Invasive Mammary Carcinoma (didn't lump it into either IDC or ILC). The tumor was 2.2cm of invasive, and had cancer in 1/15 lymphnodes. I believe the tumor was grade 2 and I am ER+ PR+ HER-. My bone and PET/CT scans were negative for metastatic cancer.
The oncologist is recommending Tamoxifen and one round of chemo. I am struggling with the chemo. I am wondering what people with similar diagnoses are doing/have done in regards to chemo? I know it will increase the odds in my favor, but I cannot decide if is enough to convince myself to do it. I realize it is a personal decision, but I am just curious how often people take the most aggressive approach? I appreciate your wisdom!
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Hi Weesuh: I am 49 and was 48 when dx last year in August. I had no node involvement so that might make things diffdernt in recommendations for your onco. Did you have OncoDX testing? I know with no nodes and a lower OncoDX score, my onco said the benefit of chemo for me would be 2% to reduce risk of recurrance but the risks of chemo cut the benefit in half! Tamox isn't horrid.....I'll be glad when my time is over on it, but it beats cancer If you are nervous about chemo, I know you are not alone. You can always talk to your onco again and get more info before making a final decision. I would definitely want to know what benefit...........2% for me is sure not worth chemo.
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I write today something that I never imagined would be part of my life...I have breast cancer stage IIA. I have undergone a bilateral mastectomy due to the fact that diagnostic imaging never detected my IDIC and DIC present in my left breast. I did! Now I am waiting for a repeat HER 2 test as my fish and initial reads as indeterminate. It is ER and PR positive. Is this common that HER 2 result can be this vague? What should I now anticipate?
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mas52--yes, sometimes the HER2 testing result is vague. There are 2 ways to measure HER2 expression, FISH is one, I can't remember the other off the top of my head. If I recall correctly, the FISH test is cheaper, but a little less accurate, so it's used first and the other test done when the results are indeterminate. As to the ER+/PR+ aspect, if you are premenopausal then tghe onc will likely recommend tamoxifen for 5 years, followed by one of the aromatase inhibitors for 5 years. If you are post-menopausal you will probably get a recommendation to go directly to one of the aromatase inhibitors. If the HER2 comes out positive, then Herceptin will likely be recommended. Some oncs say all node positive bc should get chemo, too, but that is more variable. Do you have a copy of the pathology report? How much bc was found in the positive node? Micromets in the node are considered much less important than larger number of bc cells and that can affect treatment results, too.
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I'm in!
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Hi Everyone,
Just joined your club. Had lumpectomy for DCIS after a mammogram and, when I went to hospital yesterday, was told that I had stage 2 in the 'healthy' margins. So, got to go in for another operation and removal of lymph nodes. Depends what they findbut the good news stories are certainly cheering.
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Dear Native Mainer,
Thank you for your response. My path report showed small cancer metastasis in capsule of lymph node(2 foci): sentinel node #1 measuring 2.2mm in greatest dimension. An axillary dissection done with no further cancer findings. So, any further suggestions?
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Gwendelyn,
Will you be having a mastectomy with the axillary node resection? I chose to have immediate reconstruction with expanders instead of a TRAM. It made the surgery longer but I am happy to have the reconstruction process started as it lessened the body image disturbance changes for me! Yes, reading the good stories of others is so helpful and makes me feel that I too can deal with whatever comes!
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mas52--my sentinel node was negative, so my experience won't be much help to you. What you really need right now is specific info related to your unique situation. First, you have time to do some research and think about how you want to procede. Get consultations with 2 medical oncologists, 2 radiation oncologists, 2 plastic surgeons. Kathy Steligo's book The Breast Reconstruction Guidebook Issues and Answers from Research to Recovery is an excellent review of the reconstruction alternatives with clearly laid out pros and cons. The latest edition of Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book is another great resource. Both are probably available at the oncology center for borrowing, or at the local library. Essentially, the choices to make are
1. lumpectomy or mastectomy
2. if lumpectomy, radiation or no radiation
3. if mastectomy, immediate or delayed reconstruction
4. if reconstuction, what type (implants, TRAM, DIEP, Lat flap, SGAP)
5. with a positive node there will probably also be a choice of chemo or no chemo
6. with ER/PR+ status, then estrogen blocking therapy (tamoxifen or an AI) with our without ovarian suppression, depending on your menopausal status.
7. if you are under 50, or have any family history of breast, ovarian or pancreatic cancer, you will want to get info about genetic testing for BRCA 1 or 2 mutations.
I know it looks like a lot to think about and it is a lot to deal with. Some things can wait (genetic testing, for instance). I had a mast and then took time to research reconstruction and found I had a much better option outside the state where I live. Others want immediate recon to not go through the major body image change and the use of a prosthesis. These decisions are very, very personal. There are no right or wrong choices.
Hang in there and keep coming back here to talk out your decisions and ask questions. That's what we're here for.
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Me too.
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goin for results tomorrow of onco score.a little nervous to say the least.
wish me luck sistas..im really scared.
this bc really does suk.
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Praying for you Granny.
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Granny-only thinking positive thoughts.
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Parying for a low score, Granny!
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thanks sistas..goin to sleep soon because the brain is gonna explode.
ill let you know late afternoon.thanks for the prayers.luv you girls
God bless.WE THE PEOPLE WILL BEAT THIS GIANT MONSTER ONE SISTA AT A TIME.
hugggggggggs
K
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Good luck tomorrow, Granny! We love you!
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Granny, Thinking about you. Let us know the Onco results.
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HEY HEY HEY results----10 no chemo..im so happy.
thank you my sistas for all your concern and prayers.
huggggggggggs and prayers for all of you.God bless.
WE ARE GONNA WIN THIS BATTLE ONE SISTA AT A TIME....
K
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Wonderful news!!!!! So glad to hear it.
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