New Stage II

Hi Caryl - So sorry you had to wake up to bad news. In most cases, your oncologist is going to be the one to deal with scans and further treatment, so I hope he/she is a better communicator.

I was diagnosed ER-PR-Her2+ in January 2008, and I'm doing well 3+ years later. My tumor was 2.2 cm, another smaller one discovered at .7 cm, plus DCIS. I had a uni mast with silicone implant reconstruction.

Chemo was six rounds of Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin with Herceptin every 3 weeks for a year. My side effects were mild, and I continued working, traveling, and exercising throughout treatment (with plenty of down time!)

I had one PET/CT before treatment and one after - now, no more unless symptoms indicate a need. You'll most likely have MUGA scans of the heart throughout Herceptin (I had them every 3 months) - I had no problems in that area.

Please feel free to PM me with any questions - I know this looks like a huge mountain to climb right now, but I was surprised at how much easier it all was than I imagined.

Best wishes - Sue

Same story here.  Pre-surgery PET scan and MRI showed no node involvement and then I'll be darned if the first two nodes didn't have micromets.  So . . . Stage IIb it is for me.  I am doing DD AC x 4 and DD T x 4.  I had a BMX and all of the nodes removed on the affected side to chemotherapy is providing me with some extra insurance.  I'll find out Thursday if I will need radiation as the protocols are constantly changing, especially for pre-menopausal women like myself.  Good luck to you.  You can PM me if you want.

Tammy

Hi

Things will only get better now that you are aware of the truth.  After several tests, biopsies, etc.  I opted for a mastectomy last sept and another jan 2011.  Also, I never had to have chemo or radiation.  I am feeling good these days and I am glad that I chose to do this I feel as though I got rid of the cancer by taking aff my breasts.  Good luck to you and keep strong....take care.

Wow Winterpeg... what a rough road... I too was diagnosed in Nov and had a lumpectomy in December, but after further research I have decided to have a prophylactic MX with Diep recon which I will do in july... and skip rads (which is an option for me)... I too had a micromet and so chemo it is... I started on Jan 18 and will finish on May 10th... Yeah!! Then a little break to recup and then MX July 21st in NOLA most likely... I go down there for a consult in May.

 I too was told clean nodes and then full path report said .38mm micromet in SN... and tumor was 1,9cm (we thought prior to surgery it was 1.5 or 1.7... all this uncertainty has made me wonder what else is going on that no one can see... I have had an excisional biopsy in 1998, my lumpectomy in 2010 and 2 MRI guides biopsies in 2010 all on left side... so much scarring now how can I possibly do an accurate self exam, which is how I found the cancer (mammo didn't show it)... And  one biopsy showed I have a pappiloma on cancer side and birad 3 on good side... too tired to wait and watch anymore and history of ADH... maybe that's what led to BC in the first place... and I am sure I still have some of that too.

My breasts are trying to kill me so they need to go

Winterpeg... did you have an MRI and what did it show?? My mammo shows nothing, but it did show up on an US and MRI...

Winterpeg.. sorry... you did say you had an MRI... I get confused going from one thread to another... another sign of chemobrain?? anyway.. chemo itslef has been tolerable and hopefully you will find that too... the hair loss is the worst part IMO mostly because I see myself "sick" whenever I look in the mirror... BUT it does end as it will for you and my hair has already started to sprout (a bit) and I am having tx 5 of 6 tomorrow...

Caryl... MICROmet is sized .2mm to 2mm and MACROmet is larger than 2mm... in addition, anything smaller than .2mm is considered node negative. My micromet was .38mm... so very very small, but still getting chemo... IMO in the nodes is in the nodes... to get there the cancer had to travel... that's enough reason to combat it with chemo for me.

You are stage IIb because your tumor was between 2-5cm (stage II) and you have lymph node involvement... had you had a smaller tumor OR no node involvement you would have been IIa. 

dsnydawn,

I share similar frustrations with "off the cuff" doctor's opinions before the pathology reports come in and similar language habits when those momentary lightening flashes of reality hit with the realization once again that there is no way out of this bc dilemma except to deal with it.  I used to have AHA moments in my life; now I seem to have more WTF than AHA moments.  I'm sure at some point this bc awareness seeps into our pores and we no longer shock ourselves with renewed realizations--one more thing to wait for.

I don't have your major decision, but given what I've already learned about the inadequacies of mammograms and the upheaval in my life from just one idc diagnosis, I'd be thinking along the same lines as you.

Had I not found this forum, I think I would be driving my husband nuts--or more nuts I should say.  I had a lumpectomy on 3/18/11, one month ago today, with a breast reduction at the same time.  As the 2.5 cm tumor was a grade 3 and estrogen and progesterone positive, the Oncotype DX genome testing was ordered and should be back this week.  I have a bs appt this Thurs., 4/21, to find out the results and see if I need chemo.  The radiation and hormone therapy are givens. 

The waiting for all these diagnostic and pathology reports is sheer hell.  That's what I'm doing here today:  I've called a mental health day, looking for healthy ways to reduce the anxiety of all this waiting.  I find by the time I get the whatever "results" appointment I've been anxiously awaiting, my blood pressure is way over anything resembling my normal bp.

One unexpected result is all the pain from the reduction--not from the incisions, which are healing nicely, but interior pain that moves from left to right, then strikes in the center, sometimes stabbing, sometimes pinching.  It's a nasty continual reminder of bc and requires me to remind myself over and over again that all this pain and trouble is a sign of progress.  The plan is to complete a reduction on the right breast after the treatment on the left is complete.  By that time, the bs will have a better idea of the final size of the reduced left breast after it gets finished being cooked by the radiation.  So if I'm lucky, a year from now I should have two matching breasts.  And if I'm really lucky, maybe I can go braless around the house again.  It sounds silly, but that's one of the big rewards I'm anticipating.

So far I've been fortunate to have enough breast tissue to move around for my own reconstruction surgery.  You gotta admit that's kind of like making lemonade out of lemons, but I do feel lucky to not have more drastic decisions to make--today anyway.

Good luck with your decision.  It's truly major. What kind of diagnostic tests have been done on "the other breast" so far?  Or are you of the opinion that it wouldn't matter--you just don't want to run the risk even if there are no current indicators of bc in that breast? 

Ruthii,  I had my lumpectomy & SNB last wed 4/13, although my breast is sore, my armpit is where I have the most problems.  I wouldn't say "pain" but it is very uncomfortable..like I'm holding something under my arm, and this swelling? doesn't seem to leave.  and of course can't shave,so that is getting annoying!!! I am waiting for the final pathology which I was told by today..I gave myself off until today from thinking about this, so I just called bs office and was told nothing yet probably because alot of staff on vacation....can you imagine the nerve haha don't they know i'm waiting!!! hey I can pretend to be a diva (if only in my mind) anyway figure I'm going to contact the ps today ,I went to see her when all I believed would be nessecery was lumpectomy and I had choice....I want to really find out the best route to go..Luckily I am a stay at home mom right now..but recovery time might influence my decision...on one hand te & implants seems less recovery, but kind of leary of having to swap them out in future (I just turned 40) and leaking?? But the other option diep seems very lenghty and alot of recovery time (not sure if that would be done at time of mx or would have to wait until after chemo?? ) I do remember the ps telling me that if I went the mx route I would def need te ,as my nipple area is large.  I have had 3 c-sections, so I know the pain from that, not sure if similiar? I have all these ?? but just want to make the right decisions...@ bdavis...since I've been on the boards ,I have been following you as you seemed to be similar to me...I have also just seen your blog and it is so nice to read your journel..it gives me hope that I will get through this too...just put one foot in front of the other...from what I'm seeing you didn't have mx yet?? was wondering if bs gave you a hard time for wanting to do other side? Well hope your doing good today, so happy you are almost done!!!!!  oh and @ruthii...I hope you get great results thursday, I will be thinking about you!!!!

Ruthii, after I felt the lump that started this, I had mammography & mri and bs told me left breast is fine....also was wondering if I only did right side with implant after mx & just kept "good" breast and lifted it, wouldn't it look too different? well no call on path today..maybe tomorrow

DSNY - So sorry for your story and what you are going through. Keping my fingers crossed for you.  I had lumpectomy in Nov, but similar story - they saw suspicious area far from the lump right before the surgery, did a biopsy, and the radiologist wanted me to do MX, but the BS said the lumpectomy would work - he moved tissue around and it actually looks fine.  Who knows how this will end, I'll just take it every 6 months.

Hi BDAVIS,  I totally agree with your thinking, about doing it once and moving on.  Since I've been on this board I've been seeing NOLA and always wondering what it was (finally figured it out) But after seeing there website I was kind of excited with how they handle reconstruction.  But my only problem would be that after having my lumpectomy last week bs advised me that in order for her to get clean margins would need mx (so I'm assuming that will happen soon) How long does it take to get appts at NOLA? I mean it would kind of defeat the purpose, having the mx here and then going there for reconstruction..Also was just wondering if they are putting tissue to form breast again, can any cancer return to that tissue?? I know that is far fetched but that did pop up in my head.  Can you believe that I still haven't gotten pathology from my 4/13 surgery!!!!  driving me more crazy!!  well hope you are having a good day and thanks for all your advise ..Dawn