Calling all Stage II Sisters!!!

Hi Faithroad. Your situtation is the closest to mine I've found & I'm agonizing over wether to do chemo. I have stage 1 grade 1 in my right breast & stage II grade 1 in my left. I see you had the oncotype test. Did you have it run on both tumors. My oncologist is reluctant because he says there is not much data about how to interpret this test in bilateral disease. I was told that if I did nothing more, I'd had a 25% reocurrence rate, took Tamoxifen it would go down to a 15%, add chemo it would drop to 10%. They did find 2 positive nodes which is why I'm stage II. The prevailing thought seems to be because I'm healthy with no other health concerns, I'll do fine on chemo. But I don't have to look far to find women with long term effects from chemo. I'm a little confused because chemo is suppose to target rapidly deviding cells & grade 1 isn't

Hi pippi! I think that's the million dollar question! My favorite trick - when my mind wanders over to the cancer topic, I immediately think of something else. It seems to keep the anxiety at bay, and if all else fails, I take a xanax. I've only had to take about 5 since my diagnosis a year ago, but gotta say, having ADD comes in handy sometimes! 

Keep hanging around these boards and you will find lots of good advice! 

Hi Ladies,

I am new to this thread. I was dx with IDC 7/10. I was put on neoadjuvant chemo, so didn't know my final stage until weeks after chemo. I knew I had at least one node (huge!) and they suspected 2 others. My tumor size was hard to read because of lots of surrounding enhancement. I went through chemo (ACx4, T x4) not knowing what stage I was and it was horrible. After surgery, they classified me as IIB with 2.5 cm tumor (1.6 when removed) and one node was still positive. Then I had 33 rounds of radiation. I had DCIS on the opposite (right) side. Attempted lumpectomy but more DCIS was found on the right, so 4 weeks later had BMX. I was 39 at dx.

For those of you on the fence about chemo, I offer this: I have 2 kids. They were 4 and 8 at
my dx. I asked for the most aggressive treatment. I was told oncotype testing is irrelevant when you're node positive. So I had the chemo, and would have taken more if they would have given it to me. Yes, the SE's are horrible and I was devastated by the loss of my long hair and my breasts. As yet, my hair is still painfully short and my reconstruction journey will be long. But when I look at my husband and my kids, I know being aggressive was the tight thing to do. It was easier in my case because I didn't have a choice, and horrible to go through it. Sometimes I still feel sorry for myself. Wish it was found earlier! But I was too young for mammos and no family hx. (13 years on the pill. Hope somebody is paying attention). Some days I feel like it's not going to get me down, others, I feel cheated and scared, and how does one live with this constant fear? My onc told me early on about the 'getting hit by the bus' thing (great, so I have cancer and I can get hit by a bus). Sorry, was not intending to be a downer. On the plus side, I've learned to take better care of myself and take nothing for granted. I often think that, if it doesn't kill me, then it's been the greatest gift in my life.

pinkbutterfly - welcome to the thread! Thank you for sharing your story - it helps everyone with their own decisions (most of our oncs won't say anything!) and there are just so many to make. I just cut the horrible chemo curls out of my hair so it is still short - it was long and straight before chemo. I had no idea how much I would miss my hair! I was just thinking of that line from the Grateful Dead song: What a long, strange ride it's been. Yes, that about sums it up.

neecee - oh, that is the worst part! I never did shave my head - my hair was so thick my son and even the onc thought it would still look okay - wrong! But I did keep cutting my hair shorter and shorter and then when it started coming in I just cut it all the same length. That felt much better! But, if you want to keep it as long as possible, it did work out okay having some hair show underneath my scarves or hats - I was able to pass that off all through chemo. Still, it felt so good to cut it off! Have you decided what you're going to do?

Hi, I have been reading your posts and learning much along the way.  I received my pathology reports from my lumpectomy today.  My tumor on MRI originally put me into Stage I, but when the lumpectomy was done and pathology completed, it was 2.6 cm.  That bumped me into the Stage II category.  I am reading and learning all I can before I am healed up and ready to have a return meeting with my surgeon.  What is the oncotest and when is it done?  Do they do it automatically?  I am going to a well known breast center where an entire team works on your case.  I heard oncotest mentioned in passing.  I am just wondering what lies ahead.  I am quite frightened about chemo, if that should be the recommendation for me.  After reading all of your posts, my fear is a bit less.  Thanks!

GiGiL-



My tumor size changed as a result of surgical pathology as well. It went from less than 2cm and no positive nodes on the MRI and PET(stage 1) to 2.2cm and two positive nodes (stage 2b). It was also upgraded to Grade 3 - fast growing, highly aggressive. The grade and node status typically drive the decision on chemo. I completed a dose dense chemo with AC and Taxol. It can be done. For me losing my hair was the hardest SE, but it's growing back now and am thankful I received aggressive tx.



Tammy

Heartnsoul76,

Yes, indeed it is a strange ride (and I want to get off!)

To all the ladies on this thread, apologies for being a downer with my previous post. I was intending to offer encouragement to those of you still in the throes of treatment, so let me try again.

Chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, all those decisions-it's no picnic, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. I'm 6 weeks out from radiation, and still trying to figure out reconstruction, and find my "new normal". Every once in a while, those disturbing thoughts come back. One thing that has helped me was to keep a journal of uplifting thoughts, clippings on long term survivors, scripture passages that give me hope and comfort, etc. Today, I needed it, and it helped. sometimes I get so wrapped up in these thoughts, I lose the big picture. I have to remind myself that He is in control, and that is no different than before. And, also, even if the unthinkable were to happen, He's waiting for me on the other side (but I'm in no particular rush, Lord).

One final thought: in my own case, the information got so overwhelming and frightening, I decided to go for a second opinion. That way, I didn't have to sift through all the clinical reports and read about all the possible outcomes. I went someplace I trusted to have the most expertise and when they told me basically the same thing, it put my mind at ease that I was doing the best I could. I strongly encourage getting a second opinion, sometimes it can confirm what you've already been told, or offer you new options to consider - both good, I think.

Much love and good wishes to all.

Kanru what an uplifting statement from your onco! I needed that today. No reason just whiney. Libraylil

Libraylil and KanRunMo,

Yes, it helps to draw from positive words, ESP from our medical team. Mine was, unfortunately, very stingy with them, even tho my BS says I should do fine. He was about the only one with any compassion. His wife had BC 30 years ago, so he's walked a mile in my shoes...he told me that most women will never have a recurrence, even with + lymph nodes. Hope I am 'most women.'

Hi Cyborg! Like your "Charlie" signature - at least he coined a good term!

Hey Cyborg - good to see you on this board, too!

heartnsoul - thanks.  It makes me laugh every time I see it.  It is a great pictorial of how I feel in my wig!

Hello I am new to this site. I am newly diagnosed . Stage 2b cancer, tumor is in right breast about 5 centimeters. I have had a breast MRI,  two biopsies, and 2 mammograms. I briefly spoke to my breast surgeon when I was  first diagnosed. They did a fna the other day to check on my lymphnodes. I have an appointment on June 13th to discuss treatment. My new concern is I found a swollen node under my left arm.I had an ultrasound on my left breast and underarm 2 weeks ago.I assume everything was ok. What I got from my first meeting with my surgeon was they will do a lumpectomy,followed by 5 days of brachytherapy. Thanks for listening!