mixed IDC and DSIC and possible LCIS -- (MRI tomorrow)

LaurynSister, In 2007 I was diagnosed with a 5 cm tumour -  invasive tubulo-lobular carcinoma, with LCIS & DCIS components.  Quite rare-approx. 2% of all breast cancers!  ER+/PR+, HER2-.  4 lymph nodes were positive.  Right side mastectomy.  The cancer was deemed to be beginning to behave more agressively and my onc. put me on a dose-dense regimen of CEF, followed by 35 radiation treatments.  Kicked the crap out of me, but here I am, 5 years later, still alive and kicking!  Just remember to "do what you gotta do".  As hard as it is, try not to live too many days down the road - take them one at a time.  Good luck - praying for you.  Keep me posted. 

Hi LaurynSister!  I'm sorry you're going through this .  As my brother said when I was diagnosed "that just sucks".  I had a right side modified radical mastectomy.  About 6 weeks later, I began 6 cycles of dose-dense chemo.  My onc. explained it to me as "blasting" the cancer quickly, as opposed to slower and more steadily.  The first day of each 28-day cycle began with taking oral cyclophosphomide pills, then going for IV chemo with epirubicin and 5-flurourisil.  The pills continued for 14 days, and I was blasted with IV drugs again on day 8.  So over the course of the 6 cycles, I had 12 IV chemo treatments.  Days 15-28 were drug-free. I didn't really have much nausea/vomitting, due to the Kytril pills taken for a couple of days during and immediately followed IV chemo.   However, I did have to deal with terrible mouth sores and a pretty bad case of mucocitis which had me hospitalized for 2 weeks in my second cycle at which point my dr. adjusted the dosage of the IV drugs.  The 3rd cycle was kinda bad, but after that (except for the mouth sores that always appeared around day 15 of each cycle), I wasn't that sick.  I was really, really tired and did require a couple of blood transfusions, which helped tremendously!  About a month after chemo was done, I began radiation - 35 treatments.  I've been on Arimidex, which is an aromatase inhibitor thought to help the body block production of estrogen that fuels hormone receptor + b.c. for 4 1/2 years.  It's recommended for 5 years post-treatment, so I'm nearly done!  yay! Aromatase inhibitors are only given to post-menopausal women; otherwise, I believe it's tamoxifen for a few years. As for what to eat? Whatever you WANT!! I found cucumbers and canteloupe helped when my mouth hurt. Basically, if you can tolerate it, you can eat it!!! Also, drink fruit nector, as opposed to fruit juice - I found a great kiwi nector at WalMart! I wish you a trouble-free treatment period - I met a few women who were not sick at all, so remember that! Please keep me posted on your progress and if there's anything I can tell you, or questions I can answer that will help you, please let me know. Hugs!!

Love you too, LaurynSister!!!  Please keep me posted on your progress.  I forgot to tell you to look for humour - in books, movies, tv shows, life... wherever you can find it, it will help.  Get your hands on a book called "Life's Too F***ing Short" by Janet Street-Porter.  She's British and this book is hilarious!!!  In fact, I think I'm due to re-read it - it's that fantastic.  I was practically falling off my chair laughing out loud.  My husband thought I had really lost it!   Talk soon!  xo