<1 cm - Stage 1a - Team

I was diagnosed a 1b because my tumor was right at 1 cm. It was not multifocal and there was no dcis. It was classified as micropapillary which is a rare subtype of IDC. I had a lumpectomy, internal Mammosite radiation and 4 rounds of chemo. My lymph nodes were clear but oncotype score was 20 so I did chemo. I'm just 1 year from diagnosis but so far NED. I know you we're looking for 1a but I was just 1mm away from that.

I will say from the outset that I was 60 at the time pf dx...IDC 7 mm, node negative, ER & PG+ (100%) Her2-.had lumpectomy Jan 2012 & 16 rads...refused Arimidex. Kaiser used AdjuvantOnline, and I was in the early stages, so no chemo.  I take supplements and have begun an exercise regimen, but have yet to lose weight which I need to do (80 lbs seems too overwhelming). Recently had 1st mammo (diagnostic even tho onc said it would be screening) but haven't gotten results yet..kindof freaked. I am sooo saddened today by the loss of 2 women I was priveleged to "know" via BCO..can hardly type thru the tears. DAMN this disease!!

4my3kids,

I am also currently Stage 1a ILC but may change, awaiting sentinol Node surgery and path report. I have 2 cysts in my L  ovary have had them for years, also premenopausal but had a uterus ablation 13 months ago so no periods or PMS. I asked my surgeon about ovary removal instead of hormone therapy and he said no immediately. Now that I see your post I will call OBGYN tomorrow. Surgeon doesnt know about the cysts and I neglected to mention it, just didnt think anything of it. One more thing to add to my pile of worries.

Can I ask what made you have the decision to have a mastectomy with low stage and grade? My DH also asked about having a mastectomy and they said not necessary.. so confused trying to figure all of this out, its consuming me.

Thanks so much for just being here posting.

Mastectomy v lumpectomy is an individual decision.  Survival is pretty much the same, but recurrence is higher with the lumpectomy.  Kind of makes sense since they take all your breast tissue away with the mx.  I had a bilateral mx even though I was offered a lumpectomy and i have not regreted it.  The whole thing really sucks, but, for me, I needed to get rid of them to have any peace of mind.  The reconstruction process has been long and not perfect, but it was the right decision for me.  I respect others' decisions to go the lumpectomy route.  We need to do what works for us.  I am premenopausal and 1 1/2 years in on tamoxifen.  Hot flashes suck, but they are manageable.  

I had bilateral lumpectomies and was considered 1A in both. CT chemo x 4. Oncotypes of 42 and 18. The 42 bought me chemo. Bilateral radiation was the hardest part of treatment, neuropathy is the hardest part of survival. On Tamoxifen and fighting weight gain. MX vs lumpies is personal. One can always take more off, but when its gone its gone. So since life expectancy is the SAME for lumpectomy, I kept mine at 43. I refer to it as "rack worth saving." My hubby and I are still enjoying the playground.

I was diagnosed with Stage 1 grade 2 IDC after failing my very first mammy. In addition to the cancer on the left, I also had calcification clusters on the right so I chose to have a bmx. Now taking Tamoxifen.

Lemon

I guess the other part for me was that I had 28 mammogram slides taken the last time.  The year before (my accurate cancer diagnosis- exactly where my cancer was where I had the ultrasound) .. I could not go  through  this- I would do this every 6 months. Each person is different. I did find it strange that physician friends and doctors I would see when I said I had a bilateral all said- great decision. I am not sure whether it was to help me feel better about my decision or they knew of situations that led them to this statement. So do what works for  you and don't look back.  If you don't have peace with your decision the cancer will win. You win. Peace. CR

4my3kids, my tumors were distinct garden variety er+, pr+, Her2- cancers. Different grades, but both IDC.

I was diagnosed a year ago with DCIS stage 0 at age 53.  Lumpectomy was not an option due to two areas of cancer in the breast.  I elected BMX because I didn't want to worry about the other breast.  Final pathology showed invasions -- 3mm tumor plus some microinvasions, changing my stage to 1a.  Also triple negative.  (No oncotype score since that doesn't work for triple negatives.)

My oncologist at a comprehensive cancer center (most rank it 1 or 2 in the nation) felt I should not do chemo.  The rest of the breast oncology staff was divided with some thinking I should be offered light chemo (CMF).  I consulted another oncologist in another state (who I know to be very aggressive).  He said no chemo and said he would not do it if he were in my situation.  He said the risks from chemo (including chemo brain) were not worth the very slim benefit I might get from it.  I also consulted a world reknown breast oncologist in another country (I left no stone unturned!).  He said I could do CMF but that I had an excellent prognosis without it. 

Dh did not want me to do chemo unless at least one doctor said I needed to do it.  None did.  So, I didn't do it.  My oncologist at the major cancer center told me not doing chemo was absolutely the right decision. 

Although I did not do chemo, I have completely changed my eating habits and exercise regularly.  I have lost 55 pounds and now have a BMI below 25.  So, I am hopeful.  I am probably one of the few women posting here who chose not to do chemo even though it was offered. 

Just now seeing this thread.  I was diagnosed with a tiny area of DCIS associated with a tiny area of IDC following a routine annual mammogram.   Dr's said it was IDC caught "at the earliest possible moment".   The only reason I had gone in for that mammo (which was several years overdue) was that my mother had just been diagnosed a few weeks earlier and it reminded me to go in.   Sure glad I went in when I did!

Had lumpectomy, finished 6 weeks of radiation almost 3 weeks ago and will start Tamoxifen in another week.   Wasn't offered oncotype because with negative nodes and such a small area of IDC they said chemo wasn't necessary regardless.

I am learning during this journey that cancer can be beaten. The very word "cancer" is a frightening word. I was diagnosed on 2.19. My surgeon told me that, after clearing the margins on 3.18 the cancer is now gone!!! So basically, a month of a roller coaster ride. I will still have radiation, but that has been the least of my worries! I am truly fortunate!

I am new to all this and really glad I found this support. Thanks sisters! After my lumpectomy 3/7/13, I saw a rad onc who I really like and scheduled my mapping for 4/2/13. Then saw my med onc and she is sending my tumor for oncotype, which will take 3 wks. Didn't know I could possibly need Chemo 1st, depending on the results. Now I am back to the waiting game. I have been thinking positive but it's all still so new and my emotions along with fear are kicking me hard. I do know I can beat this!

Did you have that oncotype test done?  If it indicates that chemo is advisable, I will have to really think about it.  Clear margins and negative nodes...my surgeon said that radiation would be the only thing I would need.  He has to know about that test.  Med onc says 4 out of 100 patients will have scores resulting in both chemo and hormone treatment.  The other 96 women just need hormone rx.  Prayer does help the waiting!

I have not had the oncotype test. I will go to the medical oncologist on 4.3. I asked the surgeon and she doesn't believe I will need it but I will find out on the third.

I belong here too--considering they caught my cancer really early, I'm grateful! I had VERY dense breasts--age 47. I had my first "bad" mammogram 2012 (suspicious cluster calcifications on my R breast), followed by a stereotactic biopsy that read severe atypical hyperplasia/Borderline DCIS.

Well. I followed that w/ a lumpectomy which found a 0.5 cm tumor, IDC Grade/Stage 1a/+E./P. receptors (90%). They didn't quite get clean margins, so after MUCH thought and after suspicious hot spots on my L severely dense breast via MRI, I decided that a bilateral MX was best. THANK GOD I had the dang bilateral mastectomy & listened to my gut! They found the same deal in my L breast!

My lymph node was clear on my R. breast also (SNB), so no chemo or radiation--yay! They felt good about my L breast lymph nodes, but didn't do a SNB on them because we didn't know I had a cancer in my L breast prior to MX. *My BRACA tests came back negative--.

Other Treatment:  I have another consult with a breast oncologist soon...my MX oncologist surgeon feels that tamoxifen would not necessarily be a given for me, as the risk vs. % it might help is iffy. They DID immediately take me off BC pills which I've taken for years for hideous periods/fibroids.

So, I have many OB/GYN type decisions to make still: Do I want to take Tamoxifen? What do I want to try to control/help my bleeding now that I'm off the pill? What about ovary suppression/removal surgery? Will I most likely just need a darn hysterectomy to address all of those issues? Interestingly, I've seen an OB/GYN oncologist who would prescribe/perform any of these treatments, BUT the BREAST oncologists are the experts that I must crunch the #'s with to help decide which treatments would be most beneficial for me.

I also have 2 aunts w/ got low grade breast cancer in their 70's/80's, and one had uterine cancer in her 70's. I had an endometrial biopsy that came back negative a few weeks ago--yay!

Anyone else w/ a similar situation to mine? Thanks!