DCIS 6 years ago, just diagnosed again...

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pattij
pattij Member Posts: 40
edited June 2014 in Just Diagnosed

hi i am 51 years old, original diagnosed at 45 with dcis small cluster of clacifiations, they removed them with biopsy, lumpectomy was clear margins were good, did tamoxifen for 5 years, no radiation.  Just last month they found another spot on the same breast but in a different area. this time it is a small tumor (less than 1 cm), biopsy shows ER and PR negative and HER2 positive with a k167 of 83%.

I am guessing this new diagnoses is a new cancer and not a recurrence, the surgeon told me the dcis was estrogen positive... i have been reading about HER2 and im petrified, cant stop crying, i am scheduled for genetic testing next week and a lumpectomy and lymph node biop march 11...

what are my chances if they get it all out with the lumpectomy and the lymph nodes are clear?  should i do chemo with herceptin anyway plus radiation?  if it is in my lymph nodes how do they know if it has metastisized do i need a pet scan? 

also, i havent seen an oncologist yet and my surgeon did not mention any
kind of treatment pre-surgery, but I just read on another thread about
neoadjuvant treatment with herceptin and Tykerb for her2-positive cancer linked to a better
outcome... study was just published January 15, 2014, so im guessing drs are not offering it yet but im going to mention it to my surgeon anyway...

any support would be welcome thanks

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  • Curlylocks
    Curlylocks Member Posts: 1,060
    edited February 2014

    Hi Pattij,

    Sorry that you are facing a new bc.  I had the same thing happen to me after 8 years. My new bc is triple negative, 1 cm but due to the aggressiveness of TN I started 4 rounds of chemo started last Tuesday.

    Pathology will test whether or not there has been a spread to the lymph nodes.  If it is true DCIS, it should be contained within the ducts.  But until you get the pathology back there is no way of knowing 100%. It can only invade the lymph nodes if there is a mixture of IDC with the DCIS.
    HER2 Positive bc used to be a scary diagnosis until the introduction of Herceptin woman having been living many, many years...never give up HOPE!  

    Regardless of whether this is a new diagnosis or a reoccurance, treatment will be the same.  Your K167 is pretty high, which means that the cancer cells when looked at under a microscope are dividing very quickly...talk to your doctors about treatment including chemo and radiation.  Herceptin would be a definite.

    Try not to think the worst...I know it is hard.  If the pathology report reveals DCIS, I am not sure if it would warrant a PT Scan.  They are normally done when you have an invasive component.

    Hang in there...as you know having been through this crap before...the waiting truly sucks!

    Michele

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  • pattij
    pattij Member Posts: 40
    edited February 2014

    im so confused... could it still be DCIS even if it is not calcifications, like before?  i thought DCIS was just calcifications??  can they tell from the biopsy if it is invasive or not or do they have to wait for the lumpectomy??? the surgeon didn't really tell me anything after this biopsy except it is malignant, i had to research myself to find out what the her2 positive and K167 meant...

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  • Curlylocks
    Curlylocks Member Posts: 1,060
    edited February 2014

    DCIS means Ductual Carcinoma Institu (basically cancer contained within the ducts).  Calcifications are white specks that appear on a mamogram or ultrasound. 

    Here is a link from Mayo:

    http://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/breast-calcifications/basics/definition/sym-20050834

    Normally the pathology from the biopsy will identify any invasive portions.  The lumpectomy will remove the section of tissue in question including margins - the final pathology from that surgery will find any invasive portions if there are even any there.

    Try not to stress, I know easier said than done...it will just make you more anxious.  It will not change the final outcome.

    Michele

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  • pattij
    pattij Member Posts: 40
    edited February 2014

    yes, i know what DCIS is,  i know what calcifications are, that is what i had 6 years ago, also had a lumpectomy then and the margins were clear there was no sign of cancer... 

    im not worried about that right now i am worried about this new cancer... which is invasive i guess because the surgeon did not say DCIS this time .. this time she really did not tell me much of ANYTHING except that it is cancer... so I am assuming it is invasive

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  • Curlylocks
    Curlylocks Member Posts: 1,060
    edited February 2014

    Patti,

    Can you get a copy of your pathology report from the biopsy?  It should say on there invasive ductual carcinoma if there is any invasive portion...it may list it as present or not present.  Ask questions of your doctors, you have the right to know!

    I have a 4 cm invasive tumour with 3 positive lymph nodes 8 years ago.  

    I know you are scared, come here to ask any questions or vent your fears...

    Michele

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  • pattij
    pattij Member Posts: 40
    edited February 2014

    I have a copy of this:

    Final Signed Predictive/Prognostic Marker Analysis

    this shows the ER and PR are negative and the her2 is positive and the k167% is very high that is pretty much it, no where on this does it say if it is invasive ductoral carcinoma...

    i guess this is not my actual biopsy....?? but this is the only thing that showed up in my on line lab corp account.. i have called the surgeon and asked them to mail  me a copy of the biopsy...

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  • pattij
    pattij Member Posts: 40
    edited February 2014

    i do need to vent ...i feel like i am going insane, i think i am OK and then in the next minute i am sick to my stomach paralzyed with fear and crying, i keep thinking worst case scenario, i keep thinking of my husband all alone and my family losing someone else (my nephew died at 16 of a brain aneurysm the same year i was dx with the DCIS) ... my parents are still alive they are 84 and 90, this will just destroy them, and my sister, and my husband im not so freaking out about me (except i was hoping for quick in my sleep guess that ship has sailed ha ha) ... i am NOT afraid to die .. iim freaking out about everyone left behind...

    i have xanax i need to start taking it, this is ridiculous... my DCIS was a BREEZE compared to this... i was very positive back then so was my surgeon...

    im not so positive any more...

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  • pattij
    pattij Member Posts: 40
    edited February 2014

    oh and im trying to quit smoking...

    ha ha ha

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  • Infobabe
    Infobabe Member Posts: 1,083
    edited February 2014

    Call and get the path report.  Right now, you don't know what you have.  Stage?  Grade?  Size?  Also, calcium can be present with or without DCIS.  There can be calcium and no DCIS.  Calcium not very important.

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  • Holeinone
    Holeinone Member Posts: 2,478
    edited February 2014

    Patti,

    Sorry you are dealing with this again. Cancer SUCKS ! 

    Your tumor is small, I cannot speak about the neoadjunct therapy or her+, no experience. You have a surgery date. That is so important, keep things moving forward. 

    ..If there is no chance of getting chemo first, see if you can move up your surgery date, tell them you will be willing to take a cancellation. To me. Waiting is torture....keep posting, it helps mentally....

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  • pattij
    pattij Member Posts: 40
    edited February 2014

    It is IDC no chemo before surgery because of the size of the tumor (0.4cm) getting genetic testing Monday if it is brca positive will do masectomy instead of lumpectomy im not comfortable with doing a masectomy if it's not going to substantially improve survival rate

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited February 2014

    Hi Patti - This totally sucks! I'm sorry you find yourself here again. I am very happy though that the tumor is so small. I never used anti-anxiety meds pre-BC - but I'm sure glad I had them to get through the dark days. This stuff is sure a sneaky devil . . . and I do mean devil. If I can help with anything just let me know. Gentle hug.

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  • pattij
    pattij Member Posts: 40
    edited February 2014

    Thanks dear!!

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