Lumpectomy in 6 days-new to here

sheeba, sorry you found yourself here. I was DX'd with Grade 3 on biopsy and down-graded to Grade 2 after LX and LND. But, I also had an intermediate onco score of 21, so opted for chemo. I am one year past my LX. My tumor was close to my chest wall, but I did get clear margins and had radiation also. All in all, I have no regrets regarding my treatment decisions. I have also read that a higher grade usually responds well to chemo.  The Grade is not the only determining factor in your prognosis; try not to read too much into it. Once you have surgery, maybe more scans, etc., your MO will be able to give you the whole picture and plan your treatment accordingly. Will you be getting the BRCA genetic testing done? Wishing you the best! 

How would a doctor know that a breast cancer isn't genetic, without testing for the genes?  I don't get that at all. 

Sheba, If  the Dr.gave  you a choice which way to go, survival rates are the same. Are you going to do the onco score that tells you whether you are a candidate for chemo or not? That is a question you should ask.

If reading gets you down than limit it. Watch where you go for information. Your breast surgeon is there for you. Don't have to wait for surgery to make another appointment and ask questions,. 

Sheeba102, it is all so overwhelming in the beginning. I had a lumpectomy, was fairly easy. I had to have a drain for 10 days, that part was annoying. I have had friends that did not need a drain, everyone is different. 

Until they get in there & remove the tumor & nodes, you do not need to research much, because you just have a piece of the information and sometimes it can change. 

Chemo is a nightmare, hopefully you will not need it. Keep posting here, we all "get it". 

I had my lumpectomy and SN biopsy on Oct. 3rd.  I got the path results on the 13th.  After the path reports came back (not clear margins and clear lymph nodes) they decided to send it off for onco testing.  That test can take two weeks to get back.  I am not trying to dicourage you as courage is the one thing we all need to have, but I just wanted to let you know how long it took me to get results back.  It seemed like forever.  The doctor got my onco results back last Friday (24th) and I got the results on the 27th.  Chemo starts on Nov. 6th due to onco results (27).  I am also a grade 3.  My tumor was also very close to my chest wall and they have to go back and take more tissue.  Your husband is correct about staying off the internet   I spent alot of time researching everything I could about BC from the time I had my mammo (August 25th).  Everyday I absorbed myself with research.  I finally decided that I was just freaking myself out and this was the best forum that I found while searching.  For the two weeks that I waited for the onco results I viewed that time time as an "off" period from being a cancer patient.  I know it was all in my mind, but it helped me get through the waiting.  I am very glad that your surgery went well and I will be watching to see how your results come back.   

Hi sheeba102.  I have the same diagnosis as you but am a bit older (59).  For some reason my Onc was not concerned about the grade 3.  Maybe because there was no sign that it had spread (no node involvement and clean margins).  My nurse navigator said it was no worse, just different.   My onoctype came back intermediate so I'm waiting on another test called mammaprint which gives a more  definitive yes/no to chemo.  Again, my Onc seems to think I won't need it, but as everyone has said treatment options can change.  I also, had internal radiation as opposed to external.  Treatment is so individualized based on many factors that no two diagnosis receive the same treatment.

Good luck on your Nov. 10th follow-up.  I have one that same day. 

sheeba102....I had weird pains for a couple of weeks after lumpectomy...mostly in my back shoulder area and arm.  But it eventually went away.  My burning sensation was more in my lymph node area .  Everything feels pretty normal now.  Some women are better candidates for the internal rads (like smaller breast, no node involvement, and small tumor).  However, a lot of hospitals either don't have the equipment (very expensive) or the surgeons don't have lot of experience with it.  My doc is a Breast Surgical Oncologist and the director of the Breast Center where I'm being treated.  I had the Savi device.  He said I was candidate for internal rads so I opted for that instead of the external.  I did twice a day for 5 days.  Device was uncomfortable but now that it's over I'm so glad I got it done in a week.  We discussed my treatment plan at our first appt. even before surgery was done.