Pathology report

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bgum
bgum Member Posts: 13
edited March 2015 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

I'm new on here and this is my first post (though I've been trolling the site for a while). :) I was diagnosed in May with stage 2 IDC at 32 years old. The worst part is I have a 3 year old and a 10 month old at home. (MY youngest was only 2 months old at my diagnosis). Anyway, I've undergone neoadjuvant chemo at MD ANDERSON, and just recently had a double mastectomy without reconstruction. My tumor was ER/PR positive and Her2 negative. I thought I had a pretty good response to chemo. The pathology report said I only had 10% of active cancer left (3.5x2.5 tumor). And, I had two lymph nodes positive. I'm pretty bummed that the chemo didn't shrink the cancer in my nodes much. (MRIs always showed 2 nodes). But, I'm more concerned that my pathology report said that I had "tumor emboli in the perinodal lymphovascular space." Has anyone else had this? I've been reading some stuff, and it freaked me out. I just need some stories of hope and encouragement. I really want to be around long enough to raise my precious babies!!!

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited January 2015

    hi bgum - I hate that you were so young at diagnosis. (Hug) The path reports can have some scary stuff in it. I have worn out mine pouring over every word, looking for answers (actually reassurance) in every sentence. I'm not sure where you are in treatment but just wanted to let you know that many of us (including me) crash at the end of active treatment. I had no idea. I just knew I was completely terrified. It can be a form of PTSD. For me an antidepressant , anti anxiety meds, and speaking to a counselor once a week for a few months helped a lot. You have benn through so much and haven't even been able to enjoy the new little one.

    You'll find that time is going to help but recovery takes awhile. My counselor would tell me "You know how long it will take to feel better? As long as it takes."

    My DDIL's mom had triple neg in her thirties. She said the tumor was "as big as a peach pit." She is doing great nearly twenty year later enjoying our mutual grandchildren.

    Hang in there.

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  • chrissie29
    chrissie29 Member Posts: 121
    edited January 2015

    bgum-I know the pathology report can by scary.  I had a very large tumor at 8.4 cm that only shrunk to 6.5 cm.  I scoured these boards and the internet to try to get some comparisons for outcomes.  I never did find someone who was totally like my pathology report.  I did find many ladies who would have the same staging as you doing well.  I spent much of my time while my children were on Christmas Break worrying about my pathology report and lack of a complete pathological response.  I know look back and wish I would have been doing fun things with my kiddos instead-making memories.  I am trying to do this now and do feel this helps with my overall outlook.  My husband's aunt who is a BC survivor told me not to look on the internet and compare because there is no one like you.  I know that it hard to do, but each day I do think it gets a little easier.  I will be having radiation due to the tumor size, and I assume you will to, to decrease the chance of reoccurance.  I am exercising and trying to eat fairly healthy.  Although I can't control what the future holds, I can control now plus it doesn't do me any good to worry.  I worked with a lady who was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer of unknown origin 4 years ago.  She quit her job and did some treatment and just enjoyed her life (traveling, etc) because her prognosis initially wasn't very good.  I saw her at the cancer center a few weeks ago.  She is still doing chemo but has been decreasing her frequency.  She is back to working part-time and looked great.  She told me to have HOPE.  Hope is a powerful thing, and much better than worry.  I hope you can enjoy those little ones and find some hope.

     

    Chrissie

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  • Amj26
    Amj26 Member Posts: 1
    edited March 2015

    I just want to introduce myself. As I am 31 with 2 small children (son 4 & daughter 1) I understand the ups and downs of treatment with young children. I've also never chimed in on here but read your post and thought I'd say hello. I am stage IV unfortunately. Completed chemo and just had right mastectomy last week.

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  • knmtwins
    knmtwins Member Posts: 598
    edited March 2015

    Amj26 - do you 'lurk' on the tripple positive topic. There are some brilliant ladies over there. Also, one of my chemo buddies moms is Triple Pos, stage IV (I know, better when it is that age, not yours) but she is doing well with herceptin infusions every 3 weeks for the rest of her life. One of the ladies on my chemo month topic (if you aren't on one yet, get on one or lurk real well, that support is vital) was pregnant during chemo. Has a lovely healthy baby.

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