Just diagnosed, IDC Grade 1

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kathy744
kathy744 Member Posts: 12
edited February 2015 in Just Diagnosed

In January I had a mammogram, I was nicely invited back for more images and they decided to do an ultrasound. During the mammogram they found 2 areas of calcifications in my left breast, during the ultrasound they found a nodule also left breast. I was scheduled for a stereotactic biopsy on Feb 3rd, when I arrived they had changed it to an ultrasound biopsy, they stated they were more concerned with the nodule than the calcifications. I got the call that it was IDC Grade 1. I am going in tomorrow for the stereotactic biopsy of the calcifications so the surgeon (and I) will know what we are dealing with.

My question to all of you - what questions should I be asking tomorrow? So far I've come up with size of the nodule and hormone receptors?

Obviously I'm new to this and want to make sure I get all the info I need to make informed decisions going forward.

Thank you!

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  • Holeinone
    Holeinone Member Posts: 2,478
    edited February 2015

    Will he do a punch biopsy on the sentinel node? I went into my surgery thinking I had one positive node, came out with 6 out of 7, positive, and extra nodal extension. Until they do the surgery you really do not know 100% what you are dealing with. I did not have a MRI, many women do.

    I liked & trusted my breast surgeon. I took his advice and hopped on the roller coaster of treatment.

    Someone else will come along with better advice as far as what to ask? I really did not ask much at all until I got my path report & told I was stage 3. You will definitely want to take someone with you when you have the appt. With your surgeon, before surgery. Have them take notes. My hubby & daughter came to my first appts. Then after my 2nd chemo, I realized that I wanted to go to the oncologists by myself. I needed her to talk to me, not answering ? From my hubby, that was not necessary & taking up my time with the Dr.

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  • Larkspur
    Larkspur Member Posts: 88
    edited February 2015

    Kathy, I suggest that you request copies of all pathology reports. You can look them over in privacy and on your own time, and there are easily-found sources online--including on this website, I'm pretty sure--that will help you make sense of the jargon and abbreviations. You probably won't get the chance to receive and read them before your procedure tomorrow, but they'll help you to ask informed questions in the future.

    Holeinone's suggestion that you bring along a note-taker is useful too. Are you meeting with the surgeon for a consultation before the biopsy?

    Hang in there!


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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited February 2015

    Hi Kathy!

    In advice to the great advice you've received and will receive, you may be interested in checking out the main Breastcancer.org site's page on Your Diagnosis: Questions to Ask Your Doctor for some more tips.

    We hope this helps!

    --The Mods

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  • Msqueen57
    Msqueen57 Member Posts: 65
    edited February 2015

    If at all possible, before having surgery ( either a lumpectomy or mastectomy), ask for an MRI of both breasts. That way you will have the information needed to make an informed decision. While every case of breast cancer is different, the early breast cancer in my good breast wasn't found until the MRI. Do get copies of your pathology reports so that you can go over them. And as mentioned above, if possible take someone else to take notes and be moral support.

    😃 Hugs and best wishes😃

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  • kathy744
    kathy744 Member Posts: 12
    edited February 2015

    Thank you for all the great responses! I'm so glad I found this site.

    My husband and/or daughter will be going to my surgeons appointment once it is set up, I don't want to chance missing anything. The Breast Cancer Center I am going to recommended I have the 2nd biopsy before we set up the appt with the surgeon so they'll know what we are dealing with.

    When I go today I'll ask for the pathology report from the first biopsy.

    The RN I'm working with said most of the surgeons they work with do order an MRI, which I definitely want. The nodule they found on the left side was not seen on the mammogram and they did not do an ultrasound on the right side so I want to make sure there is nothing there.

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  • msphil
    msphil Member Posts: 1,536
    edited February 2015


    hey sweetie, i had a 2nd opinion, and felt better, when they both agreed, hang in there and write down everything cause you wont remember all of it. msphil(Idc, stage2. 0/3 nodes, L mast, chemo and rads and 5 yrs on tamoxifen), I am now a 21 yrs Survivor(Praise GOD), so hang in there

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