what questions should I ask?

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wrmbrownie
wrmbrownie Member Posts: 114
edited August 2015 in Stage III Breast Cancer

I finished chemo and just had surgery (Iumpectomy and alnd.) I go this week to see oncolologist and surgeon. What questions should I be asking? Of course, I'm hoping all the lymph nodes are now clean but as I read on here, I'm guessing not to really expect that. What should I expect?

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited August 2015

    Wrmbrownie, sorry you have to be here, but you've come to the right place for community and sharing.

    With E+ breast cancer, it's common to have some remaining cancer in the pathology report. Don't panic. Radiation is next, and it will clean up the "nits" that might be left behind after your chemo and surgery.

    Be sure to ask for a referral to a lymphedema therapist. After ALND, she can help prevent issues with lymphedema and teach you how to help prevent it yourself. And be aware that after radiation therapy, it's very common for shoulder problems to come up. Pay attention to your shoulder and ask for physical therapy very early, to forestall a long term crapstorm.

    And by all means, go prepared with HOPE. I don't care what the path report says, you're gong to do fine. This is a speed bump.

    Blessings and love as you continue to walk the path to the cure.

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited August 2015

    Hi!

    After discussing your pathology report, I would expect that you'll discuss radiation and hormonal therapy. Hopefully, you've recovered well enough from surgery to begin discussing radiation. After my lumpectomy, I had a giant seroma and my radiation oncologist insisted that my surgeon drain it before he began treatment. I also began hormonal therapy after surgery. You'll probably talk to your oncologist about whether or not you're supposed to take Tamoxifen or an AI. (Even if you're premenopausal, you can still take an AI if you take Zoladex or Lupron.) Be sure to discuss the side effects of hormonal therapy, and any pre-existing conditions that might make such therapy challenging. Best wishes!

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  • wrmbrownie
    wrmbrownie Member Posts: 114
    edited August 2015

    Thank you guys!

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited August 2015

    Wrmbrownie, when is your appointment? We're in your pocket!

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  • wrmbrownie
    wrmbrownie Member Posts: 114
    edited August 2015

    I had my appt. today. The tumor was bigger than they thought and I had more malignant lymph nodes than they expected. Otherwise, still on track to do radiation and then tamoxifen etc.

    However, I was just looking at my path report and it says... invasive mammary carcinoma." Another place says invasive invasive mammary carcinoma with mixed ductal and lobular features. What does that mean?? Do I still have IDC or is it both IDC and ILC?? I'm confused. Ugh!

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited August 2015

    Hi wrmbrownie!

    From Johns Hopkins: "Invasive mammary carcinoma, also known as infiltrating mammary carcinoma, is a mixture of invasive ductal and lobular carcinomas; meaning the cancer grows at the junction of the duct and the lobule."

    Like you, every time I got an update on my tumor, it was bigger than expected! Oh well....

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