Hello to all - information needed please.

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VioletRain
VioletRain Member Posts: 1
edited August 2016 in Stage I Breast Cancer

Hello to all,

I apologize in advance if the post becomes somewhat long!

I have been diagnosed with stage 1b IDC, there was also some DCIS, radial scars, sclerosing adenosis, and a few other things in there too! I am 100% ER + and 100% PR + and negative for HER2. I am 44.

I have yet to see any oncologists. My breast nurse said she feels it will be radiation and no chemo with tamoxifen being suggested as a treatment plan. I will obviously know more once I have seen the oncologists.

The questions I have are should I request an oncotype?

Am I likely to have chemo given the above details?

I have been reading and understand my prognosis to be favorable? Is it usual though for ER and PR to be 100%?

Is there anyone else out there with a similar diagnosis to mine that could be of some support and info sharing?

I am also thinking of asking for a unilateral or bilateral mastectomy as I am concerned with all the other things going on in my breast and am wondering if this would help my future worry and prognosis. Has anyone taken this option?

Lots of questions I know. I have lots of questions popping up in my head!

I feel that I will get through this step by step with the support of others and this site is a wealth of information.

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited August 2016

    Hi, sorry you are joining us. I didn't have a choice really, but I am happy to having received more info on how much cancer was in my breast doing an Mx. I take it you are not postmenopausal. Ask your doctor about letrozole and tamoxifen. My sister in law got uterine cancer maybe from tamoxifen. It is very rare.

    I think my AI drugs help to protect me from recurrence. Also there is a link to a Beesie post that sums up the decision process pros and cons. I thought about bmx due to ilc, but my mo said not necessary and wouldn't reduce my risk of recurrence. He also said I was on high surveillance so that will help.

    Good luck.

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited August 2016

    Hi Violet!

    It's hard to know whether or not chemo will be recommended for you. For example, you don't mention the grade of your cancer or whether or not your lymph nodes have been affected by cancer. If none of your nodes are affected, an oncotype test is a good idea.

    I'm not sure about how unusual it is for a BC patient to be 100%ER/PR positive. I know that I was 95%ER/PR positive, so that gives me extra incentive to do hormonal therapy (Aromasin).

    Many women do opt for mastectomies and double mastectomies for a variety of reasons. Some have cancer activity in both breasts; some have small breasts that wouldn't look that great after a lumpectomy; some women would like to avoid future mammograms, etc.. Personally, I chose a lumpectomy because I didn't want to do reconstruction, which often involves at least two surgeries. Lumpectomy + radiation produces similar survival rates to mastectomy, so there's no real advantage in that regard. Indeed, a mastectomy is no guarantee against 1) local recurrence or 2) distant recurrence (mets).

    Best wishes!



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