My 65 mom newly diagnosed IDC. Lots of processing/questions.

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ANSMommy
ANSMommy Member Posts: 5
edited January 2017 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

Hello there,

First time poster. My 65 year old (postmenopausal at early age of 38) Mom is newly diagnosed with IDC tentatively Stage IIa. She discovered a lump in early December. After a mammogram, US and biopsy, it showed two tumors at 10 and 12 o'clock. The main tumor originally measured at 1.8 cm (IDC) and the second (In Situ) measured at <1 cm. She then had a MRI that showed the tumor sizes at 2.5 cm and 1 cm. This has bumped her up to IIa. And multicentric due to the tumors being 5 (mm?) apart.

She has met with two surgeons (the first awful- marched into the room after my Mom thought she was has having a lumpectomy and said the mastectomy is on the 24th!) (No sympathy as my Mother sobbed and explained that she was a widow- my Dad passed away from ALS almost 7 years ago). Cold...

The We love her second surgeon and plastic surgeon and she will have a single mastectomy with reconstruction on the 27th. We meet her new oncologist tomorrow.

Unfortunately we are finding in this journey that everyone has an opinion. And that is from non medical professionals and medical professionals. She is overwhelmed by everyone opining about her situation.

She's made peace with her mastectomy. It's chemo that is up in the air. Some people say she definitely will need it. Others say we won't know until her sentinel node biopsy. Then some will say any node involvement is a ticket to chemo. Others say not based on her age etc. We will discuss Oncotyping tomorrow.

I know each case is different. But does having two tumors make her case worse? Does this sound like anyone else?

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited January 2017

    Hi!

    I don't think being multi-focal makes her case worse, per se. Indeed, one of the lumps is DCIS, so it isn't invasive cancer. As you have seen, though, BC patients with multi-focal cancer are more likely to end up with mastectomies than lumpectomies.

    Whether or not your Mom gets chemo depends on a number of factors. The women most likely to get chemo are those who -- like me -- have HER2+ cancer. Another subset of BC patients who typically get chemo are those who are triple negative (ER-PR-HER2-). If your doctors are discussing the Oncotype test, then your Mom may have the most common form of breast cancer, ER+PR+HER2-. If your Mom is node negative, her oncologist will consider the results of the Oncotype test before recommending chemo. In many cases, the risks of chemo outweigh the benefits, and the oncologist will not recommend chemo.

    If your Mom is node positive, chemo is more likely, but not guaranteed. In fact, your Mom is the patient; she can refuse any treatment she doesn't want. Her doctors should give your Mom an estimate of how much chemo or radiation or hormonal therapy will reduce the chances of recurrence.

    Best wishes!

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited January 2017

    I wouldn't pay much attention to well meaning friends. Unless they are MDs with direct knowledge of your moms particulars, and that's who you need to listen to.

    You and mom will hear a lot of this. And be told a bunch of false "cures" too. Dr Google isn't a friend either. Listen to her docs.

    Best wishes

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  • RMlulu
    RMlulu Member Posts: 1,989
    edited January 2017

    ANSMommy - sorry that your mom is facing so much confusion. The waiting and forming a plan a team is the hardest. Does your moms cancer center have a breast support group that she may attend. Has she found what services they provide...does she have a nurse navigator?

    This site has great questions to ask team members. Pathology will provide more information and direct future plan of treatment.

    I'm a widow...60s Two tumors 8mm at 12 o'clock & 6mm at 2 o'clock. I was able to have a lumpectomy. No lymph nodes were involved. Tumors were near chest wall and margin was less then desired. Chemo was not needed per no lymp nodes and oncotype score, but radiation was required. Even if a mastectomy radiation was given due to proximity to chest wall. Im 4 yrs out take aromison.

    As your mom moves through treatment I would encourage her to join threads for each step. The women I have met here are amazing.

    Together you will press forward...she can do this...we will be in her pocket {{{squeeze}}}

    Cindy

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  • ANSMommy
    ANSMommy Member Posts: 5
    edited January 2017

    Thank you all for the kind responses. I will show my Mom these and this will help. We are (lucky?) that my best friend's Mom is a 4 year BC survivor. She and my Mom are good friends so they are great resources for both me as a daughter and my Mom the patient. I will be definitely asking pointers on this board as how to be the best caregiver to my Mom.

    I am telling her to ignore as much as possible from outside people. Case in point today: Mom went to the Urgent Care for a breathing treatment for her Asthma. My mom noted that she was having a mastectomy soon. The nurse then proceeded to ask my Mom about wigs, opining about how she should get a double mastectomy over the single etc. I'm telling you it is about to drive her batty. My Father in Law had Stage 3 Prostate Cancer- no one had an opinion. But for us ladies, we get nothing but!

    The good news about her tumors is that they are both ER+ and PR+ and HER2-. The MRI of her nodes looked clear (although we know that's not a given). I'll admit chemo is scaring her. But we know it's not a given until after her surgery. She has told her doctors that she is silly and vain to worry about her appearance. I tell her it's completely normal to feel that way. If my Dad were here, he would make her feel gorgeous no matter what. We really miss him in times like these.

    My mom is an active lady, plays competitive tennis, takes care of her 98 year old Mom (a Colon Cancer survivor for over 20 years :)!! It will be hard for her to stay put for a while to heal. We will keep you all posted!

    The first thing I've learned in this is that every woman is not immune to getting BC. It definitely puts more importance in my annual checkups


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  • Kimm992
    Kimm992 Member Posts: 135
    edited January 2017

    I just wanted to add that IF the doctors/she decide that chemo would be beneficial...it is not as awful as you might think. Sending hugs!

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