Diagnosed and scared

are u asking if the biopsy can cause the spread to the nodes?

As you can see, I had several + nodes and am still here. Nodes are, from what I've read on these boards, can actuallybe the first line of defense against further spread, so it doesn't necessarily mean that + nodes mean death. Even distant metastases, moving you from Stage I to a higher stage, can be stopped in their tracks with proper treatment.

Take heart. Your surgeon told you that your nodes look clear, so go with that for now. You're going to be fine-promise. Hugs~

Claire in AZ

Congratulations, msphil, on 23 years! And thank you for still chiming in here. It's so helpful to us newbies to hear from the veterans. What an ordeal you had at such a happy time of your life.

You're right about getting the plan in place - that makes all the difference. I felt as though I was moving forward rather than being stuck in quicksand.

Best of luck to you, elfmcg. I'm glad you found this forum. The ladies here are so helpful.

MJ

I would not continue birth control pills unless you have the considered approval of your oncologist.

My oncologist still doesn't allow me any estrogen and I'm 65.....which is orobably overkill, but why take the chance in my case....I certainly don't need BC pills. But some estrogen in my vag area would be great. I would wait until I talk to oncologist rather than surgeon. Remember surgeons are not oncologist...and oncologists don't do surgery.

You will be on a treatment plan to treat the her2

As dtad said - according to all I have seen (all my Drs included), there is no 'cure' for BC at this time. The best we get is NED (No Evidence of Disease) now.

If also needs to be remembered that not all Breast Cancer is the same. There is DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ), IDC (Invasive/Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma), ILC (Invasive/Infiltrating Lobular Carcinoma) and IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer). All are VERY different. There is also the Stage, Grade, ER/PR and HER2 status which comes into play with TX and prognosis. Thus - with BC there is no "One Size Fits All'.

Edited for spelling

With HER2+ there's a good chance that chemo with Herceptin and possibly Perjeta will be recommended before surgery. Hopefully you have plans to meet with a medical oncologist and radiation oncologist to get their opinions on risk and benefit for various treatments.

Good luck!

Hi dtad, thanks for the clarification. I have seen the word cured being used by respected medical professionals and it's my understanding many women are cured but unfortunately no one individual will ever know for sure whether or not she iscured. So I don't disagree that NED may be a better way to describe it. Pam

None of my Drs ever used the word 'cured' or 'cure' other than to say this is no such thing as a 'cure' for BC at this time. My Surgeon did say that he had gotten all he could find out and had good margins thanks to the neoadjuvant A/C. I guess some might have taken that to mean "I was cured" but that would not be true and not at all what the Surgeon said in actuality.

I'm not concerned that I am not 'cured' - I'm happy to be NED (No Evidence of Disease) for 7+ yrs. I'm healthy, happy and living/loving life to the utmost I can every moment I'm granted. I refuse to choose to dwell in Negativityland.

My MO told me he was confident I could be cured. He's a great doctor and I have no problem with him using the word, knowing that there are no guarantees. I really don't understand the animosity towards the word, personally.

kira, that's the point. We're never "cured". They remove all evidence of disease, and then use radiation (to decrease risk of local recurrence) and chemo (to decrease risk of cells traveling to other sites to set up shop) and anti-hormone meds to shut off the food chain. They try to get rid of all evidence of disease, but it can return. We do whatever we can to prevent it, but it's possible. Summer angel was just saying that it doesn't upset her for someone to use that word, as it does other posters above.

That's exactly my point popmom and mtwoman I was 7 years out with an excellent prognosis yet it came back. One has to always be aware.

MTwoman - ''They remove all evidence of disease. and then use radiation and Chemo.". (Shortened quote)

You need to educate yourself on more than just your personal experiences with your DCIS.

For many of us, it was not as simple as ' getting it out and then radiation and then Chemo". I can only speak for myself - it was neoadjuvant A/C, UMX, adjuvant Taxol then rads and estrogen blockers (not anti hormone meds.)

NO ONE k ones what tomorrow will bring!