Just diagnosed with IDC

i don't have the answer to your question, but i was just dx'd with idc in july. i know the "mess". i'm so sorry. mine is also hormone positive, and that's good news, as i understand it, as there are more choices for treatment.

all i can tell you is - breathe. once you have more info, you'll be able to make a plan, and for me, that seemed to be the only thing that calmed me. they told me the day after my biopsy, and then made me wait for 3 weeks to see the BS.

this post has been incredibly helpful to me, gave me something to concentrate on, and something positive to focus on. being pro active fave me the feeling of being in control of something when it felt like my life suddenly became out of control.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/5/topics/748296?page=3#idx_61

we're here. we know.

come back and tell us what happens at the BS tomorrow, please. i'll be keeping you in my thoughts.

Hi,

I was just recently diagnosed myself. A scary, sitting in limbo time it is until there's a plan. I'm still in that stage too. I'm up to getting surgery step and then the wait for final pathology etc.

I've read many posts on here and have seen some diagnosis listed as large lumps but no nodes. I really know how hard it is to be in this spot. Wish none of us ever had to be.

Please let us know how your appointment goes. It's hard to stop and breathe let alone relax at all, but even if for a minute you can shut off your thoughts , it helps a bit.

Hi, there...I know what you are going thru-dread and feeling alone are two of the worst emotions I experienced. But time will take care of them. For now, just take deep breaths and don't even try to think, until you get some instructive info from your medical expert. You'll go thru many emotions-just go thru them. Tell others what you need in terms of support. Make sure also you feel good about your doctor, as if you do, they can be enormous moral support as well as medical support. I still recall today some very positive things said to me by breast surgeon and nurse assigned to my case in imaging. Also, depends on specifics of tumor to know your full prognosis. You may need a sentinel node biopsy it, sounds like, for lymph node detection;and I'm guessing they'll want to remove the growth one way or another. It is at that time that they will get a very thorough picture with the path report and help you decide on what kind of treatment after surgery, to ensure full recovery. This will have several steps, so try to take them one at a time. Look at each step as the only goal at that time. As you go thru it, info may change. Know that you have support here all the way.

Hi,

So sorry to hear about your diagnosis. The hardest part is always at the beginning, before you have all the answers you so desperately need.

I want to reassure you because I also had a 3 cm lump plus a small DCIS right next to it; mine was also grade 3 and HER2 positive which means aggressive. Well I did NOT have lymph node involvement. I still find it a little surprising but I think my cancer grew really fast and so maybe just stayed localized.

I hope you got some good answers from the breast surgeon and it is someone you trust; that's really important.

Hi Fiddler- thank you so much for your post. It is very reassuring to hear size doesn't tell everything. I have my MRI next week so should get more answers. Fortunately I have my team in place and things are moving. I hope to have surgery by end of August. I'm keeping positive and busy!

I was wondering if anyone had this happen. When I had the ultrasound the mass measured 3.3 cm. But when I got the pathology report after core needle biopsy it said 1.8 cm max. My BS said we won't really know until surgery but he thinks the 1.8 cm is more accurate. Does this sound right? Thanks to anyone who might know!

Trui Lady. I had three different measurements from 2.3 to 4.5. Mammo, US and MRI all read different. Pathology report after surgery showed the tumor bed was 3.5. I had one biopsy positive node pre chemo and 4 sentinel nodes were negative including the one that was positive before.

53nancy the only essential oils I have used is lavender in my diffuser to help calm the house. Were you trying to only use hormone therapy and no chemo radiation or surgery?? Did you get estrogen and progesterone %? Her-2 is one measurement but Hormone receptors are another key number you will need. The numbers will help decide your treatment plan. Lymph node involvement is also needed for staging. I'm sure your doctor will guide you at your appointment on Wednesday.

Tri-lady, The only true measurement you will get for the tumour will be after surgery. I had three different measurements, first the ultrasound was around 1.8, then the MRI 2.2, and finally the surgery was 3.1! Quite a difference (I had to wait six weeks for surgery so personally, I think the tumour grew during that time). Before surgery, they told me the MRI was more accurate than the ultrasound.

53 Nancy, HER2 negative is different than the result for hormones. You will find out the reading for your ER and PR (estrogen and progesterone)--these are the hormone results and would be treated by oral anti-hormonal therapy. HER2 is a protein and if you are positive for it you are treated by IV infusion of a drug called Herceptin. So they are really quite different things. The majority of women are ER/PR positive and HER2 negative and are treated with the anti-hormone drugs. Hope this explanation makes sense! Also, it sounds like you may have what I had--I had a large tumour of invasive ductal carcinoma and then a small Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (contained in the duct) right next to it. They really considered it as being like one tumour.

Thank you everyone for the information! I have my MRI on Wednesday so should know more. Hopefully I will be able to then schedule the surgery. Good luck 53Nancy with your appt with the surgeon. I hope things move quickly for both of us. The waiting is excruciating. This has been my timeline: I had my ultrasound on 7/19 then core needle biopsy on 7/31, DX on 8/3, met with BS on 8/7, plastic surgeon on 8/9, genetics testing 8/11, MRI scheduled for 8/16, follow up meeting with genetics testing 8/18,back to meet the BS on 8/24. I hope then the surgery!!

I had a 8 mm tumor with node involvement. My BS said tumor size does not have anything to do with node involvement. Good luck tomorrow! The waiting is the worst part. Hope everything goes smoothly! Thinking of you!

Hi 53Nancy- I can't believe you still don't have the results yet another 3-4 weeks seems like a long time. My MRI came back as the tumor is 3 cm like the ultrasound showed plus two very small satellite tumors not far away. Then on the left side a very small suspicious area. My BS said I could get a MRI biopsy on the left side to see what it is or do a double mastectomy since he doesn't recommend lumpectomy on the right side with those satellite tumors. I had already decided to do the double mastectomy so I was ok with this. Also, they saw one suspicious node. So not exactly what I expected but my BS still feels like it is early stage. What a long day but i can get through this! Good luck to you 53Nancy. I hope they get more information soon for you to move on to the next step. Hugs to you.

Hi Everyone- I just wanted to give an update on my situation. After MRI I got nervous and decided to get a second opinion at a nationally recognized cancer center. I was at a local hospital system with a BS but it was not a NCI center. I decided to go with the cancer center for better treatment. The BS I started seeing there wants me to have the MRI guided biopsy on the left side. This was the side the first MRI showed suspicious DCIS which did not show on mammogram. The MRI also confirmed a 3cm mass on right with two satellite tumors not far away. I am getting the MRI guided biopsy this Thurs then will meet wth new BS when get results. My question is now I am looking at possibility 3 to 4 more weeks before surgery. I am nervous to wait that long. My new BS said that breast cancer moves slowly especially the type I have and that 3or 4 weeks shouldn't change anything. I guess I am looking for others that had to wait that long and had no issues. Thewaiting is just really hard. Thank you for easing my mind!

Hi dtad- Thank you so much for your response. I am so glad to hear you agree. I know I made the right choice to go with the center but I have already waited a month and the thought of waiting another month is hard. But I got through last month so I can get through another

Hi Artista928-thank you so much for your feedback. The waiting is making me crazy but the time will hopefully go by fast