Ready to kick it!

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MHerzberg
MHerzberg Member Posts: 24
edited December 2017 in Just Diagnosed

I was diagnosed last week with breast cancer. I got a call from my OB saying to come into the office as soon as possible. He told me the news was not good. He set me up and appointment with a breast surgeon for the next day.


My diagnosis.

2/4 biopsies came back IDC, grade II, 3/4 biopsies came back DCIS high grade, 1/4 biopsies came back begin.

ER+/PR+

HER2+/ Fish Amplieid positive

Ki-67 high proliferative index

There is no actual "tumor" it was found in microcalcifications from a routine mammogram.

I have been scheduled for a lumpectomy and a sentinol node biopsy on 12/26. The game plan after that is radiation, and hormone therapy.

Here is hoping to it hasn't spread into the lymph nodes and no chemo will be needed!


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

    Hi!

    I'm sorry to hear you got bad news; no one wants breast cancer.

    Not to be a Debbie Downer, but if you are HER2+, you may end up with chemo regardless of your node status. Have you talked to a medical oncologist (MO) yet? It is your medical oncologist who helps you make decisions about chemo, not your breast surgeon. Sometimes, MOs recommend chemo first.

    ((Hugs))

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  • MHerzberg
    MHerzberg Member Posts: 24
    edited December 2017

    No I haven't gone to MO yet. She was on the phone while I was in BS office. She said because of the size, less than 1cm, just shows up in microcalcifications. They were clustered odd, so they biopsied them.

    She said that I didn't need HER2 therapy before, as it is so small, but will definitely need after, because I am HER2+. They both said it is going to depend on pathology says after lumpectomy as to if I need chemo.

    I will do whatever is needed to kick this thing in the @$!

    Thanks for the well wishes.

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

    Yes, that sounds about right. If your lump was 2 cm.+, it might have been worth it to do treatment before surgery. (It's easiest to get Perjeta before surgery.) But if your IDC is less than 1 cm., it probably doesn't make a difference. Here's hoping your IDC is small, small, small!

    I also did a lumpectomy; I found it relatively easy to recover from surgery.

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  • EastcoastTS
    EastcoastTS Member Posts: 864
    edited December 2017

    MHerzberg:

    I'm so sorry that you've found yourself needing us. But this is the best place to land with this diagnosis. I could not have gotten through the past year without the supportive folks on BC.org. Please ask any and all questions, come here to vent, ETC. We're here for you.

    {hugs}

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2017

    I felt the same as you, ready to kick c in its little *ss. I took that fierceness with me wherever I went and it allowed me to push through fear and anger in a more healthy way (most of the time).

    I remember waking up from my excisional biopsy and telling myself that "well, that problem is gone, and not anywhere in me anymore", and that I had at least a lot less c in me than before surgery, and that I wanted everything plus the kitchen sink thrown at it just in case, and that I could handle it all.

    I found a trusted friend and academic mentor that I contacted early on (she was my grad school mentor) who had had bc, with chemo, BMX, recon, had a port for her chemo etc. and went for a walk with her right away and asked her all kinds of questions. She put me in touch with good surgeons and recommended her oncologist (I got second ops on all, of course). I also got a recommendation about my oncologist choice from a friend who worked at Mayo in my home state. He did some checking around and found that she was highly recommended.

    Things like that make a huge diff. Yes, I was terrified, but getting that fierceness helped keep me moving in the right direction. My husband and I actually had a bunch of gallows humor laughs through my entire treatment because we were so focused on fierceness and the absurdity of this stupid disease.

    Hugs,

    Claire

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  • Rrobin0200
    Rrobin0200 Member Posts: 433
    edited December 2017

    I am a firm believer in positive thinking. Hard as hell, yes. But dwelling on the negative only adds fuel to the cancer. Damn, I wish I could heed my own advice. Sending lots of positive vibes, a little bit of pink pixie dust, and well wishes you way. We'be got this in the bag!!

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  • MHerzberg
    MHerzberg Member Posts: 24
    edited December 2017

    Had the lumpectomy on Tuesday, the day after Christmas. Still have some pain, but able to manage with meds. Have a lot of bruising.

    They only had to the one lymph node for the biopsy, which made me happy. He did say that he did take more breast tissue closer to chest wall, since it is only about 1/2" from chest wall, to be safe.

    I go back to BS on 1/4/18 to see what pathology says. Hoping for clean margins, so another surgery isn't needed; and that the lymph node is clean, and had no cancer, which will reduce my chance of having to have chemo.


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  • EastcoastTS
    EastcoastTS Member Posts: 864
    edited December 2017

    Glad surgery went well. Hoping for great path results for you.


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  • Georgia1
    Georgia1 Member Posts: 1,321
    edited December 2017

    Thinking good thoughts for you! Do ask about stretching exercises at your next appointment; they made a world of difference for me.

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