My wife just diagnosed with IDC

KelAppNic
KelAppNic Member Posts: 12
edited March 2018 in Caring for Someone with Breast cancer

Just wanted to get on here as my wife was just diagnosed today. The spot is very small and from what I have read it seems like this (the most common form of breast cancer) is usually successfully solved with surgery and then problem solved? Is that correct or should I be ultra worried?

Also, just a brief rant to say that we are a happily married lesbian couple and I was a little resentful that all the Google search results of "My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer" were all super heteronormative. (Stepping down off my soapbox now...)

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  • OCDAmy
    OCDAmy Member Posts: 873
    edited February 2018

    So sorry about your wife's diagnosis. There are many components to determining what treatment will be. I assume she had a biopsy? Do you have that report and can post the information? The women on this site are really knowledgeable and I am sure will chime in, but will want to know more I am sure. Most women who have a lumpectomy have to get radiation as well.


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  • KelAppNic
    KelAppNic Member Posts: 12
    edited February 2018

    Thanks. Yes, she had a biopsy. They want to do an ultrasound and possibly a second biopsy. This just happened today, but I'm sure that we can ask for a copy of the report.

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  • OCDAmy
    OCDAmy Member Posts: 873
    edited February 2018

    You will want to know if the tumor is hormone receptor positive and/or HER 2 positive. You will want to know the grade of the tumor (how aggressive it is). This is done with numbers 1-3 (1 being the least aggressive). Some women who have hormone receptor positive cancer get an Oncotype test which helps to determine if chemo is warranted. There is a lot to take in but you will figure it all out. This is the worse part, not knowing the full picture or plan.

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  • Georgia1
    Georgia1 Member Posts: 1,321
    edited February 2018

    Hi KelAppNic and welcome. Unfortunately no matter how small it will likely not be "surgery and then problem solved." There is possible radiation and/or chemo, and then possibly also taking a pill like Tamoxifen for a while. A lot depends on ER, PR and HER2 status, which should be in the biopsy report. Best wishes and let us know - we are standing by to help. In any event it is very manageable, really.


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  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 7,496
    edited February 2018

    sorry about your wife’s diagnosis. Please register at the NCCN’s website and read the professionals’ version of the breast cancer treatment guidelines. Also read the footnotes.



    Regarding worrying in the future....please remember that for most of us, breast cancer will be a very treatable disease. For sure, for too many, it is a disease that will win despite the best care.


    Once she has her final pathology report, following surgery, you will have a better idea of what you are dealing with. But, remember, with breast cancer, there will be many choices to make and there is no “right”answer. Everyone will make an informed decision about what treatment is best for them and then, you hope for the best. I am eight years away from my diagnosis and all is well. I wish both of you the best

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  • hmiles88
    hmiles88 Member Posts: 1
    edited February 2018

    So sorry to hear about your wife. I was diagnosed with IDC almost a year ago and I am already cancer free. My best advice- make sure to explore all treatment options and what the long term effects are- only lumpectomy- if that means radiation too- what will that do to her body vs. masectomy and chemo- don't hesitate to consult different doctors for different ideas- when she finds "the one" she will know! Best of luck to you both.

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  • KelAppNic
    KelAppNic Member Posts: 12
    edited February 2018

    Thank you. I'm happy to say that we recently moved to the Pittsburgh PA area, and the healthcare system here is pretty amazing, so we've got that going for us.

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  • KelAppNic
    KelAppNic Member Posts: 12
    edited February 2018

    @OCDAmy Thank you so much for your input. I'm sure that we will both be on this message board a lot in the coming weeks and months.

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  • KelAppNic
    KelAppNic Member Posts: 12
    edited February 2018

    @Georgia1 You guys are amazing. Thanks so much for your prompt replies!

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  • KelAppNic
    KelAppNic Member Posts: 12
    edited February 2018

    voraciousre… thanks so much

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  • KelAppNic
    KelAppNic Member Posts: 12
    edited February 2018

    hmiles88 Thank you.

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  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 7,496
    edited February 2018

    pittsburgh has some of the best health care in the country. The DH is in a clinical trial out of Pittsburgh Children’s hospital. We visit there every six months. i marvel about the system. Pittsburgh is working very hard to be a medical destination. Over the last decade, i have watched the city grow because of the outstanding medical facilities. No doubt in my mind that your wife will receive excellent care

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  • KelAppNic
    KelAppNic Member Posts: 12
    edited March 2018

    AN UPDATE:

    So I have some updates for everyone, and appreciate any feedback you may have. We went for the ultrasound which resulted in a second biopsy, and we should have the results of that this week. We got some recommendations for surgeons in the area from our PCP and the very knowledgeable and supportive staff at Heritage Valley Women's Health Center in Aliquippa, PA. Here are the results of the first biopsy with my question in italics.

    Diagnosis: 1. Invasive mammary carcinoma, right breast. Invasive ductal carcinoma, Nottingham Grade I (tubular formation=2, nuclear picomorphism=2, mitotic rate=1). I think that Grade I is good news, but I'm not certain what the terms in parentheses mean.

    2. Ductal carinoma in situ, intermediate nuclear grade. I don't understand why there are two diagnoses, and how it can be both IDC and DC in situ

    Here are the ER/PR, HER2, and Ki-67 results:

    ER Stain: Positive 77%

    PR Stain: Positive 25% This is good, right? A better prognosis if the cells have hormone receptors?

    HER2 Stain: Negative (score +1) This is also good, right? Negative HER2?

    Ki67: Positive 36% I think this is not so good, is that right? It means the cells are dividing and spreading faster?

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