Waiting for skin punch biopsy, MRI tomorrow

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mamacure
mamacure Member Posts: 236
edited April 2021 in Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results

Met with surgeon today, ER-/PR- HER2: tbd waiting for fish, orange peel skin biopsied. Didn’t hurt but boobie went thru a lot lately. Now MRI tomorrow, surgeon also ordered CAT scan & another test. Teared up when social worker came in. DCIS, hope not positive for IBC (inflammatory) on top of all this. Most likely start chemo after all the scans. Worried about the mass around nodes too. Hope scans don’t find anything else. Praying....hang in there ladies.

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  • LW422
    LW422 Member Posts: 1,312
    edited March 2021

    Sorry about your diagnosis, hopefully it's not IBC. (I was diagnosed with IBC a couple of months ago.) I'm surprised they did the skin punch biopsy before the MRI, since the skin punch can cause a bit of swelling or other symptoms that could interfere with the MRI, or so I was told. My skin punch was negative for carcinoma, but since IBC is a clinical diagnosis I drew the short straw anyhow. Very frustrating.

    Hang in there and please don't google about IBC; you will scare yourself needlessly. Take care and my very best wishes to you.

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  • mamacure
    mamacure Member Posts: 236
    edited March 2021

    hi LW422 that is frustrating. I hope my skin punch comes out negative too. Good point about MRI, Will say something to MRI techs before starting. Thanks. Did your treatment change for IBC? Will it be more aggressive? Hang in there!

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  • LivinLife
    LivinLife Member Posts: 1,332
    edited March 2021

    Just want to wish you well with results mamacure - hoping things stay pure DCIS for you! Best with MRI!

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  • LW422
    LW422 Member Posts: 1,312
    edited March 2021

    Mamacure--my treatment had not started before my diagnosis of IBC, so it didn't change. I suspected IBC from the get-go, and so did my doctors. Typically IBC is treated with chemo first, then mastectomy, then radiation... similar to triple negative diagnosis. My oncologists are very positive and told me that they are seeing treatment results with IBC that are similar to other breast cancers, so I'm not fretting over it. It's not like I can change it so I might as well try to think positive!!

    A lot of online IBC information is outdated and TERRIFYING, so please don't fall into the google trap. My thoughts are with you, and I hope you get the best outcome from this.

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  • mamacure
    mamacure Member Posts: 236
    edited March 2021

    Thank You LW422 & LivinLife. MRI went fine, they had a super large machine yay. My arms fell asleep at the end & wanted to wiggle my feet but stayed very still. Been drinking a ton but no blue pee yet. Wore a pad in case of pee sensation but just a cold feeling in the arms. Got a sweet encouragement from a fellow patient which made me smile. No problem driving myself. Meeting w 2nd surgeon who is much closer to home on Monday. Feel lucky to choose between top surgeons. Eager to start treatment. Most likely chemo first.Best wishes to all!

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  • LW422
    LW422 Member Posts: 1,312
    edited March 2021

    I'm glad to hear you sounding upbeat, mamacure! Also glad that the MRI is done and over with. My very best wishes to you for a good report. Let us know as the treatment plan unfolds.

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  • mamacure
    mamacure Member Posts: 236
    edited March 2021

    More bad news. Skin punch biopsy was positive for inflammatory BC. Ugh. New doc thought it didn't really look like it...

    Treatment will be the same, meeting with ONC on Friday after CAT and Bone scans tomorrow (scared what these will find now!!)

    Moved to a new surgeon and oncologist near my house (blessing). MRI found more lumps and more lymphs. WTF. And now I am triple negative, FISH found HER2 negative. Got my hair cut very short today, looks good, hope to try cold cap. I'll post more over in the TN topics in the coming days. Stay positive and take care everyone! Let's keep fighting!

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  • LW422
    LW422 Member Posts: 1,312
    edited March 2021

    Mamacure--I'm so sorry to hear this; I know how devastating those words can be. (I had to hear them on January 20.) I had an appointment with my MO today and he gives me such hope; he believes that IBC can be treated as successfully as most other breast cancers with new treatments on the horizon. (He is head of the MD Anderson Inflammatory Breast Cancer Clinic.) My very best to you as you begin to get treatment started and get past all the "scanxiety." We'll beat this thing.

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  • AliceBastable
    AliceBastable Member Posts: 3,461
    edited March 2021

    Mamacure, sending you a virtual hug. Like LW422 says, there have been incredible advances in treatment and it's not nearly the scary diagnosis it used to be. Like most breast cancers were at one time, in fact.

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  • tntnsd
    tntnsd Member Posts: 137
    edited March 2021

    just want to send virtual hugs to all of you LADIES, who are currently going through this. I am praying every night that with all the treatment out there, we women should not have to be scared to face breast cancer diagnosis.

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  • LivinLife
    LivinLife Member Posts: 1,332
    edited March 2021

    I exclaimed out loud when I read your post! Sooo sorry to hear that! I can understand you being concerned with new findings after hearing IBC, triple negative.... Glad you're more comfortable moving care closer to your home....

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  • mamacure
    mamacure Member Posts: 236
    edited April 2021

    Thank you LW422, LivinLife, AliceBastable & tntnsd! Good news is that due to positive for skin punch biopsy, did not have to do more biopsies today. Just adding a new lymph tag for the new surgeon. New radiologist was amazing! Masectomy is in my future with this new skin IBC issue. It's probably for the better. CT, Bone scans so far looks good, fingers crossed. Almost died drinking the iodine water for the CT scan. Could not finish the 2 bottles. Going to ask MO what she thinks about Surgery first, radiation then Xeloda. Most likely chemo first though to kill the cancer cells. I realize how important it is to get rid of it the first go around. Did any of you do the Oncotype DX test? I broke down during bone scan for some reason, the tech. was understanding. Next hurdle: port I think. LW422, so glad to hear that you have great care nearby at the Anderson Inflammatory Breast Cancer Clinic! Do share any learnings as you find them. Best wishes to all!

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  • LW422
    LW422 Member Posts: 1,312
    edited April 2021

    Mamacure--the standard IBC treatment is chemo, mastectomy, radiation. They throw the "kitchen sink" at it. I'm halfway through my Taxol chemo; next is AC and then my surgery sometime in July if the schedule holds, and then radiation. So practically a year of my life in treatment, but it is what it is. I'm glad your scans are clear so far; that's the best news. The port is easy and you'll be glad you have it. Hang in there.

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited April 2021

    Mamacure, the standard protocol for IBC is big-gun chemo first, then mastectomy, then radiation. It's important to do chemo before surgery, to shrink and beat back the cancer cells in the skin. If a mastectomy is first, there may be cancer cells left in the wound edges which might lead to recurrence in the mastectomy scar. No bueno.

    I wasn't offered the Oncotype test because we knew without any doubt that I'd be doing chemo. The test helps with decision making for lower-stage cancers, to know if chemo is truly necessary or not. For us IBC-ers, it's truly necessary.

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  • mamacure
    mamacure Member Posts: 236
    edited April 2021

    LW422 & sbelizabeth, that is great info. and makes sense. Big-gun chemo sounds so scary but I hope I respond well like LW422. Fingers crossed!

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  • LivinLife
    LivinLife Member Posts: 1,332
    edited April 2021

    So glad your scans look good so far mamacure!!! So glad too you received some good information on what to expect. Unknown's increase anxiety more.... You still obviously have blanks to fill in though will have that info soon.... You'll walk each step in your plan as it comes... it does help to think about it that way. I love the saying you don't have to be strong you just have to show up... wish I'd heard that some years ago - want to pass that onto others and certainly keep that in mind for myself..... Keep us posted.... gentle hugs.....

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