Roots_in_Nebraska

Hi Ann,

My scans were negative and my oncotype was 15 so I was very lucky.  I will meet my new radiation oncologist today.  I don't need chemo and will start on Anastrozole (Arimidex) soon.

This has been some kind of experience.  I had no idea what a person diagnosed with cancer went through until now.

Hi,

 I have, also, stayed away for awhile.  I am waiting to see my Oconotype score and afraid.  My house is a mess and I can't seem to get motivated to do anything except sleep and take my dogs for walks at night.

 Lisa

Ann,

I actually wanted a double mastectomy just to get rid of them but even though they said, "It's up to you," I received phone calls in my motel room saying, "Are you SURE you want to do this . . . do you realize what you're asking for?" Then, my daughter, whom has just received her RN degree, called me and said, "No way, Mom . . . call them back immediately and say you'll get a lumpectomy!" So, I ended up with the 2 lumpectomies and hope I made the right decision!  I will find out this coming Monday about whether the 2nd lumpectomy was successful (I HOPE SO) and on Tuesday what my treatment will be.

Lisa

AnnNYC,

My diagnosis is quite close to yours although my was 1 cm 0/2 nodes, ER+ and I don't know about the PR or HER2, etc.  I am 54 and just finished my 2nd lumpectomy (didn't get a clean border the 1st time).  Other than radiation, what treatment(s) have you been through?

Thank you,

lisa

Sueps,

I also have/had invasive and insitu ductal that is/was intermediate.I had a lumpectomy but have to go back for another one on June 10th (my guess is they didn't get all of the DCIS).  They did a sentinel node biopsy and, then, took out the 2 lymph nodes that the radioactive ions drained to (info. on that at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sentinel-node-biopsy/BC00017 ). The pathology report said that my glands were negative (I was very relieved)! I will, at least, need radiation and I don't know what else.  I asked for a double masectomy but they thought that would be pretty ridiculous. Have you ever checked out:  https://www2.mdanderson.org/sapp/contact/selfreferral/index.cfm

(#1 in the USA). I can't imagine having to wait so long!  The wait is harder than anything else!  I am 54 and cancer runs in my family, too. My mom had bladder cancer, my dad had prostrate cancer and my younger sister had breast and skin cancer.  They are ALL still very alive and heathy although my parents are almost 90.  My sister had her breast cancer 16 years ago.  I did also have a sister with a spinal tumor but she died 33 years ago (the 

dinosaur age when dealing with cancer). So, don't give up :o) . . . but actually I know how you feel; I have 4 kids (one still at home) and 2 grandkids that need me.  

ltuenge

I had a lumpectomy, went to doctor yesterday and the path report follows.  Does anyone understand this?  Also, they told me I have to get surgery again in the same place for a DCIS.  I'm thinking it was a unclean border instead? I wanted a mastectomy but was glad to have my breasts after getting a lumpectomy.  But . . . it would sure be nice to have no breasts to worry about.  The waiting is definitely hard and I've also been told to "Be Positive!"; yeh, I wish I could be.

LEFT BREAST, SEGMENTAL MASTECTOMY:

INVASIVE DUCTAL CARCINOMA, MODIFIED BLACK'S NUCLEAR GRADE 2 (INTERMEDIATE GRADE).

INVASIVE CARCINOMA MEASURES 1.0 CM IN MAXIMUM DIMENSION.

DUCTAL CARCINOMA IN SITU (DCIS), MODIFIED BLACK'S NUCLEAR GRADE 2 (INTERMEDIATE GRADE),

CRIBRIFORM AND MICRO PAPILLARY TYPES WITHOUT NECROSIS, COMPRISING LESS THAN 5% OF

THE TUMOR VOLUME.

INVASIVE CARCINOMA IS 5.0 MM FROM THE CLOSEST DEEP MARGIN, 8.0 MM FROM THE CLOSEST

SUPERIOR MARGIN, 9.0 MM FROM THE CLOSEST INFERIOR MARGIN AND GREATER THAN 1.0 CM

FROM ALL REMAINING MARGINS.

Lymphovascular invasion is not present.

Extensive columnar cell change with hyperplasia and focal flat epithelial atypia.

Fibrocystic changes with apocrine metaplasia, stromal fibrosis and cystically dilated ducts.

(D) LEFT BREAST, SUPERIOR MARGIN:

A SINGLE 2 MM FOCUS OF DUCTAL CARCINOMA IN SITU, MICRO PAPILLARY TYPE PRESENT LESS THAN 0.5

MM FROM THE NEW

SUPERIOR RESECTION MARGIN.

Columnar cell change with hyperplasia

Fibrocystic changes with stromal fibrosis, cystically dilated ducts and duct epithelial micropapillary hyperplasia.

(A) LEFT AXILLARY SENTINEL LYMPH NODE #1 - IN VIVO 85, EX VIVO 128 - Received for frozen section is a 1.5 x 1.0 x 1.0

cm adipose tissue fragment containing a single 0.8 x 0.7 x 0.4 cm lymph node. The lymph node is trisected and submitted

entirely in A. CF/tlc

*FS/DX: ONE LYMPH NODE, NO TUMOR PRESENT. AS/mgd

(B) LEFT AXILLARY SENTINEL LYMPH NODE #2, IN VIVO 303, EX VIVO 387 - Received for frozen section is a 2.5 x 1.5 x 1.0

cm adipose tissue fragment containing a single 1.5 x 1.0 x 0.5 cm lymph node. The lymph node is serially sectioned and

submitted entirely in B1 and B2. CF/tlc

*FS/DX: ONE LYMPH NODE, NO TUMOR PRESENT. AS/mgd

(C) LEFT BREAST, SEGMENTAL MASTECTOMY- A 5.5 x 4.0 x 2.5 cm mastectomy specimen is marked with a short stitch

designating superior and a long stitch designating lateral. The specimen is serially sectioned into six slices, medial - slice #1 and

lateral- slice #6. Sectioning reveals a 1.1 x 0.9 cm firm tan circumscribed mass in slice #3. The mass is 0.7 cm from the superior,

1.0 from the anterior, 2.5 cm from the inferior and 0.9 cm from the deep margins. No additional gross lesions are identified. The

remainder of the breast parenchyma, predominantly consists of adipose tissue admixed with focal fibrous tissue. A portion of the

mass is submitted for research.

INK CODE: Green - inferior, blue - superior, black - deep, yellow - superficial, red - medial and lateral.

SECTION CODE: C1, mass with superior margin; C2, mass with deep margin; C3, inferior margin of slice #3; C4, C5,

remainder of mass with deep margin; C6, superior deep of slice #2 (please note that there is no true deep margin in this section);

C7, area marked by radiologist on slice #2; C8, C9, area marked by radiologist on slice #4; C1 0, superior half of slice #5; C11,

most lateral margin, representatives, perpendicular; C12, most medial margin, representative, perpendicular. CF/tlc

(D) LEFT BREAST, SUPERIOR MARGIN - A 9.0 x 6.5 x 1.5 cm portion of fibrous adipose tissue is marked with clips on one

surface designating the superior margin and a stitch at the lateral aspect. Sectioning reveals a focally fibrotic cut surface admixed

with adipose tissue.

INK CODE: Black - superior margin, red - lateral edge of specimen.

SECTION CODE: 01-08, representative sections, perpendicular. CF/tlc

Thank you.  I hope it, "gets easier."  I am in a depressed fog and wonder if I'll ever be "normal" again.

I've had a needle biopsy but no surgery yet.  From my 1 tumor are the following results:

#1: infiltrating mammary carcinoma, no special type, low combined,
histologic grade, low proliferation rate w/calcifications .9 C in
greatest dimension

And this is the cancer:
# 2:  intermediate grade ductal carcinoma insitu; progesterone
receptor
negative and estrogen positive
And my 1st app. is May 2 at M.D. Anderson.

Did most of yours stay the same or did it change after surgery? Also, what do you think of mine?

I was brave enough to call the lab back today and this is the report:

One tumor =

I guess # 1 is just the description?:

#1: infiltrating mammary carcinoma, no special type, low combined, histologic grade, low proliferation rate w/calcifications .9 C in greatest dimension

And this is the cancer:

# 2: intermediate grade ductal carcinoma insitu; progesterone receptor negative and estrogen positive

And my 1st app. is May 2.

"infiltrating" means it's gotten out of the duct!  I am miserable!