Mucinous Carcinoma of the breast

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  • Sandysoo
    Sandysoo Member Posts: 13
    edited July 2011

    Hello TricianneAust

    Many blessings on you for your comforting scripture. I am Born again and It touched me so much.

    I woud also like to thank you when you replied to me last April when I was newly diagnosed and terrified. Your words gave me great hope and spurred me on to constant prayer.Im doing really well with my own treatment.

    Thanks again

    In His Name.

  • tricianneAust
    tricianneAust Member Posts: 153
    edited July 2011

    Hi Sandysoo,

    I was so thrilled to get your post today. It is a great privilege to be able to pray for all the sisters on line who are going through different stages of mucinous cancer and others newly diagnosed.It is such a scary thing at first. Its wonderful to be able to give others hope through scripture. For me its so exciting to have a deep faith, I had my new spiritual birth when I was 18 and it gives me the power to live life in a much deeper way.Even having breast cancer has been quite an adventure.I am exceptionally well right now. I reckon I use the verse in Matthew daily. "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes".It sure helps me get focussed.

    When I start to get fearful I use this version of I Tim 1:7 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, (to deal with situations) love, (to deal with others) and self-discipline, a sound mind,(to deal with myself).

    So that gives me the courage  to move forward. It is a joy to pray for each one going through such a stressful time and seeing how they progress.Love and prayers Tricianne

  • Linda-Renee
    Linda-Renee Member Posts: 16
    edited July 2011

    Voracious Reader: That's so funny. I used to live in New York (Lynbrook, L.I. and went to high school in Malverne). We were there from 1963-through 1966. We are from Quebec City, but when we left NY it was because of Expo 67. Gradually everybody left Montreal except for me and now I have my mother nearby. I have 5 siblings who are spread out from Uruguay, Arizona and British Columbia to Quebec City!

  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 3,696
    edited July 2011

    I remember visiting Expo 67. Still have my "Passport.". My Canadian family has spread out along North America... But there is still a lot of them who are north of the border. I can drive 87 with my eyes closed.

  • GippsSt
    GippsSt Member Posts: 1
    edited July 2011

    im at age 35, not married yet, with no kids. I was only diagnosed mucinous carcinoma last Friday, still now waiting for the lymph nodes biopsy reslut tomorrow to see if there is cancer that has travelled to the lymph nodes, which makes me extremely nervous...on top of that, i dont know how to share this with my boy friend even though we have beeing seeing each other for 10 months.

  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 3,696
    edited July 2011

    GippsSt...I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis.  Whether you are in a relationship for 10 months, 10 years or, more than 30 years like me, it is always difficult to tell the people we love about our health concerns and issues....Today, you need your boyfriend's support more than ever...that's what relationships are for!  To share life's ups and downs with together.

    Keep us posted.  Thoughts and prayers to you. 

  • tricianneAust
    tricianneAust Member Posts: 153
    edited July 2011

    Oh GippsSt what a stressful time it is for you.I shall certainly include you along with the other MC sisters that I pray for each time I log on (quite often). It is difficult sharing your diagnosis but an important step in your relationship. I shall pray too that your boyfriend shows care and compassion when you get the courage to share it with him. You need his support and he needs your trust. Do keep us in your support team.

    Lots of care and prayers Tricianne

  • tricianneAust
    tricianneAust Member Posts: 153
    edited July 2011

    Ooopps somehow I repeated this post, oh the wonders of computers.

    Oh GippsSt what a stressful time it is for you.I shall certainly include you along with the other MC sisters that I pray for each time I log on (quite often). It is difficult sharing your diagnosis but an important step in your relationship. I shall pray too that your boyfriend shows care and compassion when you do get the courage to share it with him. You need his support and he needs your trust. Do keep us in your support team.

    Lots of care and prayers Triciaanne

    TricianneAust Diagnosis: 10/20/2010, DCIS Pure Mucinous Cancer , 2cm, Stage I, Grade 1, 0/3 nodes, ER+75% /PR+ 75%, HER2-. Lumpectomy,Tamoxifen,25 x radiation, Vit D deficiency being treated. Feeling fantastically normal & healthy. 

  • miki123
    miki123 Member Posts: 16
    edited July 2011

    hi ladys

    sorry for the disappearance,so many things were happened!!!! well i started a new job that i hate! Laughing and my niece had a Bat Mizva....

    My mom is good thanks GOD! today she took of the  stitches completly....next week we expecting to go to oncologist.....we alredy got the HER 2 answer it's negative-....i think it's a good news.....i hope she will get a good tritment and i feel like i need to take her to the second opinion....it hard for me to trust only  on one doctor....am i right?

    thanks for every one who were with me on my hardest days...........

    kisses and hugs to all!

    Miki(my real name is Marina and we came from Russia about 21 years ago to Israel)Tongue out

  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 3,696
    edited July 2011

    All good news!...except for your job!Wink  Large tumor, but no nodes involved and HER/neu -.  Regarding getting a second opinion...SLOW DOWN!  Get the first opinion!  Hang in there!

    Thoughts and prayers and a big Mazel Tov on your niece's Bat Mitzvah!  I know how bittersweet it must have been for your family.  May you all live to be 120!

  • tricianneAust
    tricianneAust Member Posts: 153
    edited July 2011

    Miki123 otherwise known as Marina. How great that your mother is making such good progress. No nodes involved, HER negative, recovering well from her operation, its all much better than you feared not so long ago. This website is wonderful the way we can connect from Israel to USA to Canada to Australia. Hi to all my world wide MC sisters and lots of prayers continuing. Blessings from Tricia

    PS Sorry that your new job is horrible, may it be changeable.

  • Linda-Renee
    Linda-Renee Member Posts: 16
    edited July 2011

    Congrats to Miki on the great news!!! You must be so relieved.

    I finally got the pathology report from the second lump recently removed and it is indeed a recurrence. My surgeon thinks it may have been seeded during the core biopsy in December but it seems strange to me that a supposedly "slow" cancer could grow so quickly. He took out another 3cm chunk and did not get clear margins so it's back to surgery... He was a bit taken aback when my reaction to the news that it was another mucinous tumour was, "that's great news!". In my mind, the best news would have been "It's scar tissue so I'll see you at our regular appointment in October". Second best was mucinous, because the chances of having to do chemo are small, and then there were all the potentially bad things like a different type of cancer etc.

    Once I digested the information and the fact that we were back at square one, I got a bit discouraged. I really thought from everything I have read that this is the best kind of cancer to get because it rarely spreads and grows slowly but now I am questioning everything...

    My husband and I off to my cousin's cottage for several days next week and quite frankly it will be great to get away from the dreaded 'Big C' .

    Have a great weekend everyone - it's supposed to be a hot one!

    Linda

  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 3,696
    edited July 2011

    Linda-Renee... I am sorry to hear that you have to revisit this ordeal. I hope the surgery goes well and your doctor comes up with a satisfactory answer as to why this recurrence happened so quickly AND can come up with a plan so, hopefully it doesn't happen again. My most sincere thoughts and prayers are with you!

  • Linda-Renee
    Linda-Renee Member Posts: 16
    edited July 2011

    Thanks Voracious Reader. I'll let you know what happens. It's very weird!

  • miki123
    miki123 Member Posts: 16
    edited July 2011

    hi to all!!!!

    Linda Renee i sent to you a lot of good thought....the girls here are amazing...they help me throw the hard days....be strong...i'll prare for you....

    This Monday i took my mom to oncologist....well she sayed  that she need to take hormonal pill-Tamoxipen....and she will consult with her coleges if she need chimo or radition...she dosn't think so but she will back to us!!!!

    should i take my mom to second opinion? or it's a good and wright decision?

    AND ABOUT MY NEW JOB...CROSS YUR FINGERS FOR ME LADYS...I WAIT FOR SONE ANSWER FROM REALLY GOOD PLACE!!!!

    will update you....

    kisses

    Miki/Marina

  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 3,696
    edited July 2011

    Miki....Your mom's oncologist is probably taking your mom's case to a "tumor board."  That is a group of oncologists who will discuss your mom's case and then make a recommendation to her oncologist.  Since mucinous breast cancer is rare, she may not have had many cases of it to treat.  And as you can see from reading this long thread, there are variations of mucinous breast cancer, some of which need more treatment than others.

    Thoughts and prayers are being sent around the world to you and all of our sisters and their families!

    Linda-Renee...Special thoughts and prayers to you too!

  • TreadSoftly
    TreadSoftly Member Posts: 88
    edited July 2011

    Hi Ladies,

    I went for a routine follow-up check up with my breast surgeon today.  He told me all appeared well apart from some scar tissue around my lumpectomy site, and booked my yearly ultrasound and mammogram, which I am due in Sept. 

    On looking at what he put on the order form, he put Previous R WLE and SLN, palpable nodularity below scar, S2/3.  Does anyone know what he means with the S2/3??  Thanks!!

  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 3,696
    edited July 2011

    I am going to guess that he's giving the position... between 2 and 3 O'clock...  The other part said that you had a lumpectomy with sentinal node biopsy on your right side.  Just a guess.  Might want to post your question on another thread and see what the sisters say....

    Good luck!   Thoughts and prayers....

  • TreadSoftly
    TreadSoftly Member Posts: 88
    edited July 2011

    thanks voraciousreader, that would make a lot of sense alright!!

  • tricianneAust
    tricianneAust Member Posts: 153
    edited July 2011

    Hi again MiKi/Marina,Linda-Renee,Voracious Reader,TreadSoftly, and other sisters, I am just updating my prayer coverage for you all.Many blessings for courage,perseverance, calmness and good outcomes. Tricianne Australia.

  • miki123
    miki123 Member Posts: 16
    edited July 2011

    hi Lades

    well my mom get a answer from her ancologist-no chimo and no radiation...just a pill-Tamoxipen....Thanks God!

    And i got the job...:-)

    I wish you all just a good health and happy days...just to smile...

    I can't find the word for thank you all...

    many kisses for all!

    Marina

  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 3,696
    edited July 2011
    Horm Cancer. 2010 Jun;1(3):156-65.

    Risk of mortality by histologic type of breast cancer in the United States.

    Li CI.

    Source

    Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., M4-C308, P.O. Box 19024, Seattle, WA, 98109-1024, USA, cili@fhcrc.org.

    Abstract

    There are several histologic types of breast cancer that beyond their histopathologic differences have distinct clinical characteristics. However, it is unclear how histology is related to risk of mortality particularly when differences in hormone receptor status, tumor size, and nodal status are incorporated. This study utilized a cohort of 319,463 breast cancer patients ≥30 years of age diagnosed from 1992 to 2007 identified from 17 population-based cancer registries that participate in the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results Program. Multivariate adjusted risks of mortality associated with seven breast cancer histologic subtypes were estimated using Cox regression. Mucinous, tubular, and medullary carcinomas were associated with 31-79% lower risks of mortality compared to ductal carcinoma. Inflammatory breast cancer was associated with a 50-53% increased risk of mortality depending on age. While lobular carcinomas carried the same risk of mortality as ductal carcinoma among women 30-49 years of age, among women ≥50 years of age with node-negative disease lobular carcinoma was associated with an 11% reduced risk of mortality, but among those with node-positive disease it was associated with a 10% increased risk of mortality. This study confirms that mucinous, tubular, and medullary carcinomas have a more favorable prognosis compared to ductal carcinoma, and that inflammatory carcinoma has a poorer prognosis. Though many of these histologic subtypes are quite rare, consideration of the mortality risk associated with a given subtype may be clinically useful when making decisions regarding treatment and follow-up.

  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 3,696
    edited July 2011

    Marina....Wishing you and your mom and your family good health and happiness always!

  • treegirl
    treegirl Member Posts: 13
    edited July 2011

    Hello all, 

    I can see I have my reading cut out for me now that I have found this forum. I have only read the posts on the first and last page so far and learned alot--thanks to all of you. I was just diagnosed last week, of course they won't know if the tumor is pure mucinous until surgery. I am 53, postmenopausal, never had kids which I guess is a risk factor. I am really not that upset about the surgery because it may mean I will get the breast reduction I have always wanted, but I am extremely upset about both chemo and radiation and how long this will all take. How many of you have been able to continue working while going through all this? I am a teacher and just can't see clear to when I will be able to go back to the classroom.

  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 3,696
    edited July 2011

    Treegirl...

    So sorry to hear about your diagnosis.  Please take some time to read this thread...TWICE.  Furthermore, there are other threads on this board that are devoted to chemotherapy...IF it comes to that.  So far, from your description, you have a very favorable diagnosis.  Don't beat yourself up for not having children.  Many of us HAD our children before age 30 and are STILL here dealing with the beast!

    Please read the 2011 NCCN breast cancer treatment guidelines, so you can familiarize yourself with treatment protocols.  After your surgery, you will receive the final pathology report and then compare it to the treatment plans found in the guidelines.  While the guidelines do NOT mention the OncotypeDX test for mucinous and tubular breast cancer, I STRONGLY recommend that your doctor have it done.  According to the guidelines, if you have pure mucinous breast cancer and your tumor is less than 3 cm, you may NOT need chemotherapy.  Furthermore, the OncotypeDX might back up that recommendation if your tumor is found to be in the low risk category.

    However, if after you and your doctor learn everything there is to know about your tumor and you decide you DO want chemotherapy, remember that nowadays, for most women, it is VERY doable.  Please read the other threads regarding the women who have decided to do chemo and you will see for yourself their experiences.  Ditto for the radiation!

    Keep in touch and remember we are here for you!

    Thoughts and prayers to you!

    P.S.   Treegirl....I LOVE THAT name!  Please tell me more, how you chose it!!!!

  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 3,696
    edited July 2011

    bump for unsure123

  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 3,696
    edited July 2011

    bump for unsure123

  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 3,696
    edited July 2011

    bump

  • tricianneAust
    tricianneAust Member Posts: 153
    edited July 2011

    Hi Treegirl, Sorry that you are going down the pathway that we have already trodden, but it was heaps better than I anticipated.I breezed through radiation and in the last week I just experienced the very mildest of sunburn, but I did exactly all that the Radiation Oncolologist advised meto do. Several of my friends more recently diagnosed have breezed through to. I have just had my 9 month since op review and my specialist is delighted with the outcome. My stepmother had to have a breast reduction following her partial mastectomy (with DCIS not Mucinous)12 yrs ago to balance up the imbalance in her breasts after the operation, she had very big breasts and she continues to be overjoyed with her small bosom. I shall include in the next email all the advice I was given re radiation to save you going though to find my old emails.I also make a point of covering all us mucinous sisters with prayer each time I check the website out, so now you are on my list too.

    Hi Marina so glad that your mother is doing well. Tamoxifen can take a little while for your body to adjust to but then it settles down. Blessings from Tricianne

    Hi Voracious Reader, Thanks for the latest bit of info. More blessings from me.

  • tricianneAust
    tricianneAust Member Posts: 153
    edited July 2011
    Radiation infofor Treegirl.
    My radiation oncologist does firmly believe that if you walk for at least 30 mins after your treatment it gives the body a chance to re balance itself after the radiation "onslaught" as he calls it. Drinking plenty of water does a good job of rehydrating you and using heaps of cream protects the skin.I had minimal sunburn and no fatigue and lived my normal working schedule once I found I was managing it all. I certainly would't be fearful if ever it was essential for me to need radiotherapy in the future. I also scheduled the daily treatment into my life as an essential (on my friend's advice) so that I didn't resent the daily trips to the hospital but appreciated the medical facilities that were so available to me. What a blessing to have such treatment and support available.
    Radiation Suggestions I collected.
    Soap: Basis, Dove: Go for free of perfumes and dyes. Do not use wash cloth and pat dry
    Lotions: Look for no dyes, no parabens, as pure as possible...100% Aloe: Fruit of the Earth, RO Suggested: Boiron's Calendula (lotion, cream, gel)
    Always go in clean and lube when you go out. Lube 3-5 times a day I got in practise for 2 weeks before I started so it became part of my daily routine)
    Treat your skin delicately. It's being assaulted!
    Tank tops, Camisole's with shelf bra, front hook athletic bras, Everything Cotton and loose that you can stand.
    Buy a yard of white fleece, and cut to fit inside "bras" so something soft is next to rads area if you get uncomfortable.
    If you are larger breasted, be concerned about underneath your breast and treat with care.
    Absolutely NO lanolin or oil prior to treatment. Avoid Lanolin during treatment
    Do not wear deodorant or shave the rads underarm.
    Breathe through the process: Consider counting the timing of the treatments, visualize the "healing" beam. Ask for music to be played and a warm sheet/towel if available.
    Consider naming the machine: Bubba, Sparky, The Accelerator, Trilogy,
    If the position you are in for radiation hurts your arms or back consider taking pain relief prior to your appointment...ask your RO about this for recommendations. (Do tell the radiotherapy staff if you are having problems and ask for assistance in positioning yourself that helped my arthritic back enormously.)
    Enjoy your tattoos if you get them. Those little blue dots add to the constellation of your body!
    Drink Lots of Water keep hydrated.
    Eat Plenty of Protein to help health skin heal.
    This is the Australian BCNA Radiotherapy Survey 2011 just completed.
    Radiotherapy is commonly used to treat women with breast cancer. However, over the years women have told us about severe side effects to their skin that they experienced as a result of radiotherapy, which they found quite distressing.
    In April 2011, we surveyed members of BCNA's Review & Survey Group, to find out about their experiences with this issue. We asked women:
    · what skin changes they experienced, if any, as a result of their radiotherapy treatment
    · whether they received information to prepare them for these changes to their skin
    · what steps they took to care for their skin, and what skin care advice they would offer to other women
    · what out-of-pocket expenses they incurred, if any, as a result of their radiotherapy treatment
    266 members completed the survey. Most women told us they experienced skin changes that were like sunburn, including redness and burning. 34% of women told us that their skin blistered, while just under a quarter experienced weeping.
    We were very pleased that, of the women who received information about radiotherapy related side-effects, 85% told us that this information described the changes that occurred to their skin.
    Most women told us they used topical creams, avoided deodorant, or altered their clothing to care for their skin. The most common skin care recommendations were to apply liberal amounts of moisturising cream (including sorbolene and aloe vera), and to wear loose fitted clothing.
    Most women told us that the biggest cost burden was the radiotherapy treatment itself. Most out-of-pocket costs were between $1,000 and $2,000; however two women told us they were out of pocket around $4,000 after health insurance.Other women were treated for no charge under the public hospital system for pensioners.
    TricianneAust Diagnosis: 10/20/2010, DCIS Pure Mucinous Cancer , 2cm, Stage I, Grade 1, 0/3 nodes, ER+75% /PR+ 75%, HER2-. Lumpectomy,Tamoxifen,25 x radiation, Vit D deficiency being treated. Feeling fantastically normal & healthy.