Stage II w/Lymph Node Involvement
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She had 2 lumps taken out, 0.7cm and 0.5cm. grade 2/3- stage 2. one out of 3 lymph nodes was positive.
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A1B1... I had one positive node and it was .38mm (micromet) and my oncologist said I was not only getting chemo, but getting 6 tx of chemo (Taxotere and Cytoxian). He said that with a positive node, chemo is the safest bet... He also did not give me the oncotype test, saying its not the best barometer for treatment. Chemo is used to kill rogue cells... so if it has travelled to the nodes, it could have travelled anywhere. One doctor told me that it can skip nodes etc... so I have no regrets for having chemo... AND with your mom not getting clean margins, I would say its even more important. I would listen to the second ONC.... Mine was the same grade 2+ and tumor was 1.9cm (so a stage I sized tumor)...
Were her two lumps in the same quadrant? Why didn't she have a MX if she had multifocal BC?
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Well, maybe being borderline Grade 3 was the reason. I'm getting Zometa and hormonals which will hopefully zap any stray cells. Zometa targets the bone where early stage cancer cells tend to go. My bone scan came back perfect, so I'll be getting an army in place to attack any unwanted intruders.
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A1B1: (deleted advice because I thought you wrote your mother is Her2+ but now see you wrote Her2-)
regards Jenn0 -
A1B1.. but she is Her2 NEGATIVE, right?? But node positive... I would have her get the chemo... its not that big of a deal.... in the scheme of things. She is relatively young and has a lot of life left...
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The way it was explained to me was that with my Oncotype Score of 14, chemo would NOT benefit me. And the potential SEs of chemo were a definite negative. I was totally prepared to have chemo if indicated, but the MO said no. Everybody's situation is different, however.
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I think one thing to remember, if possible, is to get a second opinion. Even after surgery, I took pathology slides and had a second opinion. The second patholigist found another lymph node slighly involved by my MO said regardless, it didn't matter because treatment remained the same. With that said, just know the only person that can truly be an advocate for your body is YOU!!
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I agree with bdavis. I had a small Grade 1 tumor, but there was a macromet in one lymph node. Both my BS and MO recommended chemo after finding even one positive lymph node despite the tumor grade. Like the MO said, if cancer reached a lymph node, it could be lurking anywhere. I had four rounds of TC and I have never regretted my decision to have chemo. For me, chemo was easier to tolerate than rads.
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Elizabeth... you had rads too?? I assume then you had a lumpectomy... I was on that path and then before rads decided to have a BMX and skip rads.
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bdavis, Yes, I had a lumpectomy. If I had the choose again, I would have an MX instead of rads, but what is done is done. Hoping for lifelong health for all of us.
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we consulted with another breast surgeon and she explained to us that onco is being done when one lymph node is positive, but it is still under study and it's a gray area. Most likely she would need a chemo, but the regimen that the 2nd oncologist was suggesting was AC followed by another chemo medication which I don't remember the name, but as the BC was telling us and also my own research the Adryomycin in no longer recommended for the early stage breast cancer as the bad effect it has on heart. It seems like we have do a consultation with a 3rd oncologist as soon as they would give us appointment, which probably would be 1st or 2nd week of January regarding the chemo regimen.
The worse part is the waiting time! it's been 2 months since she got diagnosed and still haven't start the treatments, which makes us more worried and nervous.
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Hi Fellow warriors. Your stories continue to inspire me. I have an unusual situation as I had 6/10 positive nodes. All other tumor characteristics point to slow growing. I am so glad I opted for a BMX instead of a lumpectomy since diring surgery they found another BC in the same breast different quadrant that did not show up in any imaging. pretty scary since I would still have cancer after a lumpectomy. I. Would have been considered a very quick recurrence & in Dow a BMX at a date not too far in the future. I am currently undergoing 8 rounds of dd chemo (4 AC & 4 Taxol) then onto rads
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I know the "party line" is that the recurrence rate is the same for lumpectomy vs mastectomy. I have too many women go thru a Lumpectomy & then a mastectomy soon after. Based on my knowledge & personal experience I don't believe it for a minute. I know that none of us want to face BC ever again.0 -
Can you ladies tell me how long did it take for you since you got diagnosis till you started your chemo therapy?
I'm just concerned because my mom got diagnosed in 10/27/2011 but still have not started her treatment, it is me being inpatient or is her treatments getting delayed?
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A1Bi- It was 3 months for me. I had a BMX & TE surgery at the 2 month mark. I think that 3 months is average for the initial surgery & then chemo starts after (unless you have neoadjuvant chemo- before surgery). The waiting for the intital treatment was the worst part of my journey so far. Hang in there- HUGS coming your way.
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A1B1.. I went to the doctor for mammo/US 11/9/10, was diagnosed 11/12/10 and had surgery 12/8/10 (so just over 3 weeks (not months) and then about 5 weeks later started chemo... 1/18/11 (my birthday)... but my initial surgery was a lumpectomy... It takes more planning sometimes with a MX... because of reconstruction. I was glad I did what I did and in the order I did it.. If I had had the MX right from the beginning, I probably would have had implants, only because I had no knowledge of my options... and in the end I had a flap surgery...
Regarding chemo, I did not want adriamycin because of the heart thing... my MO gave me Taxotere/Cytoxan, 6 treatments. Taxotere is considered a powerful drug without the heart side effects... BUT for women with more progressed BC, adriamycin/Cytoxan plus taxol/Taxotere is a better more powerful choice... I am sure that my MO would have given me TC anyway as I am stage IIa.
So... are they thinking chemo then surgery? Or surgery then chemo? Because you could get the surgery and decide after which chemo to do... you need about a month to wait anyway. Ususally they only give chemo first to shrink the tumor, mostly for women trying to have a lumpectomy.. so I would start with which order you are going in, and if she is having a MX, then just have the MX... is she reconstructing if she goes that route?? I can't remember what you said.
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Goes to show you how oncologists differ on treatment plans. I had a micromet in a node and my oncologist recommended I have the oncotype test. My tumor was Grade l. The oncotype test came back with a score of 11 and a determination that my tumor was non aggressive and smaller than first thought so my oncologist said she would not recommend chemo but 33 rads treatments which I have had. I asked her why she wasnt recommending chemo and she said because drs were overtreating patients and the oncotype test has provided them with more info to make a determination on treatment so that we wouldnt be overtreated. Had the micromet been larger or my oncotype test score been in the intermediate range my treatment plan in all likelihood would have been chemo. I am glad it didnt. There are side effects to everything and with rads sometimes they dont show up for months. I have been released from my rad onc and had my first mammogram since my dx and both reports were good. One of the problems with rads is the hit your lungs take. My cancer was in left breast which is right over my heart so you have that problem too but again both chemo and rads pose SEs but they are the best treatment plans to help prevent recurrence. Listen to your doctors of course but at the end of the day go with what you think is best for you. It is your body and your life.
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Unfortunately with micromets and ITCs there is such a vague path.. For those with DCIS, the plan is clear... for those with 6cm IDC and 8/12 nodes, the path is clear... for those of us in the gray area, the paths can vary... not sure one is better than another, just different.
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HI All - I was so hoping for a smoother year compared to last year. Way too many Dr appts back then with elevated liver enzymes possibly from a drug reaction to Doxycycline (tick bite). I changed my PCP who is more proactive than my Oncologist with followup and monitoring. Abdominal US was performed but difficult to read so he ordered followup MRI.
Well looks like they found some liver cysts and what is very significant is a pancreatic cyst. Based upon it's characteristics it is likely precancerous type so I am praying caught early. I am currently chasing down Dr appts to get a referral for cyst biopsy and removal - treatment. I'm looking into John Hopkins Pancreatic Cyst Center or NY Presbyterian.
If anyone has any recommendations or information that would be helpful I would so appreciate it. The shock and fear of this was just as bad as when I dx with BC and probably worse. I am blessed to have a PCP who ordered these extra scans (my onc did not) and praying all are early findings. I'll take surgery any day over chemo..... You may not see me posting here for a while --- hopefully someone can keep up with some BC news on that forum.
Seeing PCP tomorrow to move forward with plans and referral ---- next week scheduled to meet a NEW Oncologist!! Hopefully he will work out for me and take me on for monitoring and especially with this new finding.
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Hi Edwards 750, may I ask what size your micromet was???
I was interested to read your post re positive for micromet and no chemo. I had my treatment back in 2007 and still lurk here on the boards to read the latest. At that time I was told I had an option of either chemo (because of the micromet) or have an oophorectomy. At the time I was advised the oophorectomy was a good option for my grade 1, stage 11a cancer. I had already had a lumpectomy (micromet of 1mm in sentinal node) then followed up with auxillary clearnance, with a total of 30 glands taken out, and yes, I now have lymphedema and have suffered 3 bouts of cellulitis in the last 4 months. Hospitalised on drip for one of the bouts.
In hindsight I have always worried about not doing the chemo, as it seems most ladies with at least 1 positive gland do chemo. Being in Australia (4 years ago) we did not have access to the oncotype test. Even though I did not do the oncotype test, your post about not having chemo at least gives me some hope now.
regards Aussieched
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Aussieched... mine was .38mm and I had chemo... but my MO said he wanted me having chemo regardless... the micromet got me two extra doses... I also did not have the oncotype test... All MOs have their thing... and I was told that with a micromet it is LIKE being node negative, same prognosis. I think my Mo was being cautious and I was clear that I would do anything to improve my chances... I also did not have any more nodes taken out, so this was a way to make sure if it had gone to any other nodes, the chemo would zap it... I think with you having more nodes taken, it gives you the same reassurance... pretty safe to say with 30 nodes taken and 29 being clean, I think you are good.
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Hi bdavis
Survived my first TC treatment today, virtually no SE. yay! I did meet with my MO and she verified what you said about them lowering the Oncotype scores down. Verified that under 11 will be considered (low risk). Glad I chose to do it anyway when mine came in at 16. Now it's a no brainer. Thank you.
Hope they get that info out ASAP, as I see many women on these boards turning down chemo because their score is slightly higher or lower than 20.....0 -
Hi BDavis, Thanks for your reply about micromet & no chemo & no oncotype test.
At the time of treatment I felt confident with the advice from my doctor, however after seeing most on this website having chemo, even when there are no positivie nodes, I have become nervous about the "No chemo" treatment, particularly now that I only have 12 months before I have to finish the Femara. All my security blankets are gone then.
I was 52 at the time of diagnosis and had not started menopause and was 80% ER/PR. I was told that the oophorectomy would be as effective as the chemo, so I just have to hope my docs are right.
thanks Aussieched
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cp418 - Sending you hugs, prayers and good vibes. I have heard that John Hopkins is a very good facility from a friend of mine. So glad your PCP ordered those tests.
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cp418, sorry to hear about your recent scans, so glad you and your doc are getting right to work on treatment.
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Aussieched... I have never heard that having a oofrec is the same as chemo... having an oofrec lowers the amount of estrogen in your body and if your cancer thrived on estrogen it decreases the liklihood it would grow, but the ovaries are not the only source of estrogen... hence your hormone treatment.... Your cancer was small and low grade... and I assume they got clear margins. Did you have a lumpectomy or MX? And did you have radiation?? These are all considerations regarding a local recurrance... the chemo is to help address a distant recurrance, and because they took so many nodes that were clean AND assuming you had clear margins, I wouldn't stew about it.
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cp418-Sending you well wishes. Will miss your BC news posts. I'm also in the process of changing MOs. Take care & look forward to your returning to the boards.
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Hi again bdavis,
Yes, I had a lumpectomy and eventually had clear margins. Originally are the first surgery one margin was unsure, so when I had the auxillary clearance they went and took a larger marigin on one side, however it came back that they were on the edge with the first surgery, so ended up with a much larger margin after the second go at it.. I did originally want MX, but surgeon talked me out of it,. I also had radiation so maybe I am worrying needlessly, however as I said before, it appears I am definitely in the minority with regard to not having chemo.
thanks for your reply.
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Yes.. but some think chemo is overused... Sometimes there are different paths to the same result.
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cp418 - hoping that your cysts are nothing to worry about, but also grateful that you had the scans that discovered them. Wishing you the best.
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bdavis thank you for the info. Today, we got the onco dx results, her score is really low, under 12 which is very good. Although we are going to get a 3rd opinion from another oncologist.
cp418, I am sorry about your recent diagnosis, hope everthing goes well. ((hugs))
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