IDC Stage 1/Grade 2- ER+ PR- Her1 - (Next Steps for me + medication update)
I had my first meeting with surgical oncologist and plastics yesterday. First time meeting plastics dr and loved him. I am having a dmx. I have my sentinal node (sp?) biopsy scheduled for next Friday. I am STILL waiting on my oncotype score to come back. They had to resubmit another sample from my biopsy bc the first one didn't have enough carcinoma detected. I am bracing for a high score as I am 38, pre-menopausal, stage 1, IDC 1.4cm and DCIS, grade 2, no lymph node involvement, no BRCA genes BUT I am ER 100%, PR 0%, and Her2 neg. Everything I see says low PR = high oncotype. IF SOMEONE ELSE HAS DIFFERENT INFO HERE PLEASE SHARE FOR A GLIMMER OF HOPE lol. Anyways, I guess my main question is what was your experience with the sentinal node biopsy? The scheduler said have someone there to drive me, so I'm guessing it will be painful. I also see some people have this during surgery but others scheduled before. Why is that? I feel like I hear what they are saying during the appointments but then it is hard to remember. Oh yes, I also start tamoxifen now - half dose every other day.
Has anyone had a LOW oncotype with the ER + 100%, Pr- 0% and Her2-??
Comments
-
I had my SLNB at the same time as my lumpectomy (both times).
The recovery was more annoying for the SLNB than for the lumpectomy, and years later I still sometimes feel weird nerve twinges. But I wouldn't call it painful or debilitating, and I've so far not had issues with lymphedema.
Needing someone to drive you is because of the sedation, no relation to anticipated levels of painfulness.
I can't speak directly to your question about oncotype but I can say that the whole reason it is used/paid for by insurance is because it consistently (even if not frequently) gives results different from other clinical measures which lead to different treatment recommendations, and this goes in both directions (unexpectedly high and unexpectedly low oncotypes).
The other thing is that a high oncotype does not mean a worse outcome - it means that chemo is more likely to actually be effective on that cancer and actually have a positive impact on a person's overall outcome. Not that anyone looks forward to or enjoys chemo, but it means you have access to an additional treatment modality to help decrease your odds of recurrence/metastasis.
The beginning, when information is trickling in and it feels like there's always another shoe hanging over your head just waiting to drop, just sucks. Hang in there!
0
