Grade 3 HER2+ timeline & symptoms – Waiting on MRI vs starting chemo? (BC / Fraser Health)

jackfearthelord

Hello everyone,

My wife was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma on June 30, 2026 (Grade 3, HER2+, right axillary lymph node involvement, extranodal extension not demonstrated).

We met with the surgeon on July 16, who confirmed she will need neoadjuvant chemotherapy first. Her upcoming schedule is:

• July 21: CT Scan
• July 23: Bone Scan & First Medical Oncologist Consultation
• August 16: MRI

As of today (July 20), two major issues are concerning us:

1. New/Worsening Symptoms: Due to the lymph node involvement, she can no longer sleep comfortably in a normal position, and she is having trouble moving her right hand (e.g., using a computer mouse).
2. Treatment Timeline: We are worried that waiting for the August 16 MRI will delay the start of her chemotherapy for a fast-growing (Grade 3) tumor.

For anyone who has navigated BC Cancer or Fraser Health:

• Starting Treatment: Will the oncologist usually wait for the August 16 MRI results before starting chemo, or can systemic treatment begin right after her CT/Bone scans are complete?
• Private Imaging Options: Has anyone successfully paid out-of-pocket for a private MRI locally in BC or nearby in Washington (like Bellingham) to avoid treatment delays? Did BC Cancer accept those results?
• Managing Symptoms: Who should we contact immediately regarding her right-arm arm mobility and positioning issues before our Thursday appointment?

harrow

@jackfearthelord I’m really sorry to hear of your wife’s diagnosis. These forums are a great source of support and information as you both navigate the next steps.

I am not in BC but I am ER/PR- HER2+++. I was diagnosed Stage IV from the get-go. I started treatment the weekend after I saw my MO. They did not wait for an MRI. I did have a CT and bone scan done prior to meeting with my MO. If they want to wait for treatment until the MRI, make sure you get clarification as to why and push for her to start sooner.

You could call the cancer clinic to let them know about her arm issues, but they’ll likely tell you to mention it to the MO at Thursday’s appointment. If you didn’t already have that appointment, they might try to bring her in sooner, but since it’s already scheduled, I expect they’ll say to wait until then.

Hopefully she will start treatment right away. Within days, I could feel my supraclavicular lymph node shrinking. After 3 treatment cycles, I only had a teeny tiny amount of residual tumour left in my breast. I wish for your wife to have the same kind of dramatic response to the meds. Herceptin is a gamechanger for those of us who are HER2+.

One thing to be aware of is that HER2+ has an affinity for the brain and the standard of care is to wait for symptoms before getting a brain MRI. I would insist on one at diagnosis and then regular ones after that. I’m not saying that to scare you - just a proactive suggestion.

I will be keeping your wife in my thoughts. Best of luck to her as she begins her treatments.