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Topic: Multi-focal now unifocal???

Forum: IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma) — Just diagnosed, in treatment, or finished treatment for IDC.

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Posted on: Oct 24, 2020 07:36PM - edited Oct 24, 2020 07:43PM by Taralynn

Taralynn wrote:

When I had my mammogram and ultrasound, the radiologist noted separate masses in the same quadrant. One at 9:00 is around 3 cm, and two at 11:00 very close to each other are about 2 Cm and 1 cm. In between these is dense tissue that was marked as such on The report. So here I am thinking Im dealing with a multi focal situation.

Fast forward to my appt with the breast surgeon this week and she's considering the whole area as one mass (masses at 11:00 + density + mass at 9:00) So now that changes the size of course. What was originally “multifocal" with the largest being 3cm is now an “area" of 7ish cm. This originally upset me but maybe it shouldn't. Are multiple masses any better than one large one? Maybe not but what do I know. I wish I would have asked specifically but she kept telling me not to focus on the size and I do trust her. As far as she can tell the lymph nodes look fine so I'll try to focus on that.

This is probably a long shot but has anyone dealt with something Similar? This density is what stood out to me from the start of all this, originally feeling very fibrocystic and then getting gradually firmer.

Her recommendation is an MRI next and then surgery in 4-6 weeks. Mastectomy due to the size.

she also said she was going to speak to the tumor board this coming Wednesday. Is that standard?

ETA - she also said I’m stage 2A. Seems strange to me given everything I see about 2A fallsbetween 2-5 cm. Ugh I hate feeling so confused and not knowledgeable about my own body....


Mom of 3, Diagnosed at 39. Dx 10/15/2020, IDC, Right, 3cm, Stage IB, Grade 2, 2/8 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- Surgery 12/14/2020 Lymph node removal: Right, Sentinel; Mastectomy: Right; Prophylactic mastectomy: Left; Reconstruction (left): Tissue expander placement; Reconstruction (right): Tissue expander placement Chemotherapy AC + T (Taxol)
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Oct 24, 2020 11:36PM kathabus wrote:

If you are ER+ and PR+ and HER- you can be over 5cm and still be stage IIA. You kind of get “points” if you will for those factors.

I was confused by this as well. I kept being told I was stage IB with a 2.5cm tumor...but it was because of my ER, PR and HER2 status.

FYI—there is a chart for pre surgery (clinical prognostic stage) and one for after surgery (pathological prognostic stage).

43 Years Old, Oncotype DX 10 Dx 2/17/2020, IDC, Right, 2cm, Stage IB, Grade 2, 1/1 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- Surgery 3/23/2020 Lumpectomy; Lymph node removal Radiation Therapy 5/14/2020 Whole-breast: Breast, Lymph nodes, Chest wall Surgery 7/20/2020 Prophylactic ovary removal Hormonal Therapy 8/20/2020 Femara (letrozole)
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Oct 24, 2020 11:56PM - edited Oct 25, 2020 12:00AM by Taralynn

Thank you Kath! I'll read more about that! :

Mom of 3, Diagnosed at 39. Dx 10/15/2020, IDC, Right, 3cm, Stage IB, Grade 2, 2/8 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- Surgery 12/14/2020 Lymph node removal: Right, Sentinel; Mastectomy: Right; Prophylactic mastectomy: Left; Reconstruction (left): Tissue expander placement; Reconstruction (right): Tissue expander placement Chemotherapy AC + T (Taxol)
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Oct 25, 2020 05:47AM Rah2464 wrote:

Taralynn you truly won't know all the details until the mass is out. I imaged about twice as big in the MRI versus final surgical pathology. The most important thing is you have found it, you are on the pathway to treating it and it sounds like you have a great doctor guiding you. Wishing you well on your surgery and recovery.

Dx 5/23/2018, IDC, Left, 1cm, Stage IA, Grade 2, 0/4 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- (IHC) Surgery 6/27/2018 Mastectomy: Left, Right; Reconstruction (left): Silicone implant; Reconstruction (right): Silicone implant Hormonal Therapy 7/27/2018 Tamoxifen pills (Nolvadex, Apo-Tamox, Tamofen, Tamone)
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Oct 25, 2020 08:41AM Taralynn wrote:

oh wow Rah, that’s interesting! So once they removed everything they saw it wasn’t all “bad”? I considered that also.

I feel this strange sense of guilt almost that something this size has grown inside of me. But, Idid get to the doctor fairly quickly for an exam once I noticed something wasn’t right, and I know I’m being silly.

Mom of 3, Diagnosed at 39. Dx 10/15/2020, IDC, Right, 3cm, Stage IB, Grade 2, 2/8 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- Surgery 12/14/2020 Lymph node removal: Right, Sentinel; Mastectomy: Right; Prophylactic mastectomy: Left; Reconstruction (left): Tissue expander placement; Reconstruction (right): Tissue expander placement Chemotherapy AC + T (Taxol)
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Oct 25, 2020 10:13PM - edited Oct 25, 2020 10:13PM by MinusTwo

taralynn - NO GUILT. You didn't ask for this and you didn't do anything to welcome it. You're under enough stress so drop the guilt. Good luck

2/15/11 BMX-DCIS 2SNB clear-TEs; 9/15/11-410gummies; 3/20/13 recurrance-5.5cm,mets to lymphs, Stage IIIB IDC ER/PRneg,HER2+; TCH/Perjeta/Neulasta x6; ALND 9/24/13 1/18 nodes 4.5cm; AC chemo 10/30/13 x3; herceptin again; Rads Feb2014

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