Another Newbie with some questions
Hi there, I was diagnosed a month ago with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma in my right breast following my first Breast Screen appointment. My lump is Grade 2, 19mm and positioned at 10 o'clock and 5cm from the nipple and I'm OR+, PR+ and HER2-. I'm booked in for a wide local incision next month followed by chemo (possibly) and radiation. I've spent the past month researching and have read all of this website and most of the forum posts (I've stayed away from Dr Google and stuck with reputable websites). I also have the My Journey kit.
I have a few questions if anyone can me help out:
1. My path report states that I have 'normal appearing IN's in axilla' - what does that mean?
2. I did ask my surgeon if I could have the whole breast off, but he said a lumpectomy was enough to start with and if needed they would go back and take some more if they didn't get clear margins. Is it normal to be refused a partial masectomy? I really would prefer to have only one surgery and have the whole thing off and be done with it.
3. My surgeon told me that I would probably have to have chemo, but a friend of a friend is just ahead of me on this trip with the same diagnosis and she doesn't have to have chemo .... why would it not be suggested for her? To be honest I'm more frightened of chemo then the cancer or surgery and would really rather not have it for a number of reasons including time off work.
4. When do the Breast Care Nurses come into the picture? I left a message for one on the day of my diagnosis and haven't heard back and emailed the other one 2 weeks ago and haven't had a response from her either. Am I jumping the gun and the don't make contact until surgery??
Thanks so much for any advice you can give me.
I have a few questions if anyone can me help out:
1. My path report states that I have 'normal appearing IN's in axilla' - what does that mean?
2. I did ask my surgeon if I could have the whole breast off, but he said a lumpectomy was enough to start with and if needed they would go back and take some more if they didn't get clear margins. Is it normal to be refused a partial masectomy? I really would prefer to have only one surgery and have the whole thing off and be done with it.
3. My surgeon told me that I would probably have to have chemo, but a friend of a friend is just ahead of me on this trip with the same diagnosis and she doesn't have to have chemo .... why would it not be suggested for her? To be honest I'm more frightened of chemo then the cancer or surgery and would really rather not have it for a number of reasons including time off work.
4. When do the Breast Care Nurses come into the picture? I left a message for one on the day of my diagnosis and haven't heard back and emailed the other one 2 weeks ago and haven't had a response from her either. Am I jumping the gun and the don't make contact until surgery??
Thanks so much for any advice you can give me.