Newly diagnosed at age 34
Hi everyone, just felt like I needed to share my story in a supportive forum with like minded people. I was diagnosed with breast cancer on 23rd August after a routine ultrasound - I have a family ...
Forum Discussion
Hi There,
There are so many factors that decide Chemo or not, so your diagnosis is paramount, as in ER+ Her-or+, also whether you had DCIS or IDC and what stage and grade it was? also family history. When I was diagnosed 2011 with DCIS, I only had my Mum diagnosed same age at 40 thats it. My Surgeon still ordered very aggressive treatment, which was lumpectomy, radiation and tamoxifen for 5yrs, BUT I had a recurrence inspite of all that in my scar tissue and inspite of being checked yearly, in that time I had a Stage 2 Grade 3 aggressive IDC Breast Cancer ER+ only. The Oncologists rule of thumb he said was he suggests chemo when a tumor is Grade 3. But there are the other factors. Unfortunately I had to have another major lumpectomy, lymph nodes removed which were clear and 4.5 months of chemo and now on Arimidex. They also made me do the Gene Testing eventhough it was unlikely to be positive due to recurrence there was a chance. Thankfully negative, but am wondering if you should be having that??? and even through all this, The 2 Genetic Doctors I saw this week and Breast Surgeon and Oncologist ALL now want a mastectomy rather than gamble with another recurrence. Though thats just it isnt it?? a gamble?? because I dont know if it will or wont come back and thats the tough part.
So I urge you to look at your full diagnosis which will give you more of an indication of where you are and how to proceed.
Hugs
Melinda xo
There are so many factors that decide Chemo or not, so your diagnosis is paramount, as in ER+ Her-or+, also whether you had DCIS or IDC and what stage and grade it was? also family history. When I was diagnosed 2011 with DCIS, I only had my Mum diagnosed same age at 40 thats it. My Surgeon still ordered very aggressive treatment, which was lumpectomy, radiation and tamoxifen for 5yrs, BUT I had a recurrence inspite of all that in my scar tissue and inspite of being checked yearly, in that time I had a Stage 2 Grade 3 aggressive IDC Breast Cancer ER+ only. The Oncologists rule of thumb he said was he suggests chemo when a tumor is Grade 3. But there are the other factors. Unfortunately I had to have another major lumpectomy, lymph nodes removed which were clear and 4.5 months of chemo and now on Arimidex. They also made me do the Gene Testing eventhough it was unlikely to be positive due to recurrence there was a chance. Thankfully negative, but am wondering if you should be having that??? and even through all this, The 2 Genetic Doctors I saw this week and Breast Surgeon and Oncologist ALL now want a mastectomy rather than gamble with another recurrence. Though thats just it isnt it?? a gamble?? because I dont know if it will or wont come back and thats the tough part.
So I urge you to look at your full diagnosis which will give you more of an indication of where you are and how to proceed.
Hugs
Melinda xo