Does Grade 3 tumour always mean chemo?
I am 43 and newly diagnosed node positive ER/PR+ HER2- 21mm tumour Grade 3. Having lumpectomy and axilla lymph node surgery this week. My surgeon has confirmed radiation and the nurses have talked about hormone treatment (Tamoxifen). But every time I mention chemotherapy everyone goes silent and won’t say whether it’s likely or not… it’s driving me nuts. They say I need to wait for pathology after surgery etc, but then I know I have very limited time to be organised ahead of chemo if it’s required. I have long curly hair which is a key part of my identity so I am trying to be practical and look at how to manage the hair loss - especially for my children. I am thinking of getting my hair cut shorter first (soon) so that it’s better for cold capping if that is an option. Being Xmas period it’s impossible to get into my hairdresser so I need ti be organised. So my question is whether anyone my age has not been given chemotherapy for a Grade 3 type tumour. Any feedback welcome. Thanks!
New type of MRI being trialled in the UK for Breast Cancer Patients
Multiparametric MRI scan involves flexible scanning coil, and is quicker than traditional MRI https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jul/09/more-detailed-mri-to-detect-early-breast-cancer-begins-uk-trials https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jul/09/new-breast-cancer-scan-is-designed-with-womens-comfort-in-mind
Prosthesis - I can’t stop crying
hi all so my story is found a lump in feb, lumpectomy in March, sentinel Node op in April then mastectomy And lymph nodes removed on right breast in may i am very lucky in that I Do not need chemo nor radiation and have started on tamoxifen Today I went and got my prosthesis and a couple of bras. I have/had big boobs but this seems ginormous i feel that I shouldn’t be complaining about this but I have cried all day. I hate it. I really do. Is this normal? Will I feel better? Right now I wish they removed both breasts and I would have just dealt with that. I would like to get a recon but that’s minimum 12 months away i am so sorry for complaining but it has all hit me today does it get better? thanks lisa xxAltered staging
Hi. I’m 39 mother of 4 boys and was initially diagnosed with stage 2. I recently had a lumpectomy and auxiliary clearance and margins were not clear and found it had spread to a number of lymph nodes (11/15 removed). Based on pathology from tumour, my diagnosis was changed to Stage 3. I start chemo in 2 weeks, initially x2 weekly and will have a total of 16 treatments, followed by Radiation, then mastectomy, and then hormone treatment. .I was initially positive about my prognosis, but now not so much. Anyone else been in similar situation? Any advice welcomed.Mayo testing a breast cancer vaccine
Mayo is testing a breast cancer & ovarian cancer vaccine that they reckon has already prevented one woman's breast cancer from developing and supposedly stopping recurrences. “It’s supposed to stimulate a patient’s own immune response so that the immune cells like t-cells would go in and attack the cancer,” Something to keep an eye on .... https://blog.thebreastcancersite.greatergood.com/cancer-vaccine-mayo/?utm_source=bcs-bcsfan&utm_medium=social-fb&utm_content=link&utm_campaign=cancer-vaccine-mayo&utm_term=1236985&fbclid=IwAR0A3GvhLmJpqu3o0KLJP6-2mj8aQ65VEn_OnvHjPS-yS7Kb4L8qeqOdbzA
How do you know?
How do you know your formal diagnosis? Is it something you remember being told and you wrote it down? Did someone qualified to do so eg your oncologist, ever give you say an email, or letter or a record explicitly stating this? I have some path reports with highlighter pen where the oncologist highlighted some findings. Is this the standard practice? Is ad hockery normal? When you are having radiation is the reason for this kind of radiation, how much and how long written down by anyone except you? Feels like there is a big margin for error when it’s up to the patient to keep track and relay it to other health professionals. Maybe it’s just me as I am incredibly forgetful since diagnosis and also stressed about having cancer in the first place. A nurse asked me all this today so she wouldn’t have to read my file. I would happily wear a paper hat with it written on in marker pen if it meant staff didn’t feel they had to waste time checking my medical records. But only if I knew it was correct info. I will take all the path reports with me everyday now to help them out. My hairdresser writes down appointment times, writes down hair colours, suggested treatments, has everything in an electronic record, and sends an SMS reminder. If they mess that up I could die of embarrassment. Cancer is a bit more complicated.
Adjusting to bad news, staying hopeful, changing habits
Hi, I am a 44 year old mother of two girls, 3 and 7. Was diagnosed with breast cancer on Tuesday evening after a mammogram and ultrasound in the morning. On Wednesday I saw a specialist who sent me for biopsies and scans. On Thursday afternoon I learnt that I have HER2 positive BC in my right breast (3x3cm with two smaller tumours nearby), and one lymph node biopsied because it was enlarged was also cancerous. A lump on the left was benign. It does not appear to have spread to bones, pelvis, liver etc however there were two 5mm nodules in my lung that might be BC. I am hoping they are something else but have to be prepared in case the cancer already is stage 4. I remember the doctor said it was grade 2-3 but not sure if that is the same thing as stage 2-3. I have somehow lost the reports, so I can't look over the details until they are mailed but I have an appointment on Wednesday with a different specialist to plan treatment. I am glad that things are moving quickly but am still reeling from the news and wish the appointment was sooner. I think I will be having preadjuvant chemo and/or targeted treatment, followed by a mastectomy of the right breast in several months (with optional rebuild), however I have not met with the oncologist so am not sure what to expect. I should have gotten to a GP weeks ago as I had noticed hardness over many months (which I had thought was related to it being dominant for milk production) and had a sore breast in early July, however because I was breastfeeding and fairly ignorant of BC I mistook the symptoms including a swollen lymph node for mastitis. Only when all pain went way and I noticed the boob seemed bigger and misshapen with a prominent lump did I get myself to a doctor. Waited a week and a half for the scan that showed it was as suspected a malignant carcinoma. Strange thing is it only started hurting again after I learned what it was. I don't know much yet but am trying to learn a bit without scaring myself too much or googling into the night. My youngest daughter has weaned herself, and on the night of the diagnosis she accepted bedtime without breast, understanding that I have sick boobies and the doctor said we should stop. In the middle of the night she was desperate to breastfeed, and I allowed this briefly. That is the last time I fed her, and she has been proud of herself for giving it up but has wanted to kiss it and hug it today. Next move is for me to give up smoking, a bad habit of mine for many years off and on, which is not easy when it has been a response to stress and I have been quite stressed at times. It must be done, as I understand that it increases the risk of metastasis (if it has not already happened) and I wouldn't want to invite another cancer along right now. But I am trying to be gentle with myself when I occasionally light them only to put them out shortly thereafter. I hope to eliminate this habit fully by Wednesday. I have to clean up my diet and prepare for the treatment. I was a lifelong vegetarian until my early thirties however I have eaten a tiny bit of fish in the past ten years. I eat lots of fruit and veg. However I do have too many sugary things and processed stuff so I need to cut the crap out of the shopping list. Emotionally I have been struggling a bit and I should arrange some counselling to work through my feelings. My mother and friends have been amazing, my husband has been a good support but doesn't like to see me crying, which I think is just a normal thing from time to time in such a circumstance. I am being open and honest with the kids and have been giving them lots of love and sweetness. Honestly I am sometimes very scared but I am trying to be strong for myself and for everyone around me. Sending love and understanding to others with BC, and those who have recently been diagnosed, it's pretty tough to take, huh?Lumpectomy or straight to mastectomy
Currently have a 3cm malignant tumour on my left breast and no lymph node activity. Did a core biopsy and it’s oestrogen and progesterone receptors are negative. The dr is suggestion a lumpectomy with 5cm margins and a sentinel node removal, chemo and radiation . Dont know what to do. Confused.Labor & Liberals both promise subsidised MRIs available to Breast Cancer Women
There must be a general election coming up . ...... Both major parties are promising to have subsidised MRIs for women (especially as MRIs have been available to Men with Prostate cancer for some time!) https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/mar/29/both-major-parties-commit-to-extra-funding-for-breast-cancer-mri-scans Both major parties commit to extra funding for breast cancer MRI scans Morrison government to announce $32.6m in next week’s budget while Labor pledges $47m if it wins election Both the major parties are promising additional funding for MRI scans for women with breast cancer. Photograph: Jim Bourg/Reuters Women with breast cancer have secured commitments from both the major parties for additional funding for MRI scans – $32.6m from the Morrison government coming in next week’s budget, and $47m from Labor if it wins in May. The Coalition will use next Tuesday’s budget to create two new Medicare items for MRI of the breast, to be available from 1 November 2019, scans that will enable more accurate diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. If Bill Shorten wins the coming election, Labor is promising to “work with experts” to finalise the design of the new Medicare items that will allow subsidies for scans. Medicare: Labor vows to lift freeze on rebates if it wins federal election Shorten said Medicare already subsidises similar MRI scans for men with prostate cancer – but not for women with breast cancer, except in extremely limited circumstances. “As a result, thousands of women are being charged up to $1,500 in out-of-pocket costs for the scans used to diagnose their cancer, decide on treatment and ensure cancer does not return,” the Labor leader said. The government says creating the Medicare items will benefit 14,000 patients a year.
