Treatment decisions-Triple negative
Hi everyone I was diagnosed with triple negative, stage 3C breast cancer in October last year. Initially I had a lumpectomy with sentinel node removal. As there were no clear margins and cancer in the nodes I then had a mastectomy and nodal clearance. I had cancer in 14 out of the 31 nodes that were removed and locally advanced. I have finished my AC dose dense drugs and the Paclitaxel standard care treatments. In addition to this I opted to take Carboplatin with the taxel as it had the potential to have some benefits but due to low neutrophils I missed the last dose. I start my radiation therapy tomorrow. After radiation therapy I will have to decide whether to continue my chemo by taking another drug called Xeloda or Capecitabine. Again there is some potential to be of benefit but not clear cut and was told not to expect definitive advice on whether I should or shouldn’t take it. I am hoping to hear from others who are in the same situation and have had to make that decision themselves.
Totally confused after seeking second opinion
Hi my dear virtual friends, I have Hormones positives and Her2 negative. Grade 3 and Stage 3(Tumor size 35 mm). Surgeon A: Treatment plan Option 1: 6 months chemo ( neoadjjuvant), if tumor size shrinks > lumpectomy. If it doesn’t shrink > mastectomy > radiotherapy (will have to take Tamoxifen/AI) option 2: mastectomy > chemo> radiotherapy (will have to take Tamoxifen/AI) Surgeon B: treatment plan: lumpectomy immediately, tablets for hormones +ve (Tamoxifen/AI) > radiotherapy > chemo (depends on outcome of lumpectomy surgery). surgeon B doesn’t see the need to do 6 months chemo to shrink the tumor. He says he will have a better idea after surgery if chemo is necessary. hubby and I are still processing all these information and have some further questions written down. Keen to hear what other questions we should be asking both surgeons, please. Sincerely value everyone’s input. Xx Gin
Newly diagnosed BC but I dont know stage and type
Hello BC loveley members First of all, I am in brisbane and had ultrasound,showing fibroadenoma 3cm size.Result was bit dodgy though, because my lump showed vascularity. Then I supposed to have a core biopsy as a precaution. I am public so I had to wait 2weeks to have biospy done. Problem is when I had biospy they did FNA instead of core biopsy. The result came back as breast carcinoma.just only one result it is malignancy. There is no mention about type and size. My GP referred me to RBWH on 17/4, I am worried how long I will wait to see specialist. And I dont even have mamogram yet.My age is 37 so GP only ordered US initially. It has been nearly 1 month since I found lump. I have breast carcinoma without knowing stage,type and lymph node involvement. This is really worrying me now. I am an immigrant and single. No family support here. Anyone treated a RBWH how long did it take to see specialist? I feel my lump(actually it is tumor) getting bigger and sore. Many thanks.
decisions.....decisions
So hard to make decisions when you feel like you only have half the information....... far out. Final report is in, I haven't seen it bc nurse has but I didn't try to read it over the table. She contradicts what the surgeon said last Friday. I tend to think she was more accurate....I must admit I saw him as an outpatient last Friday and he was going like the clappers. He did however drain my seroma after a four hour wait and 300 kilometres. I see the surgeon again this Friday after he has presented at the group playfest to hear what the general consensus is about a treatment plan. So hormone positive on all three tumours, HER negative. On the right IDC grade2 9mm, positive sentinel node. ( only 1 of 1 ). Clear margins. Bc nurse tells me the left breast would be counted as 1 tumour? Papillary one ( why did she mention micro papillary....) 17mm clear margins. the other is IDC 33mm . Calling both as grade 2, hormone +, HER -. 2 nodes from the sentinel set of 4 positive Proliferation rate KI67 30 to 35%. How do I decide....... if I don't really want an axilla disection ?......far out Brussel sprout...... I sort of feel mutilated enough thanks. 3 Csections an abdominal hysterectomy and now this....... far out Brussels sprout x 2. I feel like such a hot specimen :(
Diagnosed today fluke pickup
Hi all, Just reaching out to get recommendations on best place to go for treatment. Diagnosed today after getting fine needle biopsy on Monday. Stage 3 5mm. Core biopsy and fine needle lymp nodes today checked. I had a CT scan under contrast which came back clear, pffeeeew. Getting results Monday from core biopsy. Where is the best place to get chemotherapy? I live in Sydney south west. Thinking I'm going to get double mastectomy as I have no problems/worries and I think it best to just take all the possible tissue. Always wanted a boob job so it's my silver lining that is keeping me positive. Any suggestions help tips on best doctors etc.
Her2 positive
Hello I'm 40 and recently diagnosed with her2 positive. No family history of breast cancer. My sister and maternal cousin recently diagnosed with lobular cancer. They are having surgery. It's been a Whirlwind recently. The professionals say it's early, the treatment is going to be chemo , waiting for my medical oncologist appointment to find out how long etc. Surgery then hormone tablets. I'm struggling to understand why I need chemo first. If anyone had or has her2 I would be grateful to share your story. Thank you kindly.
Intro + Neoadjuvant or Adjuvant Chemo?
Hi all, My wife's just been diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma NST (Grade 2-3) ER+, PR+, HER2- with a 29mm tumour and at least 1 involved lymph node. Needless to say it's hit us like a bus and we're in that dark, foggy place pre-treatment where we have no idea what's coming up next. That said, things have, luckily, moved pretty quickly since the first GP meeting for the initial pathology referral. In the 9 days since visiting the GP, we've had imaging with a mammogram and ultrasound which indicated suspicious findings, then 2 days later a biopsy, followed a day later by the meeting at the GP to get the bad news. Since then we've had our initial meeting with the surgeon at the RBWH, Dr Wong (who seemed very capable, but if anyone else has had him as their surgeon I would still love to hear more about your experience) and some of the MDT. We have our first meeting with Medical Oncology next Friday and the 2 week follow up with the MDT the following week. During the initial discussion our doctor classified this as "Early Stage" cancer (something we're hanging hope on) and said that we would have a number of options for treatment. My wife's family has quite an extensive history of cancer (mostly breast, with some throat / ovarian), however her Mum was genetically tested years ago and is apparently BRCA negative. When asked what we would prefer as a treatment, we just said we'd rather have a double mastectomy to reduce any chances of recurrence later, however when Dr Wong came in, he had a good chat with us and asked if we were making decisions from an emotional place rather than a practical place. His suggestion is to pursue a neoadjuvent treatment course, followed by genetic testing and then surgery, which if the chemo was effective would possibly mean just a lumpectomy rather than a mastectomy as well as potentially saving some lymph nodes. Unfortunately we're very sleep deprived and still in a bit of shock so we're not sure what to do. Basically we see it one of two ways: 1. Do the chemo, hope that it shrinks everything (or God-willing completely disappears it) while killing anything else that might be floating around, then do the surgery, then radiation if required. 2. Go the surgery, remove everything including lymph nodes, then hit hard with chemo and radiation if needed to try and smash anything that's left. Honestly, I get the idea of "patient-centered" treatment where your opinions and wishes are taken into account, but I know if I had a client approach me as the subject matter expert for a highly technical quote on something they didn't know anything about and I asked them to tell me what they thought would be the best option, I wouldn't have a job. This sounds so dumb, but I just want to say something like "wait a second, why are you asking us what treatment should be? Aren't you the expert???" We want to be very positive and forward leaning with this journey and I feel like we have to have an element of trust in the MDT and the process, but could do with some perspective. Sorry for the wall of text, I blame the lack of sleep! George
new to bcna
Hello all I've just joined the network. This is my status. Lumpectomy after DCIS insitu highly invasive, nuclear high grade, too small to be able to get hormone readings. Yes, I'm lucky....sort of. I now need to make the decision of radiation or skin,nipple sparing mastectomy with no radiation or chemo at this stage.. And I'm numb and unable to make the decision. I would dearly like to communicate with other women who have had to make a similar decision to me. Women who've been in a similar position to me. I have such a fear of making the wrong decision as both options have equal downsides and equal upsides. Help and thank you in advance kind regards Judy c
first appt
Hi everyone, well I had my first appt at the hospital today with the breast surgeon, was very anxious as did not know what to expect, was really under the impression that surgery would be my first point and then radiation or chemo. Surgeon had reviewed my pathology results from when I had a core biopsy and they have said I have triple negative breast cancer, stage 1 as the tumor is still less than 2cm (well it was when I had my ultrasound 2 weeks ago) really don't know how fast these things grow. they have advised due to my age (40) and it being TNBC that chemo is the first stage and then surgery, but it is my call - would really love some advice on this as was fully preparing myself to have surgery. still anxious as reading online that TNBC is quite aggressive and higher chance of recurrence. I am trying to stay positive and now waiting for my bone scan in a week and should be seeing the oncologist to plan out my chemo plan, sorry if I am missing up in the terminology or abbreviations still trying to get my head around all the different types x
