Receptors??

Wendy59105 · September 2005

OK

My cancer is in the smallest possible stage it could even be detected....I am between 0 and 1....NOT 1 and 2. This is good. The bad thing is, it is of the invasive nature and there is a possibility it seeped into one of the ducts in my breast and off to the lymph nodes. I tried to pin him down to a percentage of this chance and got maybe 10 -15% chance of this happening. My receptors were negative, and I am told this is unfavorable, don't really understand why this bad yet, back to the research.
I am slated for surgery this friday to have a sentinel node biopsy, where they will find this out. I am not buying on odds though.....this was 85% chance just to be calcium! Yet I think whatever the outcome, I will end up ok. Thank God for mammograms, this could have gotten horrible. So for now, I pray for clean nodes.......that is my focus.

I go in at 8 and have some radioactive blue stuff put in my breast...wait for a couple hours and then roll into surgery around 12 I think. I am told I will have a blue boob for awhile after, maybe even a month! hahahaha I will take a pic! I will supposedly pee blue for awhile as well. It sounded like he has done these node things for at least 7 years,,,,so this is good.

Anyway, that's it for now. I am somewhat relieved, but still have my doubts.....which is normal.
Can anyone tell me how important the receptor thing is?

Oh yeah...the margins around this area were clean...that's gotta count for something?

cruf · September 2005

Hi Wendy! Glad you caught the Cancer early! I can't tell you anything about the sentinal node biopsy as I didn't have to have it. As far as Receptors, if you are ER(estrogen)+, you would be put on some sort of medication like Tamoxifen or Femara or a few others that blocks the estrogen production. Being ER-, there is nothing for you to take.Don't worry about this at this point. Get thru the node biopsy and then see what the next plan of care will be. Good luck! I will be praying for you. Let us know how everything goes. I was also Stage 1 but I had DCIS,noninvasive cancer, therefore, I had a mastectomy and reconstruction and didn't need chemo or Radiation. HUGS!!!!!!!

epgnyc · September 2005

It sounds like your appointment went well and that you now have lots more information than you did. The sentinel node biopsy will, of course, give you the very important information about your lymph nodes. Good luck with that. My cancer was similar to yours, although mine was larger at 1.7 centimaters. I very luckily did not have any lymph node involvement, but mine was the most aggressive Grade III and I too am estrogen and progestron receptor negative. Receptor negative cancer does have a less good prognosis than receptor positive cancer. They're not exactly sure why but much of it probably has to do with the fact that we are not able to take the hormone drugs that cut down so much on future recurrence. So join the ER negative crowd. They're now doing research on therapies for our type of cancer, which is good news. Again, wishing you good luck with the node biopsy. By the way, I found it to be a really simple procedure so don't worry. Ellen

Idalia · September 2005

Dear Wendy, it sounds like you've had some good news! The only thing I can add is that I had the blue stuff injected around my lymph nodes. It showed negative, but the surgeon took the sentinel node out anyway. It was clean, but having had a node removed, you have to be careful of that side. They shouldn't use it for drawing blood or taking blood pressure. Also, the blue booby phenomon lasted me for months! The dye settled into the underside of my breast and it looked bruised, but felt fine. Just a heads up for what may happen. Glad they caught it early! Good luck.

Wendy59105 · September 2005

epgnyc said:
It sounds like your appointment went well and that you now have lots more information than you did. The sentinel node biopsy will, of course, give you the very important information about your lymph nodes. Good luck with that. My cancer was similar to yours, although mine was larger at 1.7 centimaters. I very luckily did not have any lymph node involvement, but mine was the most aggressive Grade III and I too am estrogen and progestron receptor negative. Receptor negative cancer does have a less good prognosis than receptor positive cancer. They're not exactly sure why but much of it probably has to do with the fact that we are not able to take the hormone drugs that cut down so much on future recurrence. So join the ER negative crowd. They're now doing research on therapies for our type of cancer, which is good news. Again, wishing you good luck with the node biopsy. By the way, I found it to be a really simple procedure so don't worry. Ellen

PLEASE PRAY FOR ME......i CAN NOT DO IT MYSELF YET

Wendy59105 · September 2005

epgnyc said:
It sounds like your appointment went well and that you now have lots more information than you did. The sentinel node biopsy will, of course, give you the very important information about your lymph nodes. Good luck with that. My cancer was similar to yours, although mine was larger at 1.7 centimaters. I very luckily did not have any lymph node involvement, but mine was the most aggressive Grade III and I too am estrogen and progestron receptor negative. Receptor negative cancer does have a less good prognosis than receptor positive cancer. They're not exactly sure why but much of it probably has to do with the fact that we are not able to take the hormone drugs that cut down so much on future recurrence. So join the ER negative crowd. They're now doing research on therapies for our type of cancer, which is good news. Again, wishing you good luck with the node biopsy. By the way, I found it to be a really simple procedure so don't worry. Ellen

HEY YOU

Thnks for you response....I would be nothing without my other half......and some sfriends.......love you too ya know!

Kathy1108 · September 2005

Hi Wendy
In 2003, I had the sentinel node biopsy and my surgeon took out 15 lymph nodes, 4 was positive. I had to have radiation because of that besides having chemo. I also had a mastectomy. I was progestron positive and estrogen negative. My onc doctor put me on Femara. Because of having some of my lymph nodes out I have to be very careful with that arm. I can not have blood, injection, IV and blood pressure taken from that arm ever again. I have to wear a medical alert bracelet now.

nancys · September 2005

Kathy1108 said:
Hi Wendy
In 2003, I had the sentinel node biopsy and my surgeon took out 15 lymph nodes, 4 was positive. I had to have radiation because of that besides having chemo. I also had a mastectomy. I was progestron positive and estrogen negative. My onc doctor put me on Femara. Because of having some of my lymph nodes out I have to be very careful with that arm. I can not have blood, injection, IV and blood pressure taken from that arm ever again. I have to wear a medical alert bracelet now.

Kathy 1108
Hi Kathy, Could you give me more info about the Femara you are taking? I am trying to decide whether to take it or take my chances without it. I have completed the 5 years on Tamoxifen. How long have you been taking Femara and is this the only hormone drug you have taken? Anything you can tell me will halp in my decision. Thanks and big hug, Nancy

AuthorUnknown · September 2005

Hi Wendy, I was diagnosed in May with DCIS. My tumor was 7mm, yet the receptors were positive for estrogen, progesterone and Her 2. I was also told that it was 85% benign calcifications before the needle biopsy results were in.I was told in mammography that they were 99% sure it was benign. I also had the blue dye, I did not pee blue nor did my breast turn blue.

I did 33 radiation treatments this summer and I will see my oncologist in two weeks to start aromatase inhibitors and Arimedex. I don't know if I am spelling these right. I am scared. I hate the nature of the tumor. It was aggressive even though it was very small. The did not recommend chemo for that.

Receptors??

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