Sister in law just diagnosed

Daddysgirl25
Daddysgirl25 Member Posts: 29
in Breast Cancer #1

Hello ladies,

my sister in law (41 yrs old) had a biopsy last week that unfortunately came back as breast cancer. They said Most likely stage 1 as tumor is only 1.6 inches(does this sound right?) she had an MRI on Tuesday and is getting results tomorrow morn at 10:00. Then at 12:00 shes meeting with an oncologist. She is scheduled to have a lumpectomy on October 3rd as long as results tomorrow are what the doctor suspects to be as stage 1. Are there any specific questions she should ask the oncologist tomorrow? We just want to make sure we are prepared. Thank you so much for any advice/suggestions.  sorry that anyone is on this board. I was on the prostate cancer board 2 years ago for my dad. The support and information I received there  was amazing. So when she was diagnosed I knew exactly where To come... 

Thank you in advance!

christine

Comments

  • KeriCon
    KeriCon Member Posts: 17
    #2
    questions to ask

    Hi Christine,

    I am sorry to hear about your sister in law.  I was diagnosed last year on 9/26 and had a lumpectomy on 10/23, and I am doing fine today (if that makes you feel any better).  I found my original list of questions I brought to my doctor after I was first diagnosed.  Here are a few questions I had:

    What type of breast cancer do I have?

    Has it spread to my lymoh nodes?

    What is the stage of cancer and how does that affect my treatment options?

    What about genetic testing?

    What treatments are avaialable to me? What do you recommend and why? What are side effects, risks, benefits of each treatment option?

    How long will treatment last? What will it involve? Where will it be done? 

    What should I do to prepare for treatment?

    Discuss cancer recurrence.

     

    Sending you good thoughts for your sister.

     

    Keri

     

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #3
    What type BC? So multi-faceted!

    BC 'comes' in so so many DIFFERENT types (DCIS/IDC/DLIS/ILC/IBC) with very different treatment and prognosis!  There is also Stage. Grade, ER/PR/HER2 status that come into 'play'.  ER/PR and HER2 status? There is also family history and environmental/work issues.

    Check in to the places in the INFO sites here as there is a very extensive list of questions to ask there. 

    (Biopsies/medical tests usually do not use 'inches'.  Usually cm or mm are used and 'they' are much 'smaller' than 'inches'  )

    What about neoadjuvant chemo (chemo before surgery)?  Radiation?

    WInyan - The Power Within

    Susan

    edited to add:  Ask for a referral to see a CERTIFIED LymphEdema Therapist now.  It is one of the nasty side effects of breast surgery that is often overlooked.

  • Daddysgirl25
    Daddysgirl25 Member Posts: 29
    #4
    Rague said:

    What type BC? So multi-faceted!

    BC 'comes' in so so many DIFFERENT types (DCIS/IDC/DLIS/ILC/IBC) with very different treatment and prognosis!  There is also Stage. Grade, ER/PR/HER2 status that come into 'play'.  ER/PR and HER2 status? There is also family history and environmental/work issues.

    Check in to the places in the INFO sites here as there is a very extensive list of questions to ask there. 

    (Biopsies/medical tests usually do not use 'inches'.  Usually cm or mm are used and 'they' are much 'smaller' than 'inches'  )

    What about neoadjuvant chemo (chemo before surgery)?  Radiation?

    WInyan - The Power Within

    Susan

    edited to add:  Ask for a referral to see a CERTIFIED LymphEdema Therapist now.  It is one of the nasty side effects of breast surgery that is often overlooked.

    Keri-
    Thank you so much for

    Keri-

    Thank you so much for your questions. They definitely helped when my sister in law was talking to the oncologist. She received a lot of information yesterday.

    susan-

    Thank you for your post. when I first read your post I was shocked at how Many different kinds of BC there are. I had no idea. After reading my sister in laws path report I now have answers to those questions. I'm going to start a new thread with all of her information.

    thank you both so much!!

    christine

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #5
    Daddysgirl25 said:

    Keri-
    Thank you so much for

    Keri-

    Thank you so much for your questions. They definitely helped when my sister in law was talking to the oncologist. She received a lot of information yesterday.

    susan-

    Thank you for your post. when I first read your post I was shocked at how Many different kinds of BC there are. I had no idea. After reading my sister in laws path report I now have answers to those questions. I'm going to start a new thread with all of her information.

    thank you both so much!!

    christine

    You are not alone!

    It is amazing to me how so many think that "Breast Cancer is Breast Cancer".  So Wrong!  It's not just the TYPE but also the other 'things' that go with the DX - Stage/Grade/ER/PR/HER2/genetic/overall health/etc.- that all come into play.

    DCIS, IDC, DLIS, ILC and IBC are only the most 'common' forms of BC.  There are many more that are VERY rare.  Of the ones listed, IBC  is the 'rarest' (only between 1% and 5% are IBC.  It is the most aggresssive form with only about 25% of us making it to 5 yrs post DX. (I'm one of those fortunate ones [knock on wood - my head] that will probably make it to 5 yrs - at this time I am still NED and only  have 10 months to 'hit' my 5 yrs.)     

    Winyan - The Power Within

    Susan

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