what's your opinion?

n2summer
n2summer Member Posts: 17
edited August 2011 in Breast Cancer #1
Okay folks... This is the news I got:

invasive ductal carcinoma,er &pr positive, grade 1 stage 1.. less than 5mm..

I am scheduled for breast MRI next week, assuming that this is clear doctor says lumpectomy with radiation would be appropriate. She said that I had one of the best scenarios she has seen in a long time. She said they would also remove and test a lymph node while in surgery but she really didn't think anything was there.

She said this cancer was not aggressive and it would have probably taking another 3 years for me to feel it.

As silly as it sounds I almost feel like I have won the lottery. I really like this doctor she was very informative and had a great disposition.

Never been through anything like this before...what are your thoughts? Thanks so much

Comments

  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
    #2
    If you have to have breast cancer...
    ...so far, your diagnosis sounds really positive.

    ER+/PR+ is good, because it means you can take one of the estrogen blockers for 5 years after treatment, to help prevent recurrence. Grade 1 is the lowest grade you can have. Stage 1 is *almost* the lowest stage you can have. Anything measured in "mm" is WAY tiny for a breast tumor.

    The lymph node procedure during surgery is called a sentinel node biopsy, which is pretty standard now, and a great improvement over the old surgical procedures, where they had to remove lots of lymph nodes.

    I was diagnosed in 2009 with tiny (2 mm) ER+/PR+ tumors in both breasts -- also way too tiny for anyone to feel (and plenty of medical professionals tried!). Mine were found on my very first mammogram, at 40.

    I had bilateral lumpectomies and sentinel node biopsies. My nodes were all negative. I know what you mean about feeling like you've won the lottery -- I've always said, for myself, if I had to get breast cancer, so far, it looks like I "chose" a "good" one! I think it's only human to look for the positive wherever we can.

    Traci
  • Sunrae
    Sunrae Member Posts: 808
    #3
    Sounds like your dr is on
    Sounds like your dr is on top of this and knows what treatment is appropriate for you. Sorry you have bc but glad to hear its not aggressive. I had IDC,3 tumors, Stage 3 A and had to have a masectomy, chemo and rads. Your cancer has been caught early and thats a good thing. How was it found, by mammo?
    Wishing the best for you and hope you keep us informed on how you're doing.
  • n2summer
    n2summer Member Posts: 17
    #4
    Sunrae said:

    Sounds like your dr is on
    Sounds like your dr is on top of this and knows what treatment is appropriate for you. Sorry you have bc but glad to hear its not aggressive. I had IDC,3 tumors, Stage 3 A and had to have a masectomy, chemo and rads. Your cancer has been caught early and thats a good thing. How was it found, by mammo?
    Wishing the best for you and hope you keep us informed on how you're doing.

    Yes by routine Mammogram. I
    Yes by routine Mammogram. I am so glad to have found this site.. those words it's cancer were the worst and thank god there was someone here to talk to while I waited. As long as my MRI is clear surgery is Aug 25.
    God Bless,
    Janet
  • n2summer
    n2summer Member Posts: 17
    #5
    Sunrae said:

    Sounds like your dr is on
    Sounds like your dr is on top of this and knows what treatment is appropriate for you. Sorry you have bc but glad to hear its not aggressive. I had IDC,3 tumors, Stage 3 A and had to have a masectomy, chemo and rads. Your cancer has been caught early and thats a good thing. How was it found, by mammo?
    Wishing the best for you and hope you keep us informed on how you're doing.

    Yes by routine Mammogram. I
    Yes by routine Mammogram. I am so glad to have found this site.. those words it's cancer were the worst and thank god there was someone here to talk to while I waited. As long as my MRI is clear surgery is Aug 25.
    God Bless,
    Janet
  • phoenixrising
    phoenixrising Member Posts: 1,508
    #6
    I'm so glad your cancer was
    I'm so glad your cancer was caught early. That is really positive news. I was wondering if they were going to do an oncotype dx test on your tumour to determine your recurrence score. Best of luck to you..
    jan
  • epark
    epark Member Posts: 339
    #7
    phoenixrising said:

    I'm so glad your cancer was
    I'm so glad your cancer was caught early. That is really positive news. I was wondering if they were going to do an oncotype dx test on your tumour to determine your recurrence score. Best of luck to you..
    jan

    Wow thats awesome....
    I must say if I had a choice of breast cancer yours will be it...you are blessed my pink sister....take care and god blessed
  • butterflylvr
    butterflylvr Member Posts: 944
    #8
    epark said:

    Wow thats awesome....
    I must say if I had a choice of breast cancer yours will be it...you are blessed my pink sister....take care and god blessed

    Wohoo...
    *\0/* See you have a cheering section already *\0/*

    Keep up up to date on your journey,
    Lorrie
  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    #9
    butterflylvr said:

    Wohoo...
    *\0/* See you have a cheering section already *\0/*

    Keep up up to date on your journey,
    Lorrie

    This is why we have Mammograms
    I understand how you feel about having won the lottery. My dx was pretty close to yours and I felt much the same way and will never stop telling women to keep having those "routine" mammograms even though they've always been just fine. I do hope you'll have an oncotype test, tho. My surgeon told me I'd likely be "offered" chemo when I saw the medical oncologist. I don't know what I would have done if I had to choose whether to have chemo or not. The oncotype test made the decision for me - I had a high score in spite of a small, early stage tumor. I, too, had been told early on that I'd probably "just" need a lumpectomy and radiation. I think the oncotype test is very important. My tumor was grade 2, not 1, but also not 3. I felt I was in no man's land without this information.

    And for you new members, I'll get back on my soapbox and also remind you to have routine pap smears - even though they've always been fine. Last year I went for my well woman exam, had pap and mammogram and ended up with 2 diagnoses - endometrial cancer and breast cancer. I was very fortunate there, too. My pap smear showed some endometrial cells (normal, but they aren't supposed to be there in postmenopausal women) which prompted further investigation (ultrasound and biopsy). This cancer was also early stage, low grade. Talk about the lottery! I was overdue for that exam by about a year and had been putting it off for no particular reason except everything had been fine for 62 years and I had no symptoms.

    There's a reason we have these routine tests. They can often save lives when they catch cancer in its early stages.

    You are definitely a lucky woman having caught this so early. Wishing you every success with your surgery and radiation. Keep coming back here as needed - and to let us know how you're doing.

    Suzanne
  • n2summer
    n2summer Member Posts: 17
    #10
    Double Whammy said:

    This is why we have Mammograms
    I understand how you feel about having won the lottery. My dx was pretty close to yours and I felt much the same way and will never stop telling women to keep having those "routine" mammograms even though they've always been just fine. I do hope you'll have an oncotype test, tho. My surgeon told me I'd likely be "offered" chemo when I saw the medical oncologist. I don't know what I would have done if I had to choose whether to have chemo or not. The oncotype test made the decision for me - I had a high score in spite of a small, early stage tumor. I, too, had been told early on that I'd probably "just" need a lumpectomy and radiation. I think the oncotype test is very important. My tumor was grade 2, not 1, but also not 3. I felt I was in no man's land without this information.

    And for you new members, I'll get back on my soapbox and also remind you to have routine pap smears - even though they've always been fine. Last year I went for my well woman exam, had pap and mammogram and ended up with 2 diagnoses - endometrial cancer and breast cancer. I was very fortunate there, too. My pap smear showed some endometrial cells (normal, but they aren't supposed to be there in postmenopausal women) which prompted further investigation (ultrasound and biopsy). This cancer was also early stage, low grade. Talk about the lottery! I was overdue for that exam by about a year and had been putting it off for no particular reason except everything had been fine for 62 years and I had no symptoms.

    There's a reason we have these routine tests. They can often save lives when they catch cancer in its early stages.

    You are definitely a lucky woman having caught this so early. Wishing you every success with your surgery and radiation. Keep coming back here as needed - and to let us know how you're doing.

    Suzanne

    Suzanne
    Good Morning,
    When do they perform the oncotype test. I am having the breast biopsy on Monday. I am going to ask the surgeon about this test and a I also have read that women with implants (which I have) tend to have trouble 3 years later with hardening of the capsule causing severe pain requiri more surgery. It said that implant patients do better with partial breast radiation however because I am 41 the doctor said I don't qualify for this type. She said my name would go in a pool with other patients this age and so many names are picked out of this. Hopefully my name gets picked otherwise its 6 weeks of radiation.

    Thanks
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #11
    I too had about the same as
    I too had about the same as you 3 yrs ago..and I TOO THOUGHT I was lucky to catch it as early as we did (From routine mammo) I try to look at it could be worse! I had days of crying dont' get me wrong..but I tried to think how happy I was that i never missed a dr appt, mammo, blood work...i try to get others who put it off to GOOOOOOOOO

    KEEP thinking good thoughts and i suggest diary..i thought kind of goofy at the start but in hind sight great help

    Denise

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