Ductal Cancer

They were not able to tell me the Stage of my IDC until after my surgery back in 2002.   Had a lumpectomy then chemo and radiation.......most of my details can be found on my Home Page.

My Surgeon told me that if it was only one tumor...and if it was under a certain size that the statistics were showing that the survival rates were the same with lupectomy vs masdectomy overall.    I was a Widow so my choice was not because of cosmetics..........but simply because of his recommendation looking at the statistics.  Went into it hoping that it would be only lumpectomy and then radiation.........but it had spread to the lymph nodes so had to do the chemo.  Early in the process I decided I COULD NOT live in FEAR.........so I let it go and took it all one step at a time and so far I think that God has given me a Miracle.   However...I still worry and still pray it won't show up some other location.

You are in the right place for sharing and caring and learning...........we all understand.

tconder said:

Invasive ductal carcinoma

Thank you- what seems easiest at this point is to have the mastectomy with reconstruction, no chemo required with this, just to have the fear reduced. I love your attitude, however, of not living in fear, I think we have to put this in God's hands and know that our decisions have to be made with prayer. 

I didn't do reconstruction, but did have to do chemo since my cancer was stage 3 on one side, and stage 0 on the other.  I had a bilateral, and I honest thought surgery was easier than chemo.  Chemo is very doable, though.  I did have some side effects, mostly low blood counts and extreme fatigue.  I also have some neurapathy.  But the nausea and throwing up my toenails, which I most scared of, never happened.  At most I had very mild queeziness which was easily taken care of with the meds I was given.

desertgirl947 said:

I did not want to keep being

I did not want to keep being on edge about things and so I went for a double mastectomy. The lesser problem was just brewing.  I had to do chemo and rads because of the problems on the left. I am now on tamoxifen.

I chose no reconstruction for a variety of reasons.  

Invasive Ductal Carcinoma - Stage 3 w nodes - 8 rounds of chemo first - bi-lateral mastectomy followed by 34 rounds of radiation.   I had expanders placed at the time of surgery and a year later had my implants placed

I am facing the same decision... I have a consultation with a breast surgeon tomorrow.  This is my 2nd cancer in 3 years (my first was signet ring of the colon/appendix - a high grade tumor - stage IIIB)  ...I really am leaning towards a BMX.  I don't want to have to walk around wondering if both cancers might come back.  I will see what she says - but I have heard that ultimately it is up to the patient to decide.

I have had the genetic testing - and it was negative.  I have a consultation with a breast surgeon on Tuesday followed by an MRI on Thursday.

Alex

I too was faced with this question in January of this year. I had to think about the emotional fact of looking down and nothing there.  I decided to do the partial and had to have my nipple reconstruction because of where the tumor was. I had my surgery on January 23rd of this year, was very blessed with a well behaved cancer so I only had to do radiation therapy 30 of those.  I will have my first mammogram since surgery in august and kinda nervous about that which I'm sure everyone is at that point.  I am taking letrozole for the next 5 years and my hot flashes are terrible. Stay positive , pray and let God help you.

Missy love