Recent findings called "Infiltration Ductal Carcinoma ,Nottingham Score 2/3"

doodle bug
doodle bug Member Posts: 3
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Recent findings called "Infiltration Ductal Carcinoma ,Nottingham Score 2/3"
This is my first time on and what I said in the subject line is something that was explained but am still trying to get a grip on it. I have seen two surgeons, one a general and now with this one who specializes in breast cancer and I plan to stay with her. She was great and spent time with me unlike the general who was in and out and gave me two options, one being to have a lumpectomy with radiation or the other do a mastectomy, period that was it...one or the other......I have a ton of questions and I'm still trying to find my footing. I am scheduled to have a lumpectomy on Monday. I have been online doing research on differant options for treatment after surgery and haven't found much on alternative treatment. Is anyone doing something that's differant then what's called for other then the triditional method? Like, is there anyone who has refused radiation treatment or knows what the likely hood of it returning if radiation isn't used? Has anyone use the "Brachytherapy"? I have an appointment with an Oncloigist tomorrow and I still don't have all the questions I should be asking him. I guess what I'm saying is I just haven't gotten a grip.. Any help would be greatly appreciated................

Comments

  • Butterfly12
    Butterfly12 Member Posts: 56
    #2
    Almost the same
    Hello. That was my exact pathology report. I am scheduled to have a mastectomy on June 11 with a back flap reconstruction with an expander. After that I am going to have chemo. Sorry mine is not different than the norm. I hope you find peace with your decision whatever it may be.

    Sherry
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #3
    I also had IDCS and had a
    I also had IDCS and had a lumpectomy, followed by radiation treatments. My tumor was very small, so, I did not need chemo. I never considered turning down radiation as I knew it would kill any stray cancer cells that might still be lurking around, and, I wasn't willing to risk the cancer cells moving elsewhere and hiding and showing up somewhere else someday. I have no idea if cancer returns after radiation. I, personally, have never heard of it returning to someone that had it in that location. Not sure if this helps you or not.
  • EveningStar2
    EveningStar2 Member Posts: 491 Member
    #4
    therapy
    Hi! Each of us has a different path. I had DCIS resulting in a lumpectomy and radiation. I was interested in brachytherapy but my lesion was too close to the skin and my surgeon said I was not a candidate. I thought about skipping the traditional radiation but my husband about had a fit so I had 33 treatments. Now on tamoxifen and doing fine. I had a breast surgeon also and we discussed what would happen should she find things different than expected during the surgery. I trusted her judgement but thankfully it went as expected.

    Maureen
  • doodle bug
    doodle bug Member Posts: 3
    #5
    Butterfly12 said:

    Almost the same
    Hello. That was my exact pathology report. I am scheduled to have a mastectomy on June 11 with a back flap reconstruction with an expander. After that I am going to have chemo. Sorry mine is not different than the norm. I hope you find peace with your decision whatever it may be.

    Sherry

    Butterfly12
    What is a Back
    Butterfly12
    What is a Back Flap and an espander?
    Judy
  • Butterfly12
    Butterfly12 Member Posts: 56
    #6
    doodle bug said:

    Butterfly12
    What is a Back
    Butterfly12
    What is a Back Flap and an espander?
    Judy

    Flap
    The medical term for it is Latissimus Dorsi. It is where they make and incision in your back, beneath the shoulder blade and take that piece of muscle and skin that covers it and move it to the site of the mastectomy through a tunnel created under the skin. Then they put the temporary expander in there. Each week I will have to go to the surgeons office for injections into the expander so that it stretchs my skin for the permanent implant.
  • mimivac
    mimivac Member Posts: 2,143 Member
    #7
    Hi Doodle bug,
    I know things are confusing right now. I'm glad you have a breast surgeon and are sceduled for your surgery soon. I can't speak to alternative methods, since I had surgery, chemo, and am now doing radiation. I had a similar diagnosis, except that mine was Nottingham score 3 plus. Being that aggressive, I wasn't comfortable with doing anything less than the most aggressive medical treatment. But I do believe in complementary medicine and am now exploring nutirition, exercise, yoga, meditation, massage and the like. Though I wouldn't do those things on their own, without the traditional medical procedures. Sorry I can't offer much help. Don't worry, you will get a grip. It just takes time. Good luck with your decision.

    Mimi
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #8
    Hey doodle bug. I love that
    Hey doodle bug. I love that name. lol I also had infiltrating ductal cancer and had a lumpectomy and am currently in radiation. I was very happy to not have to have a mastectomy as my breasts are important to me and I didn't want to lose them. Your oncologist is the best one to answer our questions. So, write them all down and take someone with you to help to listen. This is hard, just try to relax.
  • doodle bug
    doodle bug Member Posts: 3
    #9
    Kylez said:

    Hey doodle bug. I love that
    Hey doodle bug. I love that name. lol I also had infiltrating ductal cancer and had a lumpectomy and am currently in radiation. I was very happy to not have to have a mastectomy as my breasts are important to me and I didn't want to lose them. Your oncologist is the best one to answer our questions. So, write them all down and take someone with you to help to listen. This is hard, just try to relax.

    Kylez
    Thanks so much for
    Kylez
    Thanks so much for your message. Are you doing the Brachytherapy for radiation? It's good to hear from someone who is only a step ahead of me? I see the oncologist tomorrow just to see what options are available and I'm sure I'll have a lot to ask. Hopefully I will be able to do Brachytherapy. Not sure when I will know if that's an option. Good luck to you and hope all turns out well...............Judy
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    #10
    Hi, doodle bug
    At tomorrow's appointment with your oncologist, I'm sure he/she will provide you with much information. Since your visit is pre-surgery, it's probably a consultation/preliminary appointment. Because the post-surgery final pathology results will be the true determination of your treatments to follow. It is then that your onc should be able to provide you with risk levels without and with his/her recommended treatment(s). For example, for me: after lumpectomy surgery, my risk of recurrence was 60% and within three - not five - years. Chemo reduced that risk in half, to 30%. Radiation further reduced my risk by 10%, down to 20%. I, personally, have never met anyone who refused radiation.

    Brachytherapy is somewhat "new" - not yet widely available, nor is every BC patient a candidate for it.

    Best wishes to you.

    Kind regards, Susan

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