Saw the surgeon yesterday and got new path informatiom, Can some one help me out I'm still confused

aurora2009
aurora2009 Member Posts: 544 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi everyone. Okay I went to the surgeon yesterday and she spent 3 hours with me, it was great over all. She made me feel like she was there only for me. We talked alot and thanks to all the advice I got here, I had alot of answers from her. Apparently finding the lump myself was a big plus, she said that it was small enough to be missed with a routine mammo. The size is about 1.5cm or 9mm. All good news (I guess).
She said that I had invasive and in situ ductal carcinoma, And that she would be recommending an MRI and a Lumpectomy to be done in the next 10 days. She also mewntioned removing at least one, and up to ten lymph nods, depending on what she found on in the first one. After that she said I would see and oncologist to start my chemo and radiation.
She didn't have the complete pathology report and said that she would let me know in the next few days, so we didn't really get to talk about the ER/PR and HER2 stuff, meanwhile the original doctor just called with more path info.
I am ER/PR negetive and HER2 positive as well as FISH positive, the surgeon kinda said what we wanted and now I don't remember. I kinda expected to get this info from her and be able to ask question as needed.

So I need your help out there !!!!!!!!!!!! Is this good or Bad ????????
Thanks
Aurora

Comments

  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #2
    Hi Aurora. I am ER and PR
    Hi Aurora. I am ER and PR positive which means I am suppose to take hormone therapy, like tamox or the a's for 5 years. I am also HER2 negative which means my cancer is not aggressive. If you are HER2 positive, I think that means your cancer is aggressive and they put you on Herceptin or something like that for years. Others here can explain it better. Good to see everything is moving along for you! Good luck!
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    #3
    Aurora, I have the same dx
    Aurora, I have the same dx as you except I am er/pr Positive and I won't find out till friday on fish. Your surgeon is doing and has done the same as my surgeon, pretty much in the same order. Good / bad I have no clue. Its cancer so to me its bad. There is meds for all this. I am sure one of the sisters will chime in and explain more.
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    #4
    Kat11 said:

    Aurora, I have the same dx
    Aurora, I have the same dx as you except I am er/pr Positive and I won't find out till friday on fish. Your surgeon is doing and has done the same as my surgeon, pretty much in the same order. Good / bad I have no clue. Its cancer so to me its bad. There is meds for all this. I am sure one of the sisters will chime in and explain more.

    Aurora, Go to the thread
    Aurora, Go to the thread" her2 or what are you" and read tommanseena post. It will explain everything.
  • confused123
    confused123 Member Posts: 251
    #5
    Kat11 said:

    Aurora, I have the same dx
    Aurora, I have the same dx as you except I am er/pr Positive and I won't find out till friday on fish. Your surgeon is doing and has done the same as my surgeon, pretty much in the same order. Good / bad I have no clue. Its cancer so to me its bad. There is meds for all this. I am sure one of the sisters will chime in and explain more.

    I have no idea what the fish
    I have no idea what the fish thing is but I am her2 positive. I had am on Herceptin becaus of it. From what I understand it means the hormones made the cancer grow and it attacks the hormone receptor sites so they can't grow and divide. It is typically given every three weeks and does not have side effects. I have taken the Herceptin but with Taxol so I had side effects from that. Haven't had it on it's own yet.
    Kim
  • tgf
    tgf Member Posts: 950 Member
    #6
    confused123 said:

    I have no idea what the fish
    I have no idea what the fish thing is but I am her2 positive. I had am on Herceptin becaus of it. From what I understand it means the hormones made the cancer grow and it attacks the hormone receptor sites so they can't grow and divide. It is typically given every three weeks and does not have side effects. I have taken the Herceptin but with Taxol so I had side effects from that. Haven't had it on it's own yet.
    Kim

    Pretty much the same
    Aurora ... your diagnosis sounds pretty much the same as mine ... even the size... except mine was found on the mammogram. I had a lumpectomy 1/21 ... followed by 12 weekly infusions of taxol and herceptin. Compared to what others on this site have been through ... my chemo was a breeze. Absolutely NO nausea ... and what side-effects I did have were totally manageable. I've finished the 12 weekly infusions ... and am now on just herceptin once every 3 weeks through next March. I also start daily radiation next Tuesday and from what I read on this site it should be fine ... other than some redness and fatigue.

    I do have one "little" suggestion ... that if you are going to have chemo for any length of time ... you might ask your surgeon if they could "install" a port the same time they do the lumpectomy. When I had the lumpectomy they didn't think I'd need chemo ... so I just had the lumpectomy (and a few lymph nodes ... which were negative). When I found out I needed chemo I got on this discussion board asap and asked about a port... and I'm so glad I did. I am the biggest chicken around and the thought of chemo terrified me. I couldn't imagine myself being poked and prodded and stuck with needles. I didn't think I could do it. Then women on this board talked about their ports. After some research I decided that's what I would do and I am so glad I did. It was another surgery ... for the surgeon to install the port. I understand that some surgeons will install the port at the same time as the lumpectomy if it's already determined that chemo will be given.

    Some folks on this site also told me about EMLA cream. You blob it on the port site an hour before your infusion and by the time you get to your appointment the spot area is numb and you honestly do not feel the needle go it. I swear I couldn't have done the chemo without the port ... since I'm such a weenie.

    Anyway ... good luck and let us know how things are going.

    hugs.
    teena
  • CR1954
    CR1954 Member Posts: 1,390 Member
    #7
    I am.......
    ER/PR negative. I am HER-2 positive, as you are. I would guess that after chemo (assuming you have chemo) that you will be started on Herceptin. I have Herceptin infusions every 3 weeks for a year, and I think that is pretty much the standard treatment now for HER-2+,

    CR
  • cats_toy
    cats_toy Member Posts: 1,462 Member
    #8
    diagnosis
    strange, after reading all the posts I realize I never looked at my path reports, I know they gave me some info, but after two years, I guess I've forgotten. I know we can take some drugs (I take Arimidex) if we are HER2 positive or negative. I suppose I should go look at all my reports, I did make sure I got copies of everything, put them in a 3 ring binder, and keep them up to date every time I go see another doc for something.
    Is it strange that I haven't checked?
    =^..^=
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    #9
    cats_toy said:

    diagnosis
    strange, after reading all the posts I realize I never looked at my path reports, I know they gave me some info, but after two years, I guess I've forgotten. I know we can take some drugs (I take Arimidex) if we are HER2 positive or negative. I suppose I should go look at all my reports, I did make sure I got copies of everything, put them in a 3 ring binder, and keep them up to date every time I go see another doc for something.
    Is it strange that I haven't checked?
    =^..^=

    No...
    Not strange. Same for me. So, I guess that's why I don't think it's strange.

    Of course, maybe we're both strange? :-)

    Kind regards, Susan
  • tommaseena
    tommaseena Member Posts: 1,769
    #10
    Christmas Girl said:

    No...
    Not strange. Same for me. So, I guess that's why I don't think it's strange.

    Of course, maybe we're both strange? :-)

    Kind regards, Susan

    I am also PR/ES negative HER2+
    I am also PR/ES negative and HER2+.
    I had 4 rounds of A/C and have gone through 7 of 12 Taxol w/Herceptin and will start Herceptin alone in August every three weeks for one year.

    Defiantly ask for a port especially if you are having many rounds of chemo and Herceptin it will save your veins. I hate needle too so when I go for my treatment they use a freeze spray and I don't really feel anything-a little sting like alcohol is still on the skin but only lasts a few seconds. Better than feeling the needle going in.

    Good thing about having a port they stick you once that day and can get your blood draws from that. Some people especially women get a taste or smell when they flush the port so what I do is have peppermint candies in my mouth before they flush the port before and after the chemo so I don't get that taste/smell.

    Good luck.
    Margo

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