Just diagnosed but after chat with radiologist feeling hopeful.

By worldwatcher Monday, June 14, 2010

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I am a seventy-year old widow, living alone but near two of my daughters in Arizona.

I found a lump in my right breast the first of June, immediately went for a diagnostic mammogram and received a form letter that I needed "more tests"...just the box checked, that's all.

I then found another radiologist in a local Breast Cancer Center and had the ultrasound done on June 4. There was a definite need for a biopsy shown on the ultrasound, which I had a week ago today.

The radiologist saw no sign of node involvement in the ultrasound, and the initial result of the biopsy was a 1.4 cm "infiltrating ductal" tumor. I then had to wait until the radiologist returned to work today to find out the nitty-gritty details on the tumor, such as....it is positive estrogen, positive progesterone, and just under the wire on the HER-2 at 2.7.

I am grateful that I found this website, as I could do my research and then ask relevant questions when I chatted today with the radiologist. She is quite upbeat regarding my condition, and feels if a lumpectomy shows no lymph node involvement, I may get by with the 2X day course of radiation and then the Arimidex treatment. Her mother is an eleven-year survivor after mastectomy, radiation and tamoxifen.

Of course I still have to see the surgeon and get her input and go through the surgery, but I am hopeful that I can avoid chemo as I have a history of many side effects to drugs.

I have received much info and hopefulness from those of you on this site. Thank you.

Gina

Requested copy of pathology report, got an abbreviated one today.

Comments (11) | Add comment

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

6/14/10 10:46pm

What an upbeat letter! The wisdom of age, right? With no node involvement, you should be able to avoid chemo. They may try to talk you into it, as a "just in case" measure; please read what I think about "just in case" chemo. Hoping everything goes smoothly for you. And please stay in touch here, OK? We can help. PJH

worldwatcher

6/15/10 7:11pm

Thanks for the reply. I certainly will keep in touch and read the shared posts as well as the informative articles. Thank you for the warm welcome.

Phyllis Johnson, Health Guide

6/15/10 8:23am

I'm glad you are getting such a positive report from your doctors. As you talk about treatment plans with them ask about whether this research study just presented at this year's American Society of Clinic Oncology meeting applies to you. The basic idea of the study was that women over 70 with ER positive tumors were treated either with radiation and Tamoxifen or just Tamoxifen. Both groups had a similar ten-year survival rate. There may be features of your cancer which don't fit the study participants, but it is worth asking about. I'm sending cyberhugs and best wishes.

worldwatcher

6/15/10 7:32pm

Thanks for the info and the hugs !

I am going to be seeking information on how to avoid the drugs if possible, and learn if radiation alone will be effective in my case. The problem is that I have had side effects with other drugs that mimic the ones that are listed for the Tamoxifen. I possibly have some conditions that may limit my candidacy for the drugs.

I will have to learn what I may be able to discover about how the effects of the cancer progress with minimal treatment. At my age, quality of life is winning over quanity of months/years gained.

This is the beginning of my journey and I will rely on knowledgeable comments here along with information from my doctors. My primary physician, radiologist and surgeon are all women..it just kinda worked out that way. I see my surgeon who is recommended by both the others, for the first time on June 22.

Thanks to all for your support.

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

6/16/10 4:14am

Gina, they'll no doubt recommend an aromatase inhibitor for you (Arimidex, et. al.); rather than tamoxifen. Ask what your chance of recurrence is without an AI or other hormone drug, vs. with; this will be valuable informaiton as you decide whether or not to take any drugs, post-radiation. As you say, quality of life is a huge consideration. While some women have minimal side effects with an AI, some have major, and you never know which group you'll fall into... Best of luck with your upcoming round of appointments, and here's hoping your nodes aren't affected, so you won't even need to consider chemo. Thans for connecting here- PJH

worldwatcher

7/ 2/10 7:01pm

PJ,

I have a lump scheduled for July 16 with SNB.

I finally got copies of the path reports. No "unfavorables" and the only "equivocal" was the HER2neu.

14mm mass at 9 O'clock.

ER 27%, PR 66%, Ki-67 8% and HER2 2.7, FISH is positive.

I spoke to one of the pathologists and he seemed to believe I would qualify for Herceptin treatment.

Of course, everything hinges on the findings from the surgery.

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

7/ 2/10 7:13pm

Gina, it does indeed sound like you're in line for Herceptin. Although your treatment plan really can't be finalized till afer the surgery and SNB, and final pathology report, things are looking good so far, eh? Thanks for the update - I hope your surgery goes well. PJH

worldwatcher

7/ 2/10 7:21pm

Thanks PJ. What can you tell me about the Ki-67? I see conflicting reports on its importance in different articles. It appears to somewhat indicate a low score indicates a slower growth factor...correct?

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

7/ 2/10 8:12pm

Yes, a low KI score indicates lack of aggressiveness - and yours is EXTREMELY low - congratulations! Sounds funny to say congrats about anything to do with cancer, but there you are... it's a good thing. Be well - PJH

worldwatcher

7/ 2/10 9:25pm

Thanks a lot PJ for the encouragement and information.......I know there is still a long way to go.

I discovered that one version of the "blue dye" used to delineate the lymph nodes can cause anaphylactic shock in those who are allergic to sulfa, and I am highly allergic to it. I have had to learn to dig deep into new drug facts because sulfa is used in compounding a lot of different ones.

http://www.anesthesia-analgesia.org/content/95/2/385.full

I don't know if this has been discussed here, but it might be wise to alert the surgeon and the anethesist to this if you have a sulfa allergy.

..another version of the dye can cause "a rare case of skin and fat necrosis followed by a dry gangrene of the skin" http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1308848/

There are always risks to any procedure it seems.

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

7/ 2/10 10:02pm

You're right - it's always a good idea to alert (and then remind) doctors, nurses, and surgeons to any allergies you have. At the hospital I was at, they had allergies written in dark magic marker, large letters, right over my bed. And the night nurse STILL tried to give me something I was allergic to - you really do have to self-advocate. As for the necrosis risk - as you say, there's a risk to everything. Even getting out of bed. I find it best not to "sweat the small stuff" - tiny risks don't interest me, and I don't waste time on them. I'd rather live my life with hope and trust, than with fear and stress. Thanks for checking in here- PJH

Just diagnosed but after chat with radiologist feeling hopeful.

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