Sign in

or Register now

MyBreastCancerNetwork.com

See all of our health sites at www.HealthCentral.com
Sunday, November, 22, 2009
  • Font size
Featured ContentPJ Hamel On NPR!

treatment recommendations for IDC Grade I

LaurieD
06/21/08
LaurieD
Topics:Breast Cancer

Hello,

I have been diagnosed with IDC Grade I tumors (3) that are .5cm.  There is micrometastasis (1.5mm) to one lymph node.  Currently, I am undergoing 8 rounds of chemotherapy (4 rounds of Adriamycin and Cytoxan and 4 rounds of Taxotere).  I have not had surgery yet.  I am so confused about whether since my tumor is "less aggressive" and the lymph node involvement is so small, do I REALLY need to be so aggressive with the treatments?  Do I REALLY NEED radiation or only if the there are more lymph nodes positive?  I am so confused and my doctors don't give me straight answers.  It seems to be the opinion of my surgeon that I need a lumpectomy and radiation, but I am not sure and there is no one to talk to!  I know it is a personal decision, but I don't feel like I have all of the facts about my risks.  I don't want a recurrence, but I don't want to be overly aggressive unnecessarily either.  Is there some formula I can follow?  Is radiation recommended only for a certain number of positive lymph nodes? 

 

Sorry this is so long.  I am very confused even after consulting two doctors . . . especially after consulting two doctors with very different answers! 

Thanks for any advice you can give.

Answer This
Answers (3)
PJ Hamel
PJ Hamel
Close
PJ Hamel is happy to be alive. As always.
Author, breast cancer survivor

Writer, mother, wife, volunteer, and survivor: PJ Hamel joins the...

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Hi Laurie: Whew, it IS confusing, isn't it? Lots of us feel just like you just after diagnosis, as we're asked to make all kinds of decisions, yet don't feel we have the information we need — AND we get conflicting opinions from our medical team! Take a look at our IDC FAQS for a good summary of all kinds of information about IDC.

 

Since you're already doing chemo, you're going through the most aggressive, roughest part of treatment right now. So you'll have that out of the way. Next, it sounds like a lumpectomy. If they can get clean margins (i.e., they feel they've gotten all of those three tumors out, with no cancer cells left around the edges of the incision), then the usual treatment would be radiation to your breast, to make sure any other "wandering" cancer cells are taken care of. This is absolutely the gold standard of treatment: lumpectomy + radiation. They go hand in hand.

 

If they can't get clean margins, you'll have to have a mastectomy; and then you most likely wouldn't need radiation.

 

Unless the cancer has spread out of your lymph node into the surrounding tissue, they wouldn't need to give radiation to your lymph nodes; they simply will remove the one node with cancer, and probably sample a few others up the line. If they all come out clear (which they probably will, given the tiny amount of cancer in that one node), then nothing more needs to be done regarding your lymph nodes.

 

As for radiation itself, most women find it much, MUCH easier than chemo. So don't worry about it being a really devastating experience... it shouldn't be.

 

Hope this has helped you out, Laurie. Please stay in touch - we're here for you. -PJH

 

laura
laura
Close
laura is How are you doing?

mother of three childcare owner and second hand boutique owner and on...

Friday, June 27, 2008

hello,

i do not have an answer but i also have idc grade 1 multifocal and they will not treat me until after i  have surgery which has me kind of worried i do not feel comfortable wiith the cancer in me did your dr. tell you why they are treating you before surgery just curious to know thanks

laura 

cindylou
Thursday, July 03, 2008

80 percent of those with idc do NOT benefit from TOXIC therapy..of those 20 percent who MIGHT benefit..18-19 percent die from complications of the treatment NOT the disease..surgery is the best option..a good surgeon who can remove all or most of the disease..will then allow the body to handle the rest..avoiding white flour products and sugar which feeds the disease..the body should be alkyline to prevent regrowth

 

mineral salts, industrial by products and by products of mustard gas and ddt all are included in the ingredients of current TOXIC therapy..aka chemo..it is calculated carefully how much can be infused in the patient before they are killed by the substances..then scaled back by 10percent.. No family member of mine would ever be allowed or encouraged to voluntarily kill themselves in this manner, yet modern medicine allows it. 75 percent of doctors polled would refuse treatment for themselves and their family..stating it simply does not work.

re: treatment recommendations for IDC Grade I
Susan G
Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 12:54 PM

Can you please let me know where you got the statistic of 80% of those with idc do not benefit from toxic therapy?  I am 52, also IDC grade 2, stage 1, ER,PR+, HER2+ - no node involvement, and mass less than .o6 cm, oncotype score of 23.  I had a bi-lateral masectomy and my doctor still wants to do chemo with herceptin, followed by AI for 5 years.  I think the chemo would do more harm than good. 

Reply
Answer This

Ask a Question

Get answers from our experts and community members.

View all questions (3917) >

Important:
We hope you find this general health information helpful. Please note however, that this Q&A is meant to support not replace the professional medical advice you receive from your doctor. No information in the Answers above is intended to diagnose or treat any condition. The views expressed in the Answers above belong to the individuals who posted them and do not necessarily reflect the views of The HealthCentral Network. The HealthCentral Network does not review or edit content posted by our community members, but reserves the right to remove any material it deems inappropriate.

  • Font size
  • Bookmark
  • Save