Breast Cancer Diagnosis

[michelekova]

Hi I have gotten the breast cancer diagnosis and my head is spinning. I don't know what to do what to think....etc. I was told I have two areas in my breast that need removed one is cancer and one is precancerous. The surgeon I met with yesterday told me that I would have to choose on a lumptectomy or a mastectomy. I was also told depending on the lymph node involvement I would either need chemo, radiation and hormonal receptor meds. I am frustrated, worried and feel with so much anxiety I can scream. I don't know what to do as far as the procedure and the treatment options scare the hell out of me. I have a list of meds I am allergic to so taking anything petrifies me. I had a total hysterectomy 3 years ago because I had endometrial cancer now this? I was also told that its rare to have endo cancer and then breast cancer. I am 51 years old I don't understand how after a hyster you can have hormones in your system that would give you breast cancer. As I was told that my cancer is hormonal bases. The told me I am ER positive, PR positive and HER2 positive. I asked my dr what stage I was in and they only told me nuclear stage 3, whatever that means and they also told me KI 67 - 40%. I don't understand any of this, please someone respond to me and explain

[goldenmead]

HER2 positive breast cancer is what I have. I was diagnosed in Feb. 2013 and have had lumpectomy, 2 lymph nodes removed, and the cancer had not spread. I've had 4 chemotherapy treatments and 16 radiation doses. If I had opted for mastectomy I would not have needed radiation. I am currently getting Herceptin infusions every three weeks, a total of 17 doses.
My oncologist told me to avoid 1. alcohol 2. flaxseed 3. soy products. All these three contain plant estrogens, which the HER 2 is creating.
There is, I was told by my surgeon, a difference of 1% survival rate between choosing lumpectomy or mastectomy.

[japdip]

First of all you need to take a couple of deep breaths and slow down your thinking. Things will moving one at a time now. As far as the type of Surgery to have for your particular diagnosis .... it would depend upon how you feel about losing a breast but you must also think too about whether preserving the breast (minus the areas to be removed) is worth the more intensive treatment that you would no doubt receive. Snap decisions are OUT .... careful thinking and even writing down the pros and cons of each is IN. More in-depth discussion with your Oncologist is definitely recommended too. Some women even prefer to obtain a second opinion from another Oncologist or Surgeon and most Dr.s will encourage this. Unless your ovaries were removed along with your Uterus then you still have the usual hormone level in your body. The true and final stage of your Cancer will be determined after your surgery and the specimen has been tested in the Pathology Lab. Before your treatment plan is developed your Dr.s will be aware of any and all medications that you are allergic to and act accordingly. You are thinking a bit too far ahead but I know from personal experience how your mind runs away with you when you are first diagnosed with Breast cancer. Being ER/PR positive means that the cancer depended on hormones for growth and is LESS aggressive than cancers that are hormone negative. This is a GOOD THING since the chance of recurrence is much less that the negative response cancers. You might go ahead and scream since that's the way you feel ... it certainly won't hurt and might just help to vent a little. You might ask the Surgeon if he/she is 100% positive that the entire area can be easily removed with clean margins or if there is a chance that a second surgery might be required. This is something that my Surgeon discussed with me and it helped make the decision about which type of surgery to have. Don't forget to take those deep breaths now and concentrate on only one thing at a time. Keep us posted as you progress through this journey ... we'll be here.