Prognosis for Breast Cancer Stage II

[shwetasaokar]

My mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer in Jan 2008. She felt the lump around June 2007 but refused to visit the doctor at that point. But now after the diagnosis, iIts been a week since she had a masectomy and the results are beginning to trickle in. My mother is India whereas I live in the US, so I do not have the full picture yet.

However the results say Stage II 6 invasive/infiltrating ductal carcinoma (not sure what the 6 stands for) and also she had lymph node removal and its says 33 out of 37 had some cancereous cells. The tumor mass was 2.9cm near the outer left quadrant adjacent to the nipple area. There is no metastasis to any other parts of the body as yet (through xray/bone scan). She will begin chemo say in 2-3 weeks time. We have had no other family history of cancer.

In terms of common layman, how aggressive is this kind of cancer? What are the 5-year survival rates? She has diabetes and blood pressure as well- will these conditions make the chemo harder or worsen survival rates? She is undergoing the treatment in Bangalore, India but I want to get her here to the US as I feel the facilities/research/treatment options much better here.

I am just freaking out reading various things online.

Please help
Thanks
Shweta

[Irishgal2]

Chemo may be recommended because of your age, menopausal status and the grade of cancer.  I was 39, premenopausal and grade 3 cancer.  My lump was 2cm and no node involvement.  Because of the factors mentioned above, I was given chemo and also radiation.  I only had a lumpectomy and not a mastectomy.  It is my understanding that during reconstruction of the beast they make a fake nipple and at a later date tattoo the aerola with colour to make it look as real as possible.

[jadepmen]

Is Chemotheraphy an option after mastectomy? I had undegone mastectomy and accdg to the Doctor the result for my Lymph nodes did not show any sign of cancer. He gave me a rate of 82% that the cancer was removed. But he still wants me to undergo chemotheraphy just to be sure that the cancer wont come back.

Is breast reconstruction still possible since there is no more nipple and aerola?

[Irishgal2]

Sorry about your mother.  You need to get your mother to ask for the following information to get a full picture:

- grade of cancer i.e. 1 is slow to 3 being aggressive.  
- hormone receptor status i.e. ER and PR status i.e. is the cancer receptive to hormones.  This is needed to see if hormone therapy will be of benefit to your mother after chemo.
- Her2 status i.e. negative vs positive.  If positive, it may be beneficial to give your mother the drug Herceptin for a year.

The best of luck to you and your mother.