what's next

[linda149]

Hi, this is my report after my lumpectomy, this happen 2 years ago, but I refuse further treatment, now they discover a 6mm irregularity in my breast,  I don't want to go through the same again, I just want to know what will be best for me now!
Clinical History:
The patient is a 24 years old female presented with palpable lump at the 6 o'clock position of the left breast. She has a family history of breast cancer conferring higher risk of breast carcinoma. She has no past medical history. A stereotactic core biopsy of the spiculated mass demonstrated moderately differentiated invasive ductal carcinoma. Invasive ductal breast carcinoma was confirmed by lumpectomy.
Diagnosis:
Left breast lesion:
Infiltrating ductal carcinoma.
Sentinel lymph node #1: Metastatic
carcinoma.
Sentinel lymph node #2: Metastatic
carcinoma.

Clinical Information:
Left breast mass, lower outer
quadrant.
Procedure: Left breast lumpectomy

Specimen:
Left Breast Mass
Left breast sentinel node
Left breast sentinel node

Gross: Received fresh is a 5.4 x 4 x 4 cm
excision specimen with a firm 3.3 cm
stellate lesion, grossly 5 mm from the
closest margin. The specimen is inked in
six (6) colors as per protocol.

Macroscopic
Specimen type: Excision.
Lymph node sampling: Sentinel lymph
node(s) only: 2 nodes.
Specimen size: Greatest dimension:
5.4 cm.
Laterality: Left.
Tumor site: Lower outer quadrant.

Microscopic
Size of invasive component: Greatest
dimension: 3.3 cm.
Histologic type: Invasive ductal carcinoma
Ductal carcinoma in situ: Present.
Nuclear grade: High.
Architectural patterns: comedo and non-comedo types.
Necrosis: Present, comedo type.
Extensive intraductal component: Present.

Extent of Invasion
Primary tumor: Tumor more than
3.0 cm but not more than 5.0 cm in
greatest dimension.
Lymph nodes
Number examined: 2.
Number involved: 2
Size of largest metastasis: 0.6 cm


Special Tests and Markers:
Procedures/Addenda: ER/PR and Her2Neu  

Final Diagnosis:
Left breast lumpectomy: Infiltrating duct carcinoma, moderately differentiated grade 2 by Bloom Richardson. Duct carcinoma in situ comedo and non-comedo types, high nuclear grade. Tumor size: 3.3 cm. The infiltrating component is less than 0.1 cm from medial margin, less than 0.1 cm from posterior margin, 0.2 cm from superior and inferior margins, 0.6 cm from anterior margin, and greater than 1 cm from the lateral margin.  Sentinel node #1 left breast: One lymph node with metastatic carcinoma
Sentinel node #2 left breast: One lymph node with metastatic carcinoma
Left axillary contents: Two (2) lymph nodes with metastatic carcinoma
New anterior needle margin left breast: Infiltrating ductal carcinoma. Lobular carcinoma in situ with extension into ducts. The infiltrating component is present at the anterior margin and 6 mm from the inferior margin.
Comment: The tumor is negative for estrogen and progresterone receptors. It is positive for Her-2/neu.

[japdip]

Hi Linda; we've all been pretty hard on you, haven't we? It's just that we have all been thru it and we are here and proud to have survived this dread disease. At your age it would be such a waste to let this thing take your life. Please don't be insulted but how about some counseling concerning this matter. i truly don't think the cancer is the problem but believe you might have other issues. Don't take this as an easy way out because it  won't be that at all ... don't wait until so much time has passed that you can't change your mind. Come on girl, if you were meant not to live, you'd be dead. Get busy, give it all you've got and beat the **** out of it !!! May I suggest you visit the following website and chat with the ladies (of all ages) in the survivors group.  bcsupport.org

[mamaboulet]

Please consider that your breasts are just a part of your body, not some essential mystical female thing. Outside beauty is just that, outside. And it decays just the same as ugly inside colons and other gross organs once you are dead. Please choose to live and be you, not some standard of beauty. You have a place in this world. Please stay.

[linda149]

maybe I refuse treatment because i am stupid! or maybe i am one of the many young women who thinks outside beauty is essential to live, and I didn't want to loose that!! being alone with no support I thought i radder be dead and not ugly!  or maybe i never thought that this was actually happening to me!! so thanks!    

[mamaboulet]

Refusing treatment for metastatic breast cancer is pretty much a death sentence. No need for that with all of the options available today. If the new lump is cancer, then the previous lumpectomy and lymph node removal was not sufficient to stop the spread.
If you want to know what will be best for you now, it is called treatment. Get it. You are in your twenties. No need to throw away the rest of your life. My mother is a 30 year breast cancer survivor. Even women with stage lV breast cancer are living significantly longer due to the variety of treatments and diagnostic tools out there now.

[preschool]

I must say I am surprised that you refused treatment but it is your right. Do you have any family (signifcant other,parents ,siblings )? In our family it is my 34 year old daughter that has the bc. She has forund it helpful to talk to us ( her parents and her siblings) about all aspects of her treatment. I hope that you can find a support group to help you . This is a tough disease but you can win. Please don't wait.Talk to your onc about treatment and start it NOW !

[japdip]

I would say that you are paying an unnecessary price for refusing treatment previously which I must admit I do not understand but that was your right. If you are willing to let this disease kill you then there really isn't much that I could advise as far a what you should do now. PLEASE reconsider this decision and fight back ,,, there are so many options for treatment; don't let this monster win !!