Diagnosed with invasive ductal Carcinoma 2.2mm. Er/HER2 +3 positive

Posted by lnw @lnw, Apr 9 3:21pm

I was originally diagnosed with DCIS in two ducts. After lumpechtomy, the pathology report showed a 2.2mm tumor attached in one duct. It was diagnosed as invasive ductal Carcinoma-Estrogen positive, progesterone positive but weak & HER2 positive at a +3. All was removed and have clear margins. Had 2 lymph nodes removed, all negative. However, because of the tumor being HER2 positive and grade 3. The Oncologist is stating that I should consider chemotherapy for 3 months & then HER2 inhibitor infusions 1 year to increase the probability of the cancer returning. I am scared to death of chemo. He said if I chose not to have it, research shows a 80% life expectancy at 15 years. With chemo and the inhibitor it increases to 97% at 8 years. I want to give my self the best outcome but chemotherapy has so many bad side effects. Please I need advice from experienced survivors.

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freckle1 | @freckle1 | Apr 11 10:01pm

DCIS not invasive as far as I can remember. No known history of breast cancer in the family.

freckle1 | @freckle1 | Apr 12 5:26am

In reply to @christylv "Was your dcis invasive or not? And do you remember what stage it was?" + (show)

A long time ago, but doesn't Ductal Carcinoma in Situ mean that the cancer has not spread out of the milk ducts into the lymph glands? Anyway there was no need for any treatment other than mastectomy. (I could have opted for a lumpectomy but had friends who had made that decision and then had had to go back for a mastectomy.)

christylv | @christylv | Apr 12 5:42am

In reply to @freckle1 "A long time ago, but doesn't Ductal Carcinoma in Situ mean that the cancer has not..." + (show)

That’s right! I forgot Dcis is non invasive. So after your mastectomy the cancer came returned in your opposite breast?

freckle1 | @freckle1 | Apr 13 1:37am

In reply to @christylv "That’s right! I forgot Dcis is non invasive. So after your mastectomy the cancer came returned..." + (show)

Yes. About 14 years later. With a vengeance!

freckle1 | @freckle1 | Apr 13 2:09am

In reply to @turbomom "I also am triple positive, with a smaller IDC tumor. I’m doing the exact regime recommended..." + (show)

Any credible evidence that the cold gloves and slippers work?

christylv | @christylv | Apr 13 6:21am

In reply to @freckle1 "Yes. About 14 years later. With a vengeance!" + (show)

Oh gosh! Sorry to hear that. Did you end up getting another mastectomy?

freckle1 | @freckle1 | Apr 13 6:31am

Yes plus chemo, radio and now anastrozole. Have peripheral neuropathy from chemo. That's why I regret not having a preventative mastectomy!

cjs123172 | @cjs123172 | Apr 13 6:38am

I had the exact same diagnosis - small triple positive tumor. You should definitely do the chemo (taxol) and the herceptin. Without it, triple positive tumors recur, often metastatic. If you look at the studies, the 10 year results are amazing with the 12 weeks of chemo and the year of herceptin. The taxol is not as strong as other breast cancer chemos, and since it’s administered weekly, it’s quite tolerable. I completed everything and feel very confident that if any cancer cell escaped, the chemo took care of it. There are amazing reductions in breast cancer deaths, and much of that reduction is attributed to the use of herceptin with triple positive tumors.

bbhere | @bbhere | Apr 13 9:40am

In reply to @cjs123172 "I had the exact same diagnosis - small triple positive tumor. You should definitely do the..." + (show)

Me too. Triple positive small invasive tumor. Had mastectomy since there was a DCIS in the breast also. Starting chemo (taxol) next week for 12 wks. and trying the Dignicap Cooling system (expensive! $2950 where I am). Then the year of Herceptin. Also had DCIS in other breast 13 yrs ago, lumpectomy / radiation. I remember thinking at that time, just remove both and be done with it but like you didn't follow thru. Guess I just didn't believe it would happen again. Glad I found this site and thank you everyone for sharing. I cried for weeks after this diagnosis and reading so many of the posts helped me a great deal.

cjs123172 | @cjs123172 | Apr 13 9:45am

In reply to @bbhere "Me too. Triple positive small invasive tumor. Had mastectomy since there was a DCIS in the..." + (show)

You'll do well with the cold cap on taxol. I did it and I preserved 80 percent of my hair. Just follow the instructions about not washing your hair much and being delicate with it.