Breast cancer fear

I am a newly diagnosed 66-year-old woman. I have IDC 8mm found by a twice-a-year check - one is a mammogram, and the other is an ultrasound (because I can't tolerate MRIs).
It was picked up by ultrasound. My lumpectomy surgery is scheduled for next week. New research shows that women 65 and older with IDC ER+ PR+ Her- and have an axilla ultrasound to look at nodes and all clear there, don't need to have sentinel nodes biopsied during surgery. Here is the original SOUND research and the follow-up done by Dana Faber, Mass General, and Brigham and Women's - with the same results.

I am not having my sentinel nodes biopsied as the type of cancer I have fits with. I am having the onctoype test done on the tumor/tissue. This will decide the best course of treatment.

Has anyone else decided against sentinel biopsy because of this study?

Research:

1. Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy vs No Axillary Surgery in Patients With Small Breast Cancer and Negative Results on Ultrasonography of Axillary Lymph Nodes
The SOUND Randomized Clinical Trial

2. Applying SOUND Trial Results in the Real World: New Study Identifies Appropriate Patients in a Multi-Disciplinary Clinical Practice Abstract: Real World Implications of the SOUND Trial Orlando, FL, April 11, 2024
"Given the similarity of our population to SOUND trial patients, our findings support thoughtful integration of these results into clinical practice,” states Dr. Giannakou. “Working closely with our multidisciplinary colleagues in medical and radiation oncology, we have started to implement this data into practice for select postmenopausal patients with HR+HER2- breast cancer who would have met eligibility criteria for the SOUND trial.”
1 Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 2 Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA

I am a newly diagnosed 66-year-old woman. I have IDC 8mm found by a twice-a-year check - one is a mammogram, and the other is an ultrasound (because I can't tolerate MRIs).
It was picked up by ultrasound. My lumpectomy surgery is scheduled for next week. New research shows that women 65 and older with IDC ER+ PR+ Her- and have an axilla ultrasound to look at nodes and all clear there, don't need to have sentinel nodes biopsied during surgery. Here is the original SOUND research and the follow-up done by Dana Faber, Mass General, and Brigham and Women's - with the same results.

I am not having my sentinel nodes biopsied as the type of cancer I have fits with. I am having the onctoype test done on the tumor/tissue. This will decide the best course of treatment.

Has anyone else decided against sentinel biopsy because of this study?

Research:

1. Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy vs No Axillary Surgery in Patients With Small Breast Cancer and Negative Results on Ultrasonography of Axillary Lymph Nodes
The SOUND Randomized Clinical Trial

2. Applying SOUND Trial Results in the Real World: New Study Identifies Appropriate Patients in a Multi-Disciplinary Clinical Practice Abstract: Real World Implications of the SOUND Trial Orlando, FL, April 11, 2024
"Given the similarity of our population to SOUND trial patients, our findings support thoughtful integration of these results into clinical practice,” states Dr. Giannakou. “Working closely with our multidisciplinary colleagues in medical and radiation oncology, we have started to implement this data into practice for select postmenopausal patients with HR+HER2- breast cancer who would have met eligibility criteria for the SOUND trial.”
1 Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 2 Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA

My tumor was also 8mm, and it was er/pr positive her2 negative. My Onco score was 12. I had 1 sentinel node removed, which was negative. I had a lumpectomy and 4 weeks of radiation, and no chemotherapy recommended. It was in my left breast. I was put on Letrozole. Dana Farber is a fantastic hospital. I just followed my doctors recommendation.

Hello,

This morning, 4/21/25 the doctors confirmed I have a 3.9 cm mass in my left breast (I had discovered it a few weeks back so this was my first appt). The imaging also revealed 2 nodes on my left lymph node roughly 4 mm each. I am scheduled for the biopsy on Thurs 2/24/25. I am in shock and really freaking out!!! I have been healthy up until now (I am 57) so this is came as a huge surprise. I don’t know what to think, and have been crying since this morning off and on. I couldn’t eat most of the day but forced myself to drink water. I am reaching out to see if anyone could respond with some advice or what to expect in terms of next steps. I have a general idea but maybe someone out there can help me with some positive outcomes?? Also can’t sleep and feel all discombobulated. Thank you for reading and willing to help me :(((

Hello,

This morning, 4/21/25 the doctors confirmed I have a 3.9 cm mass in my left breast (I had discovered it a few weeks back so this was my first appt). The imaging also revealed 2 nodes on my left lymph node roughly 4 mm each. I am scheduled for the biopsy on Thurs 2/24/25. I am in shock and really freaking out!!! I have been healthy up until now (I am 57) so this is came as a huge surprise. I don’t know what to think, and have been crying since this morning off and on. I couldn’t eat most of the day but forced myself to drink water. I am reaching out to see if anyone could respond with some advice or what to expect in terms of next steps. I have a general idea but maybe someone out there can help me with some positive outcomes?? Also can’t sleep and feel all discombobulated. Thank you for reading and willing to help me :(((

God morning, my heart ached with a remembrance of my original diagnosis and wishing you did not feel this shock and fear.
Prepare yourself for some waiting, it is very hard to wait for all the information to come in. I am glad they are getting you in for biopsy so fast. There will be waiting for results on the other side of it too.
One trick I use with myself is compartmentalization. I let myself worry about it for an hour a day, 30 minutes morning and evening. You can choose whatever time works for you, maybe during discussion with a spouse or family member. Then I have a place to push it when it intrudes on my task at hand, which might actually just be busy work to distract myself. This prevents me from just spinning it around until I get actionable information.
At this point you do not have a breast cancer diagnosis, it surely is something but it might be something else. Think Schrödingers cat. lol
Try to breathe, and do something you enjoy, if you do end up in treatment of some form, you can remember these days and plan for more of them.
On connect, we are all behind you and beside you in this journey.💕
May I ask what type of biopsy is planned for Thursday?

God morning, my heart ached with a remembrance of my original diagnosis and wishing you did not feel this shock and fear.
Prepare yourself for some waiting, it is very hard to wait for all the information to come in. I am glad they are getting you in for biopsy so fast. There will be waiting for results on the other side of it too.
One trick I use with myself is compartmentalization. I let myself worry about it for an hour a day, 30 minutes morning and evening. You can choose whatever time works for you, maybe during discussion with a spouse or family member. Then I have a place to push it when it intrudes on my task at hand, which might actually just be busy work to distract myself. This prevents me from just spinning it around until I get actionable information.
At this point you do not have a breast cancer diagnosis, it surely is something but it might be something else. Think Schrödingers cat. lol
Try to breathe, and do something you enjoy, if you do end up in treatment of some form, you can remember these days and plan for more of them.
On connect, we are all behind you and beside you in this journey.💕
May I ask what type of biopsy is planned for Thursday?

Just to second Chris's helpful response. And to add that timed worrying is very helpful! I like to do something else while officially worrying--like walking or treadmill, knitting, or drawing in a notebook. That way I get some good out of it (and I think worrying is ok in its way--it can lead to understanding if it doesn't take over).

Dear Oliviasj:

I am so sorry for what you've been through;( My heart goes out to you and prayers go out for you upon reading this post...

Life throws curve balls at us from time to time:( I truly admire your wisdom and self care that you discovered this mass by yourself! For my own case, my wonderful PCP discovered the tumor during my annual physical check-up back in November, 2023, and I went through the surgery on 12/26/2023 to get rid of cancerous cells from my body, thus starting my own journey of fighting the disease of BC. So I understand how shocking and terrifying this journey of breast cancer is for anybody:(. I am very grateful that I found this Mayo Clinic supporting site, however; because everybody in this web community is very knowledgeable and supportive and I've learnt a lot here. Please take a deep breath, and work with your physicians to conquer this illness and you'll be OK, my friend, for you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Pray for the wisdom, comfort and peace of mind coming from above for you and your care team. I know this is very hard to wait, but please allow your physicians to investigate further without too much stress. You are in our thoughts and prayers, my comrade!

Wishing you the best for the journey ahead!