Newbie: diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) triple negative

Hello, @hkc9890 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

I am sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis that came the day before Thanksgiving. I would like to invite some of our Members who post about their experience with breast cancer to respond to your questions. Please meet @trixie1313 and @roch. They can undoubtedly direct you to others who have had a similar diagnosis.

I admire your desire to learn as much as you can before you hear the medical team's recommendation. While we wait for others to respond to your post if you care to share more, how was your breast cancer found? Did you find it yourself during self-examination or was it found with a mammogram?

@hkc9890
How many nodes were involved? Did they erode into the lymphatics? Just because you're a nurse, you are now in the "club" that no one wishes to join! Please start writing down questions on a notepad that you think of between now and then so you can be sure to ask all your questions as when we're with the oncologists, it can be a whir of emotions. And if you can take someone else in with you, they may remember something that you don't. I was ER/PR positive but her2neu negative so for me it was chemo and then lumpectomy. Because I was worried about the other breast and asked for an MR breast which they did and found a second lesion. If you have ANY concerns, ask about that if, for anything else, peace of mind. I'm so glad that I did. After that it was on for another surgery at which time we went for partial mastectomies. My surgical oncologist explained that even with full mastectomies, they cannot remove all tissue and that you can still get breast cancer. Her other reason was that women that have full mastectomies can have lifelong neurological pain due to cutting through nerves. Following my second surgery, I underwent 30 radiation treatments because of the erosion into the lymphatics. What I want to have you understand is that even through all of this, each day is a blessing. There may be days of pain, but that will mostly go away. Following all of that, I was placed on aromatase inhibitors and went through two before finding the third choice one was with the least side effects for me. It's okay to ask "why me" and take time to get used to the idea of having cancer, but after that - take the bull by the horns and move forward. We're all here for you and pulling for your best outcome. All the best to you...Trixie

I was diagnosed in 2018 with DCIS left breast and invasive ductal in right (2 tumors). ER/PR positive HER neg. Started Arimdex a week after diagnosis. Helped shrink the tumors a little. Underwent bilateral mastectomies with placement of tissue expanders 3 months after diagnosis followed by 5 weeks of radiation. One positive node. All went pretty well. Returned to work as an RN two weeks after my surgery. I never missed a day of week as had my radiation during my lunch break. My reconstructive surgeon wanted me to recover for six months post radiation. One week before that surgery had a freak accident and broke about every bone in my right arm that required major surgery and 6 months of rehab to get the arm and hand functioning again. Finally had my breast reconstruction. Am about 10 months out of surgery and so far am doing relatively well. Not thrilled with the side effects of the A1 but take one day at a time. When diagnosed immediately signed up with Mayo and this terrific group! Learned a lot and their stories and knowledge have gotten me through it. Will be forever grateful I found them.

I have only had biopsy of the mass at this point. I still have to meet with the oncologist, surgeon, and radiation MD. My understanding is they will start with Chemo up to 5 months before surgery. I do not know anything about lymph node or lymphatic. They are calling it Stage 2 and grade 3. Thank you for the advice and encouragement.

@hkc9890
Welcome to the group! You always can depend on Trixie's advice, btw. My only thought is this: no matter how cool and calm you may feel as a health care professional, you may want to bring someone with you to the meeting who takes good notes and is not intimidated by asking questions, or, if you don't have someone like that to accompany you, get permission to record the session. They throw a lot at you all at once, and don't necessarily provide complete written information or in a useful format; and the people with whom you meet may not necessarily be able to answer your questions (or will say that "everything is explained in the folder" given to you... it will not be) but s/he/theywill expect you to sign reams of paper authorizing the treatment plan... the mind reels. If you were given any verbal information in advance, start doing your research now. That may help with your list of questions.

I was diagnosed in 2018 with DCIS left breast and invasive ductal in right (2 tumors). ER/PR positive HER neg. Started Arimdex a week after diagnosis. Helped shrink the tumors a little. Underwent bilateral mastectomies with placement of tissue expanders 3 months after diagnosis followed by 5 weeks of radiation. One positive node. All went pretty well. Returned to work as an RN two weeks after my surgery. I never missed a day of week as had my radiation during my lunch break. My reconstructive surgeon wanted me to recover for six months post radiation. One week before that surgery had a freak accident and broke about every bone in my right arm that required major surgery and 6 months of rehab to get the arm and hand functioning again. Finally had my breast reconstruction. Am about 10 months out of surgery and so far am doing relatively well. Not thrilled with the side effects of the A1 but take one day at a time. When diagnosed immediately signed up with Mayo and this terrific group! Learned a lot and their stories and knowledge have gotten me through it. Will be forever grateful I found them.