1. < Breast Cancer

Invasive ductile breast cancer: What should I expect?

Posted by ellerbracke @ellerbracke, May 9, 2021

I was just diagnosed with invasive ductile breast cancer.. Caught early, pretty localized, barely invasive. Lumpectomy on 6/2 (with sampling of sentinel lymph nodes, which show clear on ultrasound). Probably either, or both, of hormone therapy or radiation treatment afterwards. Any advice/input regarding what to be aware of, or what to expect?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

sandyrob | @sandyrob | May 15, 2021
In reply to @amandaa "@grandmapeggy and @sandyrob, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You will see that I moved both of..." + (show)
@amandaa

@grandmapeggy and @sandyrob, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You will see that I moved both of your comments to a discussion that is talking about lumpectomies and breast cancer. I did this so you could not only meet each other as you share your experiences, but also connect with people in the group that have similar stories to share.

Sandy, a lot of times hospitals will have physicians on call, did you try to call and ask? do you have a follow up appt on Monday?

Peggy, Is your choice to move to chemo a chance to avoid further surgery?

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I can call the Breast Center Nurse Navigator on Monday.

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gwinter | @gwinter | May 15, 2021

I was diagnosed around April 2018. After lumpectomy and 2 nodes removed I asked to have sent to be oncotyped in case of BRACA findings. I was stage 0/1. ER+PR+ and Hers-. Testing came back a 19, so only 20 radiation treatments. I tried the after radiation pills and they were too debilitating. So I do a regular mammy ever year (cried this year, hurt so bad, plus had inflamed lymph nodes caused by covid vaccine) and the 6 months later I have a contrast MRI (I thin that's what it is called) of my breasts. It is great when found early stage! Don't be scared, listen well, and take notes and never be afraid to ask questions

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grandmapeggy | @grandmapeggy | May 17, 2021
In reply to @amandaa "@grandmapeggy and @sandyrob, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You will see that I moved both of..." + (show)
@amandaa

@grandmapeggy and @sandyrob, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You will see that I moved both of your comments to a discussion that is talking about lumpectomies and breast cancer. I did this so you could not only meet each other as you share your experiences, but also connect with people in the group that have similar stories to share.

Sandy, a lot of times hospitals will have physicians on call, did you try to call and ask? do you have a follow up appt on Monday?

Peggy, Is your choice to move to chemo a chance to avoid further surgery?

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It was my doctors choice/suggestion to do chemo because one of the nodes came back positive for cancer.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | May 17, 2021
In reply to @genea "I was diagnosed in January with hormone positive IDC. I'm 40 yo, my first mammogram. I..." + (show)
@genea

I was diagnosed in January with hormone positive IDC. I'm 40 yo, my first mammogram. I had a lumpectomy, radiation, and just started Tamoxifen this week. Physically I'm fine. Mentally I'm exhausted and can cry at the drop of a hat. Get plenty of rest, drink lots of water, my oncologist recommended Ginseng to help with fatigue. I'm just starting it as well. There's a Mayo clinic study you can Google if you're interested. You'll do great! Listen to your body, that's the hardest part. Slow down and take care of you.

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Hi Genea, @roch started a discussion about ginseng and fatigue a little while back. i bet she and others would appreciate your joining her in this discussion to share your experiences with ginseng and fatigue:

- Ginseng and Fatigue https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ginseng-and-fatigue/

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | May 17, 2021
In reply to @sandyrob "I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy yesterday (Friday) so of course there is no..." + (show)
@sandyrob

I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy yesterday (Friday) so of course there is no one in the office to ask about this. From what the doctor said before surgery, if the first set of lymph nodes showed cancer, he would take out more. "high Neoprobe counts" ?? Means what?

" Findings: 4 sentinel nodes removed, all with high Neoprobe counts. 3 nonsentinel nodes removed based on their proximity to the sentinel lymphnodes."

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Sandy, a Neoprobe (small handheld device) is used to measure the radioactivity from the liquid (blue dye) that was injected during your lymphatic mapping procedure. The high Neoprobe count identifies the sentinel nodes. Sentinel nodes are the first nodes that drain a cancerous area. If the sentinel nodes are non-cancerous, it is unlikely that the cancer has entered the lymphatic system.

Were you able to talk to the nurse navigator today?

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1 reply
sandyrob | @sandyrob | May 17, 2021
In reply to @colleenyoung "Sandy, a Neoprobe (small handheld device) is used to measure the radioactivity from the liquid (blue..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Sandy, a Neoprobe (small handheld device) is used to measure the radioactivity from the liquid (blue dye) that was injected during your lymphatic mapping procedure. The high Neoprobe count identifies the sentinel nodes. Sentinel nodes are the first nodes that drain a cancerous area. If the sentinel nodes are non-cancerous, it is unlikely that the cancer has entered the lymphatic system.

Were you able to talk to the nurse navigator today?

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Thank you, Colleen. Yes, the surgeon called today to tell me that tumor margins were clear or clean, whatever is the right word and there were no cancerous cells in any of the lymph nodes. Hooray for that part!!!

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | May 17, 2021
In reply to @sandyrob "Thank you, Colleen. Yes, the surgeon called today to tell me that tumor margins were clear..." + (show)
@sandyrob

Thank you, Colleen. Yes, the surgeon called today to tell me that tumor margins were clear or clean, whatever is the right word and there were no cancerous cells in any of the lymph nodes. Hooray for that part!!!

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Great news, Sandy. I'm throwing ***confetti***.
So what is the next step for you?

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1 reply
sandyrob | @sandyrob | May 17, 2021
In reply to @colleenyoung "Great news, Sandy. I'm throwing ***confetti***. So what is the next step for you?" + (show)
@colleenyoung

Great news, Sandy. I'm throwing ***confetti***.
So what is the next step for you?

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I have an appt with Dr. Susan Kok tomorrow at 8 am to get an 2nd opinion on radiation and hormone therapy. Have already met Radiation oncologist and medical oncologist in Duluth.

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Genea | @genea | May 18, 2021

I finished radiation 4/30 and started Tamoxifen 5/10. Since having to stop birth control and go on the Tamoxifen I feel like a teenager again, in a bad way. Acne, awful cramps, emotional, unpredictable and heavy periods. There was mention of ovary suppression with injections, but my oncotype score was only 12. Has anyone else had a similar experience and/or done the injections or had their ovaries removed?

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2 replies
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | May 25, 2021
In reply to @genea "I finished radiation 4/30 and started Tamoxifen 5/10. Since having to stop birth control and go..." + (show)
@genea

I finished radiation 4/30 and started Tamoxifen 5/10. Since having to stop birth control and go on the Tamoxifen I feel like a teenager again, in a bad way. Acne, awful cramps, emotional, unpredictable and heavy periods. There was mention of ovary suppression with injections, but my oncotype score was only 12. Has anyone else had a similar experience and/or done the injections or had their ovaries removed?

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Genea, I see you didn't get a response to your question about ovary suppression. I suggest you start a new discussion specific to this topic in the Breast Cancer group. It's a good topic.

@sandyrob, how did your appointment go? Will you have radiation and/or hormonal therapy?

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