Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC): Anyone else?

Posted by 6750 @6750, Mar 2, 2019

I have rec’d 4 chemo + 16 radiation treatments for invasive. Has lumpectomie 1st....then one week later...
Dissection 17 lymph nodes & 3 tumors removed tumors
Got clean margin.

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I have stage 3 highly invasive breast cancer.
Pagets of nipple, 2 ductal and 2 axillary lymph nodes. Did biopsies with markers. Started 5 chemo TX 3 weeks apart (last one is Aug. 8th). 4 chemo meds= herpacin, carboplatin, taxol,perjetta and some steroids, anti nausea meds and the day after, a neulasta injection to boost wbc. Some not so fun side effects but im managing. Will get another mri and ultrasound mamo to see if chemo had any effect on reducing cancer growths before surgury. Dr. Will stage lymphnodes during surgury. Going for double (dmx) flat chest asthetic. Then radiation. Leaving port in for follow up includes contuing with herceptin for 9mo. I'm all in with the course of TX. Not easy but one step at a time and lots of resources to help get me through. My mother suffered terribly and died of breast cancer at age 50 in 1974. Her sister and her daughter also passed ftom breast cancer during my lifetime. They helped forge the way to better studies and treament and that is how I look at it. That i too am forging the way. Keep on keepin on.

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@sequoiatree

I have stage 3 highly invasive breast cancer.
Pagets of nipple, 2 ductal and 2 axillary lymph nodes. Did biopsies with markers. Started 5 chemo TX 3 weeks apart (last one is Aug. 8th). 4 chemo meds= herpacin, carboplatin, taxol,perjetta and some steroids, anti nausea meds and the day after, a neulasta injection to boost wbc. Some not so fun side effects but im managing. Will get another mri and ultrasound mamo to see if chemo had any effect on reducing cancer growths before surgury. Dr. Will stage lymphnodes during surgury. Going for double (dmx) flat chest asthetic. Then radiation. Leaving port in for follow up includes contuing with herceptin for 9mo. I'm all in with the course of TX. Not easy but one step at a time and lots of resources to help get me through. My mother suffered terribly and died of breast cancer at age 50 in 1974. Her sister and her daughter also passed ftom breast cancer during my lifetime. They helped forge the way to better studies and treament and that is how I look at it. That i too am forging the way. Keep on keepin on.

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You got this❣️ I went through a similar although in a different formula. I took TAC, then herceptin came later because it wasn’t approved for frontline therapy yet. I was diagnosed December 2004. I always say it isn’t always easy, but the years I have had with my husband and taking care of family and doing the things I love was absolutely worth it. Are you estrogen positive as well as her2?

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@sequoiatree

I have stage 3 highly invasive breast cancer.
Pagets of nipple, 2 ductal and 2 axillary lymph nodes. Did biopsies with markers. Started 5 chemo TX 3 weeks apart (last one is Aug. 8th). 4 chemo meds= herpacin, carboplatin, taxol,perjetta and some steroids, anti nausea meds and the day after, a neulasta injection to boost wbc. Some not so fun side effects but im managing. Will get another mri and ultrasound mamo to see if chemo had any effect on reducing cancer growths before surgury. Dr. Will stage lymphnodes during surgury. Going for double (dmx) flat chest asthetic. Then radiation. Leaving port in for follow up includes contuing with herceptin for 9mo. I'm all in with the course of TX. Not easy but one step at a time and lots of resources to help get me through. My mother suffered terribly and died of breast cancer at age 50 in 1974. Her sister and her daughter also passed ftom breast cancer during my lifetime. They helped forge the way to better studies and treament and that is how I look at it. That i too am forging the way. Keep on keepin on.

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Wonderful positive attitude. FORGE ON and keep us posted.

Blessings on this path. ☀️

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@sequoiatree

I have stage 3 highly invasive breast cancer.
Pagets of nipple, 2 ductal and 2 axillary lymph nodes. Did biopsies with markers. Started 5 chemo TX 3 weeks apart (last one is Aug. 8th). 4 chemo meds= herpacin, carboplatin, taxol,perjetta and some steroids, anti nausea meds and the day after, a neulasta injection to boost wbc. Some not so fun side effects but im managing. Will get another mri and ultrasound mamo to see if chemo had any effect on reducing cancer growths before surgury. Dr. Will stage lymphnodes during surgury. Going for double (dmx) flat chest asthetic. Then radiation. Leaving port in for follow up includes contuing with herceptin for 9mo. I'm all in with the course of TX. Not easy but one step at a time and lots of resources to help get me through. My mother suffered terribly and died of breast cancer at age 50 in 1974. Her sister and her daughter also passed ftom breast cancer during my lifetime. They helped forge the way to better studies and treament and that is how I look at it. That i too am forging the way. Keep on keepin on.

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You sound strong! Focused! Informed! You go,Girl!! So many have gone before us leaving this wealth of information and inspiration! I hope you have someone who can hold your hand, offer a hug, lend a hand. It is a special strength to ask for help. We are all in this with you.

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@sequoiatree I also "went flat" and it has worked out really well. Good luck!

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@sequoiatree

I have stage 3 highly invasive breast cancer.
Pagets of nipple, 2 ductal and 2 axillary lymph nodes. Did biopsies with markers. Started 5 chemo TX 3 weeks apart (last one is Aug. 8th). 4 chemo meds= herpacin, carboplatin, taxol,perjetta and some steroids, anti nausea meds and the day after, a neulasta injection to boost wbc. Some not so fun side effects but im managing. Will get another mri and ultrasound mamo to see if chemo had any effect on reducing cancer growths before surgury. Dr. Will stage lymphnodes during surgury. Going for double (dmx) flat chest asthetic. Then radiation. Leaving port in for follow up includes contuing with herceptin for 9mo. I'm all in with the course of TX. Not easy but one step at a time and lots of resources to help get me through. My mother suffered terribly and died of breast cancer at age 50 in 1974. Her sister and her daughter also passed ftom breast cancer during my lifetime. They helped forge the way to better studies and treament and that is how I look at it. That i too am forging the way. Keep on keepin on.

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You are absolutely also forging the way! Thanks for sharing your experience. It is, without a doubt, invaluable for us to hear and know each other’s stories. Peace and all good!

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@sequoiatree

I have stage 3 highly invasive breast cancer.
Pagets of nipple, 2 ductal and 2 axillary lymph nodes. Did biopsies with markers. Started 5 chemo TX 3 weeks apart (last one is Aug. 8th). 4 chemo meds= herpacin, carboplatin, taxol,perjetta and some steroids, anti nausea meds and the day after, a neulasta injection to boost wbc. Some not so fun side effects but im managing. Will get another mri and ultrasound mamo to see if chemo had any effect on reducing cancer growths before surgury. Dr. Will stage lymphnodes during surgury. Going for double (dmx) flat chest asthetic. Then radiation. Leaving port in for follow up includes contuing with herceptin for 9mo. I'm all in with the course of TX. Not easy but one step at a time and lots of resources to help get me through. My mother suffered terribly and died of breast cancer at age 50 in 1974. Her sister and her daughter also passed ftom breast cancer during my lifetime. They helped forge the way to better studies and treament and that is how I look at it. That i too am forging the way. Keep on keepin on.

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You’ve got this! Stay strong 💪🏼 & positive 💓
Love your handle name. 🌲

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Happy for you all. You seem to be coping well. Since my diagnosis, I have been very angry. Just don’t want to see anyone who would ask the usual question when you meet « how are you? » No one wants to hear that you might feel shitty. Haven’t started any treatment since surgery- just want the whole thing to go away but I know it won’t.

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@jchato9

Happy for you all. You seem to be coping well. Since my diagnosis, I have been very angry. Just don’t want to see anyone who would ask the usual question when you meet « how are you? » No one wants to hear that you might feel shitty. Haven’t started any treatment since surgery- just want the whole thing to go away but I know it won’t.

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Most people have no idea what a difficult journey breast cancer takes its victims through. Most people think once you have your surgery all has been taken care of and you go back to your normal life. We know differently. My surgery was last year. Then chemo. Then radiation. Then lymphedema. Then occupational therapy. Then side effects of treatment.Not sure what the future holds for me-sometimes I’m sad, sometimes I’m angry, sometimes I don’t recognize myself. Sometimes I want to help someone just starting this unwanted journey. Just know that sometimes I have an absolutely wonderful “normal” day where I laugh, do the things I did before I was diagnosed. It helps to talk, find a recovery group. Visit this site.

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@jchato9

Happy for you all. You seem to be coping well. Since my diagnosis, I have been very angry. Just don’t want to see anyone who would ask the usual question when you meet « how are you? » No one wants to hear that you might feel shitty. Haven’t started any treatment since surgery- just want the whole thing to go away but I know it won’t.

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A breast cancer diagnosis is a traumatic experience! So many emotions are triggered and can linger.

Yes anger, confusion, fear, “why me”? ( why anyone?) … all the above emotions …and more. We all have them and then or despite that, we must move on.

Get a helping hand; someone who asks how are you doing and really wants to hear the answer , someone who can be there when you meet with docs and can “hear” with/for you those hard to hear things. Someone who can read up on stuff that you are afraid to read about . Get all the information you can about your BC and options . It’s a very steep and swift learning curve as so many important decisions will be made in quick order.

Anger will come … and go. Getting the treatment you need will serve you best right now. It does get easier as you move down the treatment path. In fairly short order you will be reassuring others ( I know it’s hard to wrap one’s head around that).

Best to you on the path 🌸

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