Invasive breast cancer: What's next?

Question for you on your great progress- what was involved in your 3 month checks? Tele health? Lab work(what kind)?MRI? Ultrasound? Mammograms? I am planning a 4 month visit to family and need to know. Thank you!

Can anyone tell me when what type and how often cancer follow-ups are needed after surgery(lumpectomy), radiation, starting Arimidex? I am 64 with ILC and DCIS stage 1 grade 2 estrogen and progesterone + but HER-. Much appreciated.💞

I went to see the surgeon yesterday and it is stage 1 based on tumour size, is 90% estrogen positive , progesterone negative and inconclusive for HER2. I was told that this may be due to not enough of a tissue sample. Next step is MRI and then surgery in about 3 wks. The doctor said she is unsure if it’s ductal or lobular as it was inclusive- again due to the size of the tissue sample.
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to post some answers. It’s frightening not knowing anything, but at least now I have a plan .

Having a plan to move forward made all the difference for me. Waiting for the answers created so much anxiety for me. Once I had a plan, I could start putting the pieces together for that plan.
Do they plan to try and get more information from the lumpectomy?

I called for a second option and third. I wanted titanium removed from Nov 2020 biopsy. I was told no, i needed to go to a plastic surgeon. Then They found the mass and calcifications. so I was told they would removed it when the mass was removed. ... My journey: after mammo and biopsy I met with an oncology team and they will present their findings. I wanted to know all the facts so I was given many books and papers while meeting with each Dr. The surgery was scheduled, and then waited again for the biopsy. It had been stage 1a. grade 1, after surgery it was grade 2. and the size was considered correct at that point. i was also told I had 3 markers growing the cancer.: 100 % estrogen, 95% progestogen, and HER2 2+ equivocal . WE then waited for results while it was sent out for the FISH test results. It came back HER 2 neg. Since this time I have read they have new findings. People that were called HER2 neg can be HER2 low. = this has not been considered on my results. Another team met and decided what plan would be put in place from the mass size and results. 13mm or 1.3cm. If it is under 2cm and I didn't need lymph nodes involved, then I was given options. no radiation, 5 days of radiation, or 3 weeks of radiation. They also decided because of my age, 76, I would not need chemo. and they did not test my lymph nodes. I had a conference with Mayo Clinic. The Dr felt due to my allergic reactions to medicine, i needed to have at least 2-3 weeks of radiation., just in case i could not take the AI medication I would have some type of coverage . If I did not take radiation, and I could not take the med, then it would be late to go back and do radiation. I just finished 5 days of radiation at the cancer center Cleveland Clinic. which is 1 1/2 hrs from my home. I am waiting to meet with the oncology center in my town for AI med. I was very pleased with the Cleveland Clinic Caner Center, they put all priority on cancer patients. I took art and music classes before or after my radiation treatments. I met some very interesting woman at these classes. and enjoyed speaking with them. My back was killing me, and a woman told me that happens to all of them. That made me feel better. We do not have any place like this in town that I am aware of. So Do research and read... read ,, read and do not be afraid to ask questions. They were ready to answer any question, but not in my home town. Good luck with your journey and God Bless...

agree with the above reply; breast cancer patients are usually managed with a team:
the one person patients never see is the most important: the pathologist; treatments are based on accurate pathology reports.; then surgeons, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists...
nurses and, depending on the treatment center, perhaps a social worker or some sort of support person.

Be sure to ask questions, understand options, etc and, if you aren'tcomfortable seek a second opinion.

Best of luck and I hope you meet with a supportive team.

would suggest perhaps some genetic testing, since it seems there is some family history,,,breast and prostate cancer could possible indicate braca 1 or 2 genetic mutations. That knowledge might help you decide treatment options.

go to youtube and look for recent videos from the BASSER CENTER at the University of Pennsylvania A recent panel was talking about undr what circumstances a mastectomy makes sense and is really needed, and when it may not be the best choice

Yes that would be nice. Here I know they are so busy and not very many of them.
You are right the team is so important and always ask questions.
Good luck to all on this journey.

I am 58 and was diagnosed with Invasive ductal carcinoma stage 1
Er+ Pr+ her2-
My tumor was 7mm
I had a lumpectomy and the pathology report came back DCIS very low
DCIS is a pre cancer term in situ and this along with benign margins and no lymph node cancer led me to a lot of research
My oncologist told me my reoccurrence was even less than the normal 10% in 10 years
However because I don’t want radiation or the hormone blocker (both my sisters and numerous friends have had horrible reactions with higher stage breast cancer ) I was told by the radiologist my odds were 20% my cancer would return if I did nothing !
I went back to my oncologist who then stated I must take the hormone blocker to “survive” and the radiation wasn’t necessary
Talk about conflicting information!
I’m seeking a second opinion outside my network on Monday
Wish me luck
Bottom line is a lot of DCIS are being greatly OVER treated
I will probably have radiation but not the hormone blocker
I also have another consult with a new radiologist within my network after my second opinion

Sometimes I think that medical centers might have a protocol and expect their staff to advise patients to follow that centers protocol. I say that with -0- proof but it seems to me when I went to an independent (she had no ties to any one hospital) Dr. I got a whole different opinion.
Sadly I think we are rubber stamped through a system that says you must do this or that treatment(s) and sometimes even bully you into believing if you don't' they won't see you anymore as a patient. Almost like don't burn any bridges because you're not going to have a Physician when you need it.
I always try to finesse my way around that system because I don't want to tick someone off, and go to the point of saying I am happy to sign a going against medical advice legal document. And yes, I have been asked to sign one. However not with breast cancer but another cancer scare and I can tell you that breast cancer patients are treated differently and it's always a nice "it's your choice approach" just don't go too far out on your choices because some will get mad at you.
At the end of the day I wonder how many Dr's are pushed by for profit health care to push treatments even ones they don't really agree with.