Saw breast surgeon today...
The cancer (precancer) is DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) meaning it formed in the ducts and it is still in the ducts as in hasn't "invaded" other breast tissue so it isn't called invasive cancer.
Since it is "in situ" (in place), it is marked *Stage 0* which is a good thing. Both biopsies they did showed DCIS. The locations where the biopsies were taken are near each other and the location they couldn't get to via stereotactic biopsy is in the same region just behind it. The *grade* is medium (cribriform) to high (comedonecrosis). There are 3 grades... 1, 2 and 3. I'm 2-3. This equates to cell growth. Well organized growth but slow is 1. Disorganized and irregular is 3. The "necrosis" part of 3 above does mean dead but that in reality means excessive growth. Some cells die because others are forming and cutting off the blood supply.
Anyway, I was wrong the other day that this won't spread. Guess I misunderstood. When you have "in situ", you are more likely to get other cancer.
Right now, step one is a breast MRI scheduled for next Thursday. That'll show whether there is more cancer then they know about in the right breast or not and if there is anything of interest in the left breast.
The step after that is surgery. If the MRI shows nothing new... I'm slated for lumpectomy (actually wide excision since there isn't a lump but more of a region deemed to be 6-7 o'clock position in the breast). The lumpectomy versus mastectomy is due to the fact the cancer is not invasive (hasn't spread outside the duct).
Based on the pathology of what they took during the biopsies, they will test the sentinel lymph node while I'm under since it was the higher grade (3 - comedonecrosis) cells. If ithe lymph nodes tests positive during the surgery itself, they will probablyconvert to mastectomy and also take out more lymph nodes in addition to breast tissue.
Assuming lymph node is clear and surgical margins look good (aka they appear to have it all removed with a good amount of clean tissue around it)... then it is off to 6 weeks of radiation. No chemo.
And since it is ER+/PR+ (estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor)... I'll be on tamoxifen or raloxifene (which are Selective Estrogen Receptor Modifiers) for several years. This means the cancer feeds off hormones so you suppress the stuff they feed off of.
Talk about a whirlwind of information and activity. Getting phone calls from my sister, my husband, trying to arrange the MRI, the surgeon's office. I did blow a small gasket and pitched a well-deserved fit. LOL!
Right now I do not have any idea when the surgery will be performed. Not sure if it will be before or after the holidays. More to follow.
Thanks for all the support, folks!
Kathy
Kathy, I've been under a mound of homework and studying for three finals so I've not been around much, but I just checked to day and have read your several posts about what is going on. I am so terribly sorry this is happening to you, but you are so good at checking and getting so much information I know that this will help you.
I may not have seen it, but what preciptated this biopsy? Did you have a lump or something?
Know that I am praying for you and your family - I know this is hard on them as well.
Let me know if there's anything I can do from up here in the Emerald City.
Big hugs!!
Michelle
Hey, Michelle!
The biopsy was based on what they saw on my annual routine mammogram. No lump that I know of. I know that I had benign calcifications on previous mammos but what i think they look for is clusters of calcifications that form certain patterns. Lets them know to check since cancer travelling in an area leave a pattern of calcifications in their wake.
Thanks for your prayers. We are doing as best we can.
Hugs back, Kathy
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