More Cancer update

Bad news: The breast tumor is Infiltrating (Invasive) ductal carcinoma, high grade Invasive: the cancer has grown beyond where is started. we don't know if it's in the lymph nodes High grade: fast growing, cancer cells do not look at all like normal cells. Ki-67 staining is high - unfavorable prognostic range. OK.. can anyone tell me what this means? Google search of breast cancer sites have been confusing. "ER+ (low expression)" - It responds to estrogen. not good for pregnancy. "PR-" does not respond to progesterone HER2 overexpression is negative - normal number of copier of a gene that helps control growth. if it were positive then it would help it grow fast. No angiolymphatic invasion is identified: meaning it doesn't look like it grown past this primary site. Tumor infiltrates mostly as solid sheet and nests. (can anyone explain this?) The neoplastic nuclei are moderately to markedly pleomorphic with occasional nucleoli. Mitotic activity is brisk with one to two mitotic figures per high power field. (again.. anyone.. explain?) In summary: I get to have a lumpectomy and once I lose the rest of the 78 pounds I need to lose, I also lose my breast to a double mastectomy. Why a DM? Because there is a 99% chance I have BCG1 or BCG2 which are "Breast Cancer Genes". OR I could choose the DM now and then deal with the excess skin from the weight loss. I will now more Thursday since we upped my appointment with the Oncologist. There is a big possibility that I will have chemo and lose my hair. I will update again after Thursday's meeting.

I am so sorry you have to go through this. I know nothign I say will make you feel better. I am hoping and praying for you and pulling for a speedy recovery. One thing I can offer is that not everyone loses their hair. My mother-in-law had throat cancer 6 years ago. She had very intense chemo and radiation. When I say intense I mean it and honestly she didn't lose a bit. She also only got sick once but thinks she just had a bad tummy ache that day. I know losing your breasts is probably very hard news and I am sure it will take you a while to fully absorb everything you've been told. Staying off the internet is a good idea because it is confusing and doesn't give you the proper answers your looking for. Especially if your not 100% sure what's going on. Thanks for updating and I wish you the best. Shannon

you will sure be in my prayers...do a yahoo search and find a cancer support board.....

My prayers and thoughts are with you!!

Christina, I remember googling the pathology report for my husband's melanoma and trying to get explanations on many of these same terms. I wish I could help you interpret this but a lot of it I either never understood myself, or I think I blocked much of that time from my memory. (By the way, my hubby's cancer was 7 years ago, he has been fine since, THANK GOD!) I don't know why the doctors don't do a better job explaining all this stuff at the get go. Whatever they have to do to get rid of the cancer, let them do it. Including chemo (hair loss, though scary, is temporary) and a double mastectomy. Let them do all of it sooner rather than later, in my opinion. You can deal with reconstruction if you wish after your weight loss, when you may want to do that anyway like many of us will be with our skin issues. I agree with the others about finding knowledgable people through breast cancer support groups, both online and in person. Demand some time with a doctor to have the entire path report explained until you understand all of it. While I agree that the internet can sometimes give you information overload and freak you out, I think it is worth it to learn as much as you can. Maybe your husband can handle the research part for you. That's what I did for my spouse. His doctor ended up telling him that I saved his life. I'm sorry you have to go through this. I know it's so scary, but knowledge is power and you can learn and do a lot to get cancer free. For example, since yours is an estrogen sensitive tumor, your weight loss will be a great help. Fat expresses estrogen and the less you have the better off you'll be. I will be praying for you. Thank you for keeping us updated. Email me if you need to talk. Love, Sue

Bless your heart! So much information to try and process!! I agree with Sue that knowledge is power and if I were you, I'd search the net and the library and everything else I could get my hands on to find out what is going on in my body. I also agree with Sue that you should go ahead and have the DM asap. Maybe they can make you some "new ones" from the excess skin from your tummy!! LOL I know that this is a serious subject, but it never hurts to keep your sense of humor as much as possible. I will be praying for your complete and total recovery and will look forward to your updates.