What are my chances to live

[bankergirl]

I recently went to doctor and have been diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. I will 40 years old in October. I am a mother of 2 with a grandchild you is 3 months. I am scared I am not going to survive. I met with the general surgeon who removed the lump and he would not answer any of my questions. Just said he needed to remove my breast and I would need to take chemo. When I asked if I could survive this he did not answer. I know only God knows but I really need to know if I have a good chance. my nottingham score is a nine. I already know that is not good. My path report says my margin involved is not specifically designated. Under my pathologic staging it says: primary tumor ( pT):pT2 regional lymph nodes (pN): pNX distant metastasis (pM): pMX. What does that mean? The specimen size is 4.5 (greatest dimension)  Under final pathologic diagnosis it says: right breast biopsy: poorly differentiated invasive ductal carcinoma (grade 3) maximum tumer dimension 4cm, tumor is present at tissue edges of both fragments. Can you give me any more understanding of this and are my chances good at all for survival. My husband died when my children were small of cancer. I am the only parent they have left. I need to know how to fight this and how my chances will look. Please be honest and give me some sort of help.

[bcgirl_59]

A related discussion, invasive ductal carcinoma stage 2a, grd 2, node negative treatment options was started.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

How are you doing now? What has your breast specialist and oncologist advised?

Let us know if you have any other doubts.

Keep us posted.

Regards.

[japdip]

Surely you have been referred to an Oncologist ... if not you will be after your mastectomy. If you are so doubtful I would ask for a referral NOW (before surgery) and all the the treatment from now on will be explained to you in great detail. Demand an explanation of your reports but your surgeon wouldn't necessarily be the one to ask. The Oncologist would be my first choice.  

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

Your report says that you do not have any cancer in the lymph nodes or any distant metastasis of the cancer. DCIS is known to have a good prognosis and you should reconsult with your doctor to give you some insight about the chances of a recurrence in your specific case.

You should be worried about a recurrence and not survival.

Be optimistic and follow the advised management plan.

Let us know what your doctor tells you are also about how you are doing.

Keep us posted if you have any other queries.

Regards.

[lhughes]

I cannot tell you if you will survive, I can only tell you it's very possible you and and will survive.  I'm 38 (39 on Sunday), had Stage III (5cm, very aggressive, 9 on nottingham, too) cancer 2 1/2 years ago...Sept 05.  Had a mastectomy, 1 node positive, did 4 rounds A/C, then 4 rounds of Abraxane, radiation therapy.... and finally got my new boob and tummy tuck almost a year ago.

I'm still here, pray every day that I'll get to be here for my 2 little ones.  Pray that I don't ever hear those words out of my docs' mouths anytime in the next 50 years (that would be really nice!).....  Just trust that this is the way things are supposed to happen and that there is a plan.

So, have some faith, pray earnestly.  Enjoy your children and your grandbaby all you can.  Cancer doesn't have to keep you from life while you are trying to fight it.  Bald can be beautiful, and sometimes chemo is a blessing in disguise.  Even if your head is in the toilet.  If they don't offer, ask for something for nausea like Zofran.

Do you have an oncologist ready?  Talk with them NOW before the surgery so that you'll have more of an understanding.  You'll probably need radiation, too (but I'm not an expert, that's just what I had to do).  Find you a good plastic surgeon.  And, I'm not an expert, but I had better luck fighting the cancer before they did reconstruction.  But that was me.  Chemo will inhibit your ability to heal, so in a way, it makes more sense in my little head to have the boob removed, then wait to put it back on until after all the cr** is overwith.  But, that is also a very personal decision, and one that should be made with your docs.

Best of luck to you, I hope it all turns out well for you.  
Lisa