Hey All,
Happy Sunday… I am looking for some advice.
I have recently been diagnosed with grade 2 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma ER+, PR+ and HER2 Negative following a biopsy. Since then I have undergone a double mastectomy with expanders due to having the BRCA2 mutation rather than a lumpectomy and all nodes came back clear.
My questions is can your treatment plan or biopsy results differ to your full pathology results after surgery? I am due to get mine in another 2 weeks (4 weeks post op) and am pretty worried.
So far I have been advised that I will need hormone blockers for 5 years but no other treatment. I am worried that this might change when I get my results but I am also worried it might not be enough to stop recurrence on its own as I am only 30. I am so confused and driving myself crazy!
Any experience or advice would be a great help! x
Hi Shanie
My diagnosis and treatment plan is changing following pathology results but my situation is so different from yours that it isn’t any help I’m afraid. Hopefully somebody in your situation will come along soon. My initial diagnosis was DCIS but is now IDC stage 1 as the pathologist found a small tumour. I was worried about the diagnosis possibly changing too and my new diagnosis is ‘worse’ than my old one but the right diagnosis means I get the right treatment and a better chance for a great outcome so I am moving forward. Hope you can find things to distract you till the results meeting. Keeping busy worked for me - up to a point! The waiting is just so hard. Sending you a big hug xx
@Shanie - yours is a good question, and Coffeefiend has advised that yes sometimes results do change, but not always. Have you considered calling the nurses on here, number at the top of this page on the right - 08088006000, as they will be able to talk things through with you.
Try to take one day at a time if you can, don’t let your mind rush too far ahead and imagine things. One of the best cancer books I have reminds us that “fears are not facts”. Your team will come up with a treatment plan specifically tailored to your results, but don’t be afraid to ask questions. Get a notebook and write down questions, and then the answers while you are in the meeting so that you don’t come out and wonder what the heck they told you!
My very best wishes to you, and a gentle hug as you go forward. I had similar diagnosis to you, but with lymph involvement and I haven’t been tested for BRCA gene - so if I can help with any questions please ask. Evie xx