Hi there, I am 54 and was recently diagnosed with DCIS and Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, grade 2, triple positive, PgR 4/8, ER8/8, HER-2+ve. I also have a Ki-67 reading of 31% which I believe means that the cancer has a high proliferation rate. There is no lump or visual change to my breast. I was one of the lucky ones who found out through routine screening. My cancer has been described as a cluster of micro-calcifications with a surface area of 10cm.
My consultant has told me that I will need a mastectomy and then adjuvant chemo, targeted therapy and endocrine therapy.
I just found out today that my surgery is not until 1st March and that has sent my anxiety through the roof. I can’t help but worry about the cancer inside me and what it’s doing. They tell me that it’s fast growing, but don’t quantify it. I’m terrified that it’s spreading with each passing moment.
The consultant did suggest putting me on endocrine therapy, if there was a delay in getting a surgery date, but I don’t feel re-assured. My rational mind is telling me that they are working well within suggested timelines, but I’m just freaking out.
The wait is torturous.
Hello @maria1970
Sorry to hear you have been diagnosed.You will find a great deal of support on this forum. My timescale was not dissimilar to yours. I discovered a lump on 3 April last year. I waited 10 days for my breast clinic appointment. Whilst they could not confirm type, grade etc I was given the news that no one wants to hear. Two weeks later it was confirmed that my cancer was PR8, ER8 and HER2 borderline. I had surgery, a lumpectomy on 23 May. I was put on letrozole straight away as I was having a reduction on the other breast at the same time, and the surgeon needed a second team on the day. I was told the letrozole might shrink the tumour whilst waiting for surgery. It was when the tumour was removed and tested that the HER2 positive was found. I had chemotherapy at the start of August and have now finished radiotherapy. I am back on letrozole and having Herceptin injections 3 weekly until October.
The waiting is always the worst, but take each day at a time. There is help out there. I hope my experience helps to give you some reassurance. I feel quite well now.
All the best
Hello @maria1970
Sorry about your diagnosis. I was diagnosed in july last year with 13.5 mm grade 2 and triple positive
I had a lumpectomy and a sentinel node biopsy. I think everyone that get told they have cancer thinks it grows like made and to spreading everywhere. I thought exactly the same and got so freaked out with it but thats not the case. I had my op in September started my chemo the end of October and i have my last round on Thursday 
. I still have another 16 herceptin injections to go and 10 days of radiotherapy. It is a long road that we go on but its so worth it in the long run. There is another group called her2 buddies thats a really good group. Im always on there reading things and its helped me so much. I know it might feel like your alone but trust me your not and everything you are feeling and thinking weve all had the same i wish you all the best take care xx
Hi @maria1970
I too am triple positive - and like @sawabev am on the HER-2 thread which is super helpful (though be warned it has over 2000 posts so be armed with a cup of tea if you plan on reading through the history 
)
I think this link will take you to it: HER2+ and need some buddies
When I was worrying about the time between diagnosis and surgery (which in my case was about 6 weeks and I think just slightly outside of the NHS target) my specialist nurse told me that although my tumour was fast growing, it would still take 2-3 months to double in size, and that even if it was double the initial size it would still be very treatable. In the end, the lump removed was sized in the lab exactly the same as was predicted by the MRI.
Don’t know if that helps any but your team will have seen sooo many people in a similar position to you and will be working together to help you have the best possible outcome.
@sawabev @bigpickle @knock-knock Ladies, thank you so much for sharing your stories. Everyone’s journey is so unique, but it’s reassuring to hear that you’re doing well.
After I posted, my consultant got in touch to say that he wants to see me next Friday to start my endocrine therapy. I’m hoping that getting started on my treatment will give me some peace of mind. I’ll take a little comfort from knowing that the tumour will not continue to be nourished by oestrogen.
I forgot to mention in my original post, that I don’t have a lump. I have a calcification cluster with a surface area on 10cm, hence the mastectomy. My diagnosis is DCIS and Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, grade 2. My staging won’t be confirmed until after my surgery, as they will need to perform a sentinel node biopsy.
I consider myself very lucky as it was picked up in a routine mammogram. God only knows when I would have noticed a change, as there is nothing of note to see.
Thanks again ladies and all the best.