Diagnosed thursday. Grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma

I am writing on behalf of my mum. She found a lump the size of a grape 3 weeks ago. We have been advised yesterday that it is a grade 3 invasive ducttal carcinoma which is oestrogen receptor negative. She has a lumpectomy on 16th feb and they will look at lymph glands at that time and check if she is HER2. We don’t k ow what to expect…whether there is any chance at this point of mets?? (It’s invasive and aggressive which is frightening) …and why are they leaving it 3 weeks before removing an agressive cancer?! Has anybody else had this diagnosis, how are you now and the worst question of all, what is the prognosis? Worried, Suzanne

Hi Suzanne. My Mum was diagnosed with grade 3 invasive carcinoma breast cancer back in December. My Mum had a lumpectomy on Wednesday and it went really well. As for the her2 my mums is negative and hers is also oestrogen positive which means she will have radiotherapy and then be on hormone treatment. To be honest I’m not sure if breast cancer is easier to treat if it’s driven by hormones or not. But what I have learnt about grade 3 is that a lot of women have that grade and it can change after surgery once they have looked at the lump more clearly. Also just because a cancer is invasive it doesn’t mean it has spread, it just means it has the ability to. Grade 3 can grow very quickly but it doesn’t mean it will and they wouldn’t leave it 3 weeks if they thought it wwould grow much in that time. As I said my Mum is grade 3 and she had 5 weeks between diagnosis and operation. In fact she wouldn’t have had the op until the end of Feb if she hasn’t enquired if she could go to another hospital in a different town for it. I’m so sorry that you are in this situation. I know its a living hell. I wish your Mum a speedy recovery xxxx

Hi Suzanne, so sorry to hear your news. I’m 40, I was diagnosed IDC grade 3, hormone and her2 neg just after my birthday. It is frightening, nothing will stop that. Invasive just means it has grown outside of the duct where it probably started. I waited 4 weeks for lumpectomy due to needing some tests beforehand. I’m very lucky my lymph nodes are clear. No one would be able to give a clear prognosis until after surgery and lymph nodes checked. Treatments are excellent and chemo and radiotherapy go a long way to reduce the chance of the cancer recurring. Put your faith in the oncologists and surgeons, they will throw everything at it. I’m half way through chemo now and will have radiotherapy after. For me personally this gives me a very good chance of the cancer not coming back.
Though you will always worry, your minds will settle in time. I wish your mum all the luck in the world, she is very lucky to have such a caring daughter.
Much love x

Thank you everybody for your replies. We will be frequent visitors to this site in the near future no doubt…it’s helpful and supportive. Will let all know how she is after blood results on Tuesday. Fingers xd xxxxxxx

Hi Suzanne,

 

I don’t usually look at this part of the site as I have secondaries now, but was touched by your post and wanted to reply. I was diagnosed 24 years ago with invasive ductal carcinoma, the tumour was 5cm and oestrogen negative, I was told it was very aggressive and growing fast. I am sure I felt a bit like your mum must be feeling now. I never wanted to know what my prognosis was but from various conversations over the years with my oncologists I know they did not expect me to still be here. I have seen the drugs improve a lot over the years and new drugs discovered. I had many recurrences because it was before the days of herceptin, a drug to treat her2+, was available but I have now been on that drug since 2004. If your mum proves to have the her2 gen she will be treated with herceptin alongside chemotherapy. Your support is going to be so important to her in the coming months and although the going can be tough physically and mentally we all get there and if your mum wants to join in on these forums she will find a lot of help and encouragement here.

 

Dawn

xx

Hi S2usy

Welcome to the Breast Cancer Care discussion forums, where as you can see you will get some brilliant support from other users of this site.  Our helpline team are just a free phone call away if either you or your mum would like to talk to someone in confidence about what your mum is going through.  The helpline is open weekdays 9-5 and Saturdays 10-2. 0808 800 6000.  They’re here to support you both through this.

Take care,

Jo, Moderator

Hi again s2usy
I’m sorry you are struggling so much with your mums diagnosis. Im sorry i dont know much about the terms but poemsgalore’s link looks informative. Waiting is very difficult, you know it’s there so you want it out and sorted. They told me a matter of weeks makes no difference but that’s difficult mentally. There are some lovely people on here who offer fantastic support. Your mum probably is worried too but we all show it differently and she might be keeping a lid on it for you. I am as worried about my family as I am for me. I completely understand your worries. I have asked for a ct scan as I was so worried about it spreading but now that its nearly here I don’t want to know the answer. Your pains could be stress but if it makes you feel better get it checked out. It’s a very stressful worrying time for you all. I wish you and your mum all the best. Big hugs.
Caroline xxx

Hi I too was diagnosed with grade 3 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (HER+) in December. I am 42 with 2 young children. I am having chemo first (FEC-T x 6) and I’m halfway through this now. So far the tumour has grown slightly so the FEC part of the chemo doesn’t seem to have worked with me. I’ve been told that this is not unusual and some women don’t respond until they get the Docetaxol (T). I’m due to have surgery following chemo then Radiotherapy. I’ve just found this site and I’d really like to link up with others in the same boat either via the thread or private messaging. Thanks, Lindsay x

Hi, I’m Angela, 49, married and have two girls, 15&13. Two weeks ago had double mastectomy n auxiliary clearance on right arm pit as one node was cancerous too. Waiting for appointment to see oncologist then start chemo, I’m also her2 receptive so will go on Herceptin? This is all so new and frightening for me too and especially worry for my beautiful daughters as you are too! Please chat. X

Hi Mummycrow

Welcome to the BCC forums, along with the support here please feel free to call our helpliners for further practical and emotional support on 0808 800 6000, lines are open 9-5 and Sat 10-2

Here’s a link to the BCC ‘Treatments’ information and more support ideas which I hope you will find helpful:

breastcancercare.org.uk/treatment?utm_source=Homepage&%3Butm_medium=help_you&%3Butm_campaign=treatment

Take care
Lucy BCC

Hi, how are you getting in? Just reading through threads n noticed u same age? I had double mascectomy 6 weeks ago n awaiting chemo which starts this Fri! Hope u ok n more up beat xx

Just wanted all you ladies to know that it’s all doable, I was diagnosed Feb last year, inv ductal,1 node,her2,+ER+ and am now on the other side. One more herceptin to go nxt week. It helped me to read the inspiration and hope part of this site when I was going through treatment. As you will see the majority of women get through this and don’t forget that, even when you are at your lowest! There is so much negativity and you feel hopeless at times but you will get though it!