Medullary experience out there? Totally confused !

Any advice would be helpful …

I was diagnosed on the 19th Nov and had a partial mascetomay on the 26th November and have been waiting for my results …

I now know that it is moderately agressive medullary cancer and am at stage 2 and nodes were clear - lump large and had grown a lot in a year.

I am waiting for an appointment for the oncologist and have just found out that the cancer is totally (100%) unreceptive to hormone treatment.

So the possibilities are :
* only radio - forget the chemo
* radio and chemo

The surgeon told me that he hopes that they do decide to give me chemo - he would prefer that if I was his relative. I am mid-forties.

So I have now gone full circle - from dreading having chemo to hoping I’m not going to miss out!!!

Am now waiting to see the onconolgist … sometime in the new year

Has anyone else been in this position?? Apparently medullary is very rare.

By the way - feeling relieved it’s not hormonal and so is OH as I am a nightmare with hormones.

It’s all getting a bit confusing … haven’t bought the wig yet

Any help gratefully received!

Thanks a lot
FizBix

Hi Fizbix

If you feel it would help to talk things through with someone on our helpline please feel free to call, it’s open again in the morning from 9am-5pm on 0808 800 6000. The helpliners are specialist nurses and can help you to better understand your potential treatment options.

Best wishes
Lucy

Hi Fizbix

One of the members on the “other” forum (Sorry I am unable to post the link) has medullary breast cancer. I will email her to let her know about your post.

I found the following information for you on genetichealth.com/BROV_Types_of_Breast_Cancer.shtml

Although only three to six percent of all breast cancers are medullary carcinomas, this type of cancer is much more common in women with a genetic predisposition to breast cancer. In fact, different studies have found that between 13 and 19 percent of all cancers in women who carry a BRCA1 mutation are medullary carcinomas. In this type of cancer, the border between the cancer tissue and the normal tissues is relatively well-defined. Generally, the prognosis for patients with medullary carcinoma is better than for women with other types of invasive ductal or lobular carcinoma.

I hope you find this useful.

Best wishes

RMW

Thanks very much RMW and Lucy