Medullary experience out there? Totally confused !

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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

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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

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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

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Thanks very much RMW and Lucy