Last Thursday I was told I have Invasive Ductal. Stunned is an understatement.
I know it’s small 1.7cm but I don’t know anything about the Grade or Stage. It that unusual?
I’ve been told I can have either a Mastectomy or a Lumpectomy, either is as good. It’s small enough not to need chemo first.
I’m to speak to my Breast Care Nurse on Thursday to decide on Mastectomy or Lumpectomy.
HAving read a few threads on this forum, it seems like I should have a little more info to help me make that impossible decision.
I know I can phone my Breast Care Nurse and will be doing as soon as this Bank Holiday weekend gets out of the way, but for now. I’m just wondering if there was something I missed during that first meeting.
Hi Beatrice, I’m sorry you find yourself here but glad you found us. It’s not unusual to not know the grade and stage after biopsy. I didn’t find out fully the grade and stage until after my surgery. It really is a big shock at first and it takes a while to get your head around so just give yourself time. Try and keep your mind busy with things which will help you once your treatment starts. It gets easier once your treatment is underway and something is being done. Here’s my story which I hope you can find some comfort from. It’s good to know that others have survived this and I started right where you are now. Scared, very scared. lifeafterlola.blogspot.co.uk/
First of all, welcome to the forum, we’ve all been where you are now & understand what you’re going through at the mo. It is such a shock getting a diagnosis.
You wouldn’t necessarily have all the info yet, as often further investigations are needed to get the diagnosis absolutely right, but do check with your BCN as we often don’t take it all in initially. Normally, the biopsy will show the type of bc it is & possibly the grade or whether it is hormone positive. The final results don’t usually come through until the whole thing has been looked at, in the lab after it’s been removed at surgery.
In respect of surgery, see what the team recommends, take it all a stage at a time & try not to leap to far ahead into the ‘what ifs’
Do come & ask anything or chat whenever you need to, between us all, we’ve been through all aspects of treatment here & do use the main bcc site here, as well as the helpline if you need to.
Anyway, of course it doesn’t feel like it, but thankfully now it’s been diagnosed, it will now be dealt with & you’ll come out the other side, we all do.
Hi Bea, welcome to the forum ? It’s hard to take in everything that is said at the initial diagnosis but they should have given you some indication of the type and grade from your biopsy so certainly ring the clinic tomorrow to ask your BCN for more information.
Also a small tumour wouldn’t necessarily warrant a mastectomy so I would question why they have suggested it as it’s more usual to be told you don’t need one.
It is a hell of a shock in the beginning but you will get your head around it all and a big help is to know the facts. There is plenty of advice and support across the forum so ask anything you want to know Xx Jo
Thank you so much for the welcome and advice, it’s heartening to know that I won’t have to go through this alone. I know I have the support of family and friends, but friends on here who also have knowledge and experience will be invaluable.
This choice I have been given is awful. Mastectomy or Lumpectomy, I think I’d rather they just told me what they’d recommend, after all they’re the ones with the training and knowledge.
Thank you so much for the words of support. They mean a lot.
I’ve spoken to my BCN and she’s been wonderful.
Turns out I’m Stage 2 they think.
I’ve only had a biopsy so far so they can’t be too definate on it’s specifics until it’s been removed.
Because my lump is so small, I don’t need chemo to shrink it before surgery. So the surgery is happening fast. Thank goodness, but…wow it’s fast.
I think I’ve decided to have a mastectomy, but I don’t have to make it official until Tuesday, the operation is next Wednesday. Mastectomy was my knee jerk reaction when they told me. So I’ve been trying to get all the info I can to make sure it’ wasn’t just a knee jerk reaction. I don’t think it was. I think the security (real or imagined doesn’t matter to me) that I’ve done everything I can to get rid of it will help me in the future.
Just read your thread Bea. Whatever you choose for yourself, you will be right. I had two small lumps and an area of DCIS. They would have done a therapeutic mamoplasty at the beginning, but I decided I wanted the added security (real or just perceived) of the mastectomy. I also wanted the immediate reconstruction, DIEP flap. Due to the recon its took a bit longer to get things in place, but I’m I’m 5weeks post op now. I’ve had my results and no rads or chemo, just hormone therapy. I’m healing well and can already see the potential of my new boobies, particularly as I’m 57 and my new ones haven’t had the years of gravity to deal with yet! Good luck xxx
Four days ago on the 6th June I had my Mastectomy.
It’s such a relief!
That was the scariest most awful decision I’ve ever had to make. My heart was telling me that the scarier option was the best one for me. “But it’s terrifying!” said my head “But it’s right” said my heart. And all of that inner conversation with a heart and a head in shock and neither thinking in a straight line.
Thank you so much for helping me find the strength to listen to what my heart was telling me. The advice and help I’ve had here and from my friends and family by my side has been invaluable.
I see now that I had to make this decision. I wanted someone else to make it for me. To tell me what to do. But no. It had to be mine. And my decision may not be right for the next lady in need.
So listen to the advice, help and support and then listen to yourself. It’s tough, but you’ll see too. It’s the only way to approach this.
Ooo and btw. A mastectomy is not nearly as painful as I feared. I have plenty of morphine, but don’t really seem to be needing it. Hhhmm. Glad it’s there tho, just in case.