Hi, I would really like to hear from anyone who can give me some advice re mums recent BC treatment.
My mum is 67yrs old and was diagnosed with invasive grade 1 ductal cancer Aug 2009. She had two lumpectomys which showed very extensive high inter mixed high nuclear grade DCIS, so she ended up having a mastectomy. (no lymph involvement)
Her consultant decided there was no need for rads and prescribed Tamoxifen for 5yrs.
I know there was no lymph involvement, but I have been reading a lot on this subject and it seems that younger women have chemo/rads.
I worry that they haven’t offered it because of her age. I just want to make sure she has had everything done possible to prevent it coming back.
Hi lou29,
Welcome to the Breast Cancer Care Discussion Forums.
If you or your mother would like to talk to someone in confidence please do also remember that the Breast Cancer Care Helpline offers support and information. Calls to the Helpline are free, lines are open Mon – Fri 9am to 5pm and Sat 9am to 2pm telephone 0808 800 6000
Kind regards,
Kate, BCC Facilitator
Hi I totally understand your concerns that your Mum should maybe have been given rads … I was dx in Jan 2008 with grade 1 invasive ductal and had WLE and node sampling (no lymph nodes affected but there was spread to other breast tissue/intermammory node and blood vessels) I had rads and am on tamoxifen for 5 years. I was considered for chemo but they basically said that that chemo would give me a mere 2-3% higher chance than if I didn’t have it and as such the risks outweighed the benefits … I like you worried that the fact that I was missing out on a treatment increased my risk of re-occurrance, but after discussing it with the oncologist and other ppl both professional and patients I was re-assured that the hormone treatment was by far the best weapon to fight it with.
I’m back on this site now as my Mam was dx with breast cancer in feb 2010. She has had WLE and they have advised she had grade 1 DCIS … no need for further surgery but she will be put forward for rads and will be on hormone therapy too.
It might be an idea for you, along with your Mum to visit the breast care nurse and ask the reasons that they are not offering her rads, if they can give you a good explanation as to why they have not offered them then it may give you peace of mind.
J
Hi Lou29
I would think your Mum has had the right treatment but if you are unhappy then talk to her BCN. As I understand things, the mastectomy removes the cancer cells fully (or as much as anyone can be sure). If she had just had a Wide Local Excision, then there’s a chance of a few cells being left behind so radiotherapy kills these. As the lymph nodes are clear then she should be ok. Also, grade 1 invasive cells are the slowest growing so less likely to cause problems in the future. The Tamoxifen will help to stop oestrogen feeding any possible futute problems.
I’m 64 had a grade 2 invasive ductal cancer with clear lymph nodes. Had WLE and radiotherapy so am sure that age isn’t a factor against giving radiotherapy. Am on Letrozole which is similar to Tamoxifen.
Hope this makes sense.
LOL
Margaret
Hi Lilacblushes & Hexy,
Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. I wasn’t aware they could tell if there is blood vessel involvement. The onc didn’t mention this, he just said the pre cancerous cells were not near the chest muscle, therefore no need for rads. (although before the op he told her she would definately need it).
My mum worries as they were ‘high nuclear cells’. I dont understand this fully, but I imagine this means the pre cancerous cells surrounding the tumour were just about to turn ‘bad’.
The BC nurse is lovely, but I think my mum is scared to ask too many questions. After being drip fed bad news for months I don’t think she could cope with more! Her friends have been great, although some without meaning to have made some insensitive comments, for example ‘once they operate the cancer can spread like wild fire’ and ‘Tamoxifen is the cheapest option- it doesn’t mean it’s right for you’!! She now worries that she should seek advice on her med!
I keep telling her everything will be fine, as it was caught very early- thanks to a routine mammogram.
I hope you are both doing well, and best wishes to your mum Lilacblushes.
Hi Lou,
If it’s any consolation to your mum I’ve found the NHS definitely don’t do things on the cheap. They will give the treatment that is right for you providing it has been approved for use. Herceptin, for example is very expensive at over £1000 per dose but since it was approved by NICE it is routinely prescribed by most health authorities for women with HER2+ cancers. A consultant friend explained to me that they do take age into consideration when prescribing, along with weight, height and general health but it is to make sure that the patient can cope with the treatment not to exclude them.
Hope this helps to reassure her.
Jan xx
Hi Jan,
Thanks for the information, I appreciate your input.
Do you know what the histology report means? ER8, PR8, Ki67, EgFR negative, HER2 1+
Far too complicated for me! She has been taking Tamoxifen since Jan, but petrified of the side effects, although the only symptoms so far have been itchy skin and a few hot flushes.
Do you think herceptin is another option? Mum is healthy otherwise (only ever had high BP- now under control)
Thanks again for your advice
Lou x
Hi lou
Here’s a link to the publication ‘Understanding your pathology report’ which may be of some help to you and your Mum:
Best wishes
Lucy