coukd anyone advise me please

[Maryland]

Hi tracy2905

As everyone else has advised, best to speak to a member of your team, or phone your surgeon's PA to ask for an explanation of your path report. Phoning the BCC helpline may be useful in the interim, as they can help with what questions to ask and why you were offered/not offered a particular type of treatment.

A colleague of mine was diagnosed in July, very similar scenario to you. Very small, low grade ER/PR\HER2+ with no lymph node involvement. She is 47 and had WLE rather than mastectomy. As the benefit of chemo/trastuzumab improved her 5/10 year prognosis by less than 0.7%, she agreed in discussion with her consultant to have radiotherapy to kill off any local stray cells and is considering Tamoxifen for 2+ years, possibly changing to an Aromatase Inhibitor, e.g. Anastrozole afterwards. There seems to be a real commitment at our local hospital not to 'over treat' and to genuinely take patients' wishes into consideration......refreshing!!!!! She, too, is still sceptical about hormone therapy with such a very low 0.4% survival benefit, and will make a decision when RT finishes at the end of next week.

Every diagnosis and treatment is unique to us, and it is absolutely right and proper that your path report is fully explained to you, with treatment options discussed so that you can make an informed decision.

Hope you get the answers you need to put your mind at rest..........all the best x

[poemsgalore]

I had a mastectomy and snb. I was supposed to have radiotherapy, but refused it because of a lung disease. As I was grade 3, I also had chemo. Now on Anastrazole. Hope you find out what's what Tracy. Take care.

[GB]

Hi Tracey  I had a WLE followed by radiotherapy and my surgeon said that if I'd have had a mastectomy I wouldn't have needed radiotherapy as the radiotherapy was to treat the remaining breast tissue.  But always best to check with the professionals in my view as putting our minds at rest is such an important part of the process.  I also asked about not taking the meds (I'm on anastrozole and have had various side effects) and the BCN told me it made a significant difference (greater than 50%) in preventing reoccurence so I'm taking it and very grateful for it! Best wishes Gayna x

[Kess]

Are you on herceptin? That is usually standard for her2 positive. And as poems said usually given with chemo (to start at least). If you aren't and haven't already I would say call the helpline to talk it through/check with your team.

They really should have made sure you understood everything at your post op meeting.....!

[tracy2905]

And perhaps because I opted for the mastectomy I didn't need the chemo. Not sure if I mentioned I had that in my original post

[tracy2905]

Thankx for the answer hun. Just to say I never had chemo. . I wasn't offered it as was expecting radiotherapy to be offered.. but surgeon said no just tamoxifen. Do u think I should question this to my surgeon x

[poemsgalore]

Hi Tracy,

Not sure if I've got this right, but it looks as though your tumour was 100% Oestrogen positive and 96% Progesterone positive, which means that Tamoxifen is your best bet to prevent a recurrence. You may only be on it for a couple of years and then move on to an aromotase inhibitor, which are not given to pre menopausal women. They are for post menopausal women. It also looks as though you are HER2 positive, which will mean Herceptin as well as chemo, as SOME chemo has to be given with Herceptin. Ki-67 is a cancer antigen that is found in growing, dividing cells but is absent in the resting phase of cell growth. This characteristic makes Ki-67 a good tumor marker. This test is done on a sample of tumor tissue, to help predict your prognosis. Grade 1 just means the tumour didn't look very different to normal tissue, and if it wasn't for the HER2 positive diagnosis, you could possibly have not needed chemo.

Sending hugs and best wishes. xx

[June_BCC]

Hello Tracy2905

Whilst waiting for replies you might find it helpful to call our Helpline to talk things over.  They'll be able to offer practical information as well as emotional support.  The opening times are 9-5 on weekdays and 10-2 on Saturdays.  The freephone number is 0808 800 6000.

with best wishes

June, moderator

[skinnyminx]

Do you have a Breast Care Clinical Nurse Specialist Team to whom you could refer and gain answers to your questions?  If they don't know the answers, maybe ask for an appointment with the consultant to have it all explained.  They are the specialists who will know the details of your case so will be able to provide the sense and advice for which your asking.  

Alternatively the Breast Cancer Care "Ask The Nurse" facility might help shed some light.

http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/node/1153936

All the best

[tracy2905]

​My weight is 8 St 7 lb. .and ime 5 ft 4 inch in height.. The numbers on my letter when leaving surgery are er 100...pr 96...ki67 4%....her2+..... which mean absolutely nothing to me and we're not explained..right breast invasive ductal carcinoma grade 1 8.5mm. ...0/3 sentinel lymph nodes....ime quite active as have a 5 and 13 years old so I see that ad regular excersise.. I gave up smoking in may 2014...and use ecig...tamoxifen has been prescribed for 2_3 years as aparently I am pre-menopausal.. which I didn't know that either til my local surgery offered me my surgeons letter lol.. Not wanting to spend any u necessary time on tamoxifen as they can lead to further problems.. so looking for alternative but not wanting to put myself in any risk of further cancers.. can anyone make sence of that please or advise me .. thanku in advance xx