u/Popular_Acadia4563

My oncotype (18) threw a wrench in my treatment plan and now a 4x TC Protocol is "up to me". Considering I didn't know what an Oncotype score or TC chemo was 6 weeks ago, it feels ridiculous to put the choice in my hands, yet here we are.

I have the option of the Ofset trial, which honestly seems awesome. The ability to eliminate this entire "gray area" and help other women is so appealing. That said, while adjusting to the thought of chemo has been difficult, I feel anxious at the thought of not getting it in the trial. And that feels like my choice is made: do the chemo. Then I feel selfish and guilty for not helping. And then I am back to not knowing.

For those of you in my position, either to choose chemo and/or enter the trial, what did you do and why?

Hi again! I see my radiation oncologist on 5/19, but don't have my appointment with a medical oncologist until 6/16. Hoping it is moved up, but in the mean time, this is my situation:

I am 45f, premenopausal with grade 2, HR+, HER2-, Ki-67 10%, oncotype 18, IDC and DCIS in right breast. I had a lumpectomy with clear margins on my 2.8 cm tumor. There were isolated cells in 1 of 3 sentinel nodes removed but I am considered node negative. After surgery and pathology I was staged at 1A, originally staged at 1B.

If I was low clinical risk, chemo would provide <1% benefit, but I am considered high clinical risk because my grade and tumor size is above 4 (grade 2 + 2.8 cm tumor = 4.8). With this risk, it states an average benefit of 3.1%, which feels huge, especially as those pesky isolated cells in my node really freak me out. I also find it perplexing that onco does not include radiation, as that seems to be standard of care with my type of cancer.

So, big question:
If you were me, would you push for chemo/go for it if told it was your choice to make?

Smaller questions:
Anything specific I should I ask my radiation oncologist on Tuesday?

When will I find out how much radiation I will get, regardless of chemo?

Will my radiation oncologist know anything about chemo or the plan, or do I have to keep hoping that appointment is moved sooner?

How long did you go between surgery and radiation or surgery and chemo and radiation?

What else should I take into account when weighing the pros/cons of chemo so I am as informed as possible when I meet with my oncologists?

Thank you, you beautiful people. ❤️

I had my lumpectomy surgical follow up yesterday, 15 days post op. The surgical tape was disintegrating and itchy, so I was grateful to get it off. The incisions look good but I'm having some irritation/pain where the knots from the stitches were sticking out. Nothing looks or feels infected, and the incisions are still closed, they just hurt more than they have been and I can feel them every time I move. My surgeon gave me alcohol to get the residue off, ointment, and gauze, which I used this morning.

How did everyone manage their incisions once they were "exposed"? Is this new discomfort short lived? Would it be bad to put something over the spots that are uncomfortable?

I'm right in the thick of it, but this has unequivocally been the most intense and stressful two months of my life. I am exhausted and pissed and overwhelmed and hopeful and sore and scared and frustrated and grateful.

I am dreading tamoxifen and don't want to go off my anxiety meds. I want to live a long and happy life, but cannot imagine waking up every morning for the next 30+ years and thinking "cancer".

Does it get better? Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Is there a time that the fear of recurrence abates?

I received my lumpectomy pathology back yesterday via phone call from my surgeon. She was super pleased and said the margins were clear and of the 3 nodes removed, 2 were completely negative and one "just" had "two tiny spots" but that was considered nothing. I made sure she clarified this specific point because it confused me.

When I read the pathology later, it states "Three lymph nodes, one containing isolated tumor cells, negative for carcinoma (0(i+)/3)." The isolated cells are noted as "two foci of keratin positive cells". My understanding is the cells were less than .2 mm in diameter. And also the node is out, so can no longer spread.

But it was still in there(?!) and is freaking me out.

I avoid googling because it makes me more anxious. I'd love to be able to focus on the positive but am struggling. I was hoping someone had a similar report or experience and could mitigate my worry?

Long time reddit lurker, and of all things a BC diagnosis finally made me get an account. I am 45 yo, pre-menopausal, otherwise healthy (insert all the things here about eating and sleeping and exercising), diagnosed with Stage 1B DCIS and IDC on my right breast on 3/31. The main tumor was 3cm. I am HR+ and HER-2 neg, BRCA neg, and there is zero breast cancer history in my family going back at least 3, likely 4, generations.

I have always been told I have dense breasts, but with the lack of history, never thought much of it. After a routine mammo 10/25, I was referred for additional imaging and US. That was 11/25, and after the follow up mammo, I was told I didn't need an US, so went on my way. Fast forward to March, a calcification I've had for 25+ years was bothering me. Went to my OB/GYN 3/13, she referred me for an US 3/20, met with a surgeon 3/24, biopsy 3/25, and results 3/31. My best guess is the tumor was pushing on the calcification which is why I could feel it. Otherwise who knows how long it would have gone unseen.

I've since had a MRI, follow up US, additional biopsy, and lumpectomy with sentinel node removal on 4/28. I am anxiously awaiting final pathology. (I had a hysterectomy 10/2024 due to fibroids, and this recovery has been much worse.)

My case defies all logic and I believe routine imaging failed me. My diagnosis was/is a complete shock. I know bad luck plays a role, but I also know thats not the only answer as I am told every day about "so and so who is under 50 and had BC last year". I probably have 400 questions (what bras are lopsided ladies wearing who are not opting for reconstruction or lift?), but my main one is this:

How do you answer people who want to know "why" so many women under 50 - especially ones like myself - are being diagnosed with breast cancer?

Thank you so much for the countless ways this group has helped me so far. I hope one day this will be far in my rear view and I can be of equal support to others facing this garbage journey.