Hi if it's any consultation I have been diagnosed with invasive ductal too, grade 3' and I have a large 3cm clump lymph nodes, they are calling it locally advanced, I also have a fungating tumour, I was told because it's reached the skin , I'm higher risk of spread to the liver, however they dud a CT scan and luckily it hasn't spread beyond the lymph nodes, I was told that that's the first place it spreads to the lymph nodes..si it sounds like yours will be fine ,especially if they haven't done a CT scan. 

I start chemo first followed by a mastectomy 

Thanks for your reply. After the lumpectomy, they regraded me to grade 3 as well as telling me it was bigger than they first thought. I've to have chemo for 4-6 months and then radiotherapy to the breast and armpit. Followed by 10 years of Tamoxifen hormone therapy. I was just so ready for it all to be over once the lump was removed. And now I have a 10 year plan. I just need reassurance that no other tumours have started to grow out with my breast. I wish you good health and no side effects from your chemo xx

Oh no that must have been a big shock xx dud they not do a CT scan and chemo before your lumpectomy? I'm wondering why as I was told surgery first then chemo 6 months but that's before my surgeon knew my biopsy results , now I d had them they've told me chemo two three weekly cycles for a couple of months then that was it, I said what about nasectomy my breast care nurse said they haven't mentioned that in the meeting , we will now refer you to the oncologist. 

It's so confusing , they've no idea how scary or confusing it is for us not knowing all the facts or why they are or aren't doing certain things.

I wish you well and please keep in touch xx I have hormone receptors to but don't know what they are doing about that 

Sam 

this is a huge knock back but was it your oncologist who said you needed chemo or your consultant as this happened to me co sultans said Chemo then met oncologist and she rolled her eyes told me chemo would do more harm than good in the type grade I had 

here to chat help love Lara ️

Hello Samglitter007 and thanks for posting,

I can understand you wanting everything to be over and done with after your surgery. I don't think this happens very often in the treatment of breast cancer, for most people a few different approaches are usually packaged up together, so try and take some heart from not being alone in this situation. 

In certain circumstances the doctors might want to do some scans to look for signs that an early breast cancer has spread, but not most of the time as they are unlikely to find anything. Doctors may think about scans if a cancer was large or if there were a few more nodes involved, but otherwise, they may decide it isn't worth it as the chances of detecting something are low. Do ask your breast care nurse or specialist about this when you have the chance. 

It is seldom possible to say for sure that no cells have escaped from a cancer prior to surgery, but if any have, bear in mind they may not survive naturally and that further treatment aims to destroy any that might be lingering on. 

I hope your oncology appointment comes through soon so you get the chance to talk everything over. 

If you want to talk to us please ring on Freephone 0808 800 4040, we are around weekdays 9-5. 

Best wishes,

Julia

Hello SpiritLove,

Just to say that treatment for breast cancer is tailored and depends on the features of the disease, so it can vary from person to person and the treatment plans aren't always clear cut at the outset for everyone - some may need to be amended a bit. I think doctors sometimes give a broad brush of how things might go, but then focus on the first phase of treatment rather than looking too far ahead as it might be overwhelming.

I am not sure why a mastectomy was mentioned initially but not in the last meeting, it might just be a first things first sort of thing. But hormone therapy usually comes after chemotherapy so that is likely to be something for later on. I think for now just try and take things one step at a time- easier said than done I know. 

Give us a ring if you want to talk anything over,  our number is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and we are around weekdays, 9-5.

Best wishes,

Julia