Waiting biopsy results following surgery

Hi

I was diagnosed with grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma in February and had surgery to remove this and test sential  lymph nodes lasr week and I am awaiting the biopsy results my doctor letter indicates that I have positive receptors for oestrogen and positive receptors  for HER I am worried that this will mean I am more likely to need Chemotherapy as well as radiotherapy rather than just radiotherapy any advice would be appreciated I can only find references to her_2 when I use Google, waiting for results and treatment plan really is the hardest part , many thanks for reading x

  • Hi Waterbaby,

    A very warm welcome to our forum.

    Waiting for results is one of the worst parts of our cancer journey. It is so difficult to cope, when you are in the realms of the unknown. It is impossible for me to say whether or not you'll need chemotherapy. With your cancer being grade 3 and invasive, I would expect that this is a possibility. Your surgeon will discuss this with all of the other professionals involved in your care, at the MDT (multi-disciplinary team) meeting, when your results come back. 

    Here's hoping that you don't have much longer to wait.

    Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Hi Jolamine and many thanks for your response I the waiting is awful I was only diagnosed in Februaryand the worst part is over in that it has been found and removed I just need to gave a little patience and sit out the next set of results x 

  • Hi Waterbaby,

    Did your surgeon say how long you might have to wait for your results? They are usually back within 1-3 weeks. Most of us find that waiting for results is the hardest part of our cancer journey. It is never easy dealing with the unknown and, irrespective of the results, you will find it easier to cope once you know what you are dealing with.

    Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Hi Warerbaby25, I too was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma and am oestrogen and HER2 positive. I was told I would need to go on Herceptin and so would need chemo. I have more than one area in breast that is affected, so this may have made the difference. I've started chemo first to reduce tumours, before having a mastectomy. I hope you manage to avoid the chemo and soon find out your treatment plan moving forward. Xx

  • Hi thank you for your reply I have received my letter and my results day is the 23rd April so not too much longer to wait the nervous are setting in again x

  • Hi. Thank you for your reply I was told.prior to my surgery that I would need to take some form of medication for around 5 to 10 years I get my results on 23rd April so should find out more then, I hope your chemo is going well and you are well in yourself x 

  • I have to go onto hormone blockers for 5-10 years once the rest of my treatment is over. I've now had 3 cycles of chemo, which has gone really well so far, with minimal side effects. Good luck on the 23rd, I'm sure you'll feel much better once you know the rest of you're treatment plan. My surgery is going to be after chemo, it's good that uou have already got your surgery over with. I wish you well on your journey moving forward. Xx

  • Hi Waterbaby,

    I'm glad to hear that your results will soon be here. Don't forget to let us know how you get on. Remember that we are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Hi all just to update I.got my results today I need to have chemotherapy for her2 and an injection in the stomach I will.also.need radiotherapy after my chemotherapy treatment and to take a tablet  for 5 years due to estrogen receptors i think they said, youndo get provided with so much information, I am now awaiting an appointment to see an oncologist. Whilst I was initial upset with the news of chemotherapy I am.feeling slightly more positive that I now know my preventative course of action treatment and all things going well I should have a better end to.the year than the start, thank you to all for your continued advice support and information on your journeys x 

  • I agree the waiting is the worse. When I had mammogram, scan and a core needle biopsy I was told it looked like a grade 2A and would receive hormone treatment if positive ER and lumpectomy and radiotherapy. Biopsy results said otherwise as I now face an invasion grade III breast cancer, negative ER so no hormone treatment or radiotherapy but straight into 18 weeks of chemotherapy (1 every 3 weeks) then  a lumpectomy. 

    Best wishes