Hi Sprinx86

I'm so sorry you have found yourself in this situation. I was diagnosed with Grade 1 IDC in January at 32 years old. Like you my mind went straight to worse case scenario.

It's very difficult at the beginning as your still waiting for results and waiting for scans etc. Just know that with each piece of information you get it will all become clearer and easier.

The MRI is standard procedure. It gives them a clearer picture of what they are dealing with si they can tailor a treatment plan specifically for you.

Your treatment plan will depend on the results of the biopsies and MRI. Initially my treatment plan wasn't going to include chemotherapy but then my tumor showed that it was HER2 positive and so my treatment plan changed and now I'm halfway through chemotherapy; so it all really does depend on the results.

Waiting is an awful part of this whole process but believe me it does become easier once you begin treatment. Im the meantime keep talking about how yoyr feeling, it really helped me to just have my little rants and breakdowns just to get it all out.

Amy x

Hi Amy, 

Thanks for your reply. Did you have surgery? I'm not really sure what HER2 means, when do you find this out? All I know is that mine is oestrogen fuelled. 
 

xx

No surgery yet, that should be happening after I've finished chemotherapy. Then I think I will have radiotherapy and will have to take Tamoxifen for a minimum of 5 years as my breast cancer is also oestrogen positive. 

HER2 is a bit complicated but basically it is a protein that helps control how a cell divides. My tumor has an increased amount of the HER2 protein which means it grows quickly, and so chemotherapy is needed incase any loose cancer cells have spread anywhere else. It also means I will be having extra treatment for a further 12 months of a drug which specifically targets the HER2 protein.

The results of your biopsy will show whether or not yours is HER2 positive. Although this result can take a little longer to come through.

When I started this journey I had no idea of all the different types of breast cancer there actually are, it's completely mind boggling, but you will get there.

In the meantime if you have anymore questions, feel free to ask and I'll try to answer them (although I'm no breast cancer expert, it can help speaking to someone else who is going through it) even if you just want to have a rant :) 

Amy x