Grade 3 Breast Cancer – will I need Chemo?
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18 posts since
6 May 2019
Hi,
Just looking for info on other peoples treatment. I’m 39, I’ve just had 2nd surgery to remove 8mm IDC as the margins aren’t clear – hopefully will be now (results next week). It is grade 3 but luckily no lymph nodes involved (3 removed in SNB).
My consultant says I won’t need chemo as there were no lymph nodes with cancer in them, but I’ve been reading some things that in younger women with grade 3, oncology may suggest chemo? I haven’t had my appointment with oncology yet.
Anyone else with similar – would love to hear your story/treatment.
thanks xx
1 posts since
14 Jun 2019
Hi, sorry to hear you’ve had to have a second op. I was diagnosed last year age 43 with grade 2 IDC 10mm my lymph nodes and margins were clear and I had radiotherapy for 15 sessions plus another 4 boost sessions to the affected area. It was a relief not to have chemotherapy and 8 months on I feel great. If you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to ask.
24 posts since
15 Jun 2019
Hi,
I too am in a similar situation and waiting to hear what my treatment will be, due 2nd OP (re excision of margins) next week, generic test (oncotype DX) underway to help decide if chemo is necessary as previous tests on tumour said I was borderline. 11mm and grade 3 with clear lymph nodes and margins. I’m 49. Think nurse was trying to prepare me for chemo, said since I was young they like to through everything they have at it. Will definitely have radiotherapy at least along with hormone therapy.
Trying to decide if children should be told at this stage (ages 12 & 16) or wait as long as possible? Not sure what to do for the best.
But have read on this many times chemo not always given in these circumstances so hoping I don’t have to get it, but will certainly take their advise and have it if need be, but filled with dread at the thought.
The wait is agonising.
Best wishes for u x
18 posts since
6 May 2019
Thanks for replying. You mentioned tests on your tumor were borderline…do you know what tests they ran etc., my consultant hasn’t mentioned anything about that and how it will impact decision on chemo and would be good to know what to ask him.
Waiting is torture….
thanks
24 posts since
15 Jun 2019
Sorry think now actually it was results from information entered into some database about the grading, lymph nodes, my age etc , sorry so much information given hard to remember it all 
but if it helps they said 2% or below wouldn’t need chemo, 5,6 etc above definitely would, mine was 2.9% so he suggested the oncotype dx test, will get results in 2 wks.
please let me know how you get on next week, good luck x
1351 posts since
14 Dec 2018
Hello,
i was grade 2 invasive ductal carcinoma and mucinous, clear margins no lymph node involvement….my onco couldn’t rule out rogue cells so wanted me to have a chemotherapy flush…..I just wanted to throw everything at this to help lower the risk of any future reoccurrence…..
good luck with it all, will e interesting to see what your onco advises ….xxxx
24 posts since
15 Jun 2019
Hi,
What does a chemotherapy flush mean, is it an easier treatment to have? How did u get on with it? Any hair loss? This is the part I’m dreading,
Hope you are well, thank you xx
1351 posts since
14 Dec 2018
Hi, sadly total hair loss….I was on fec…..100% strength for the first dose then a reduced dose for the rest…..I won’t lie to you, I found chemo pretty brutal but doable….a friend of mine sailed through it….so we are all different…..but what I can say is it’s now 8 weeks since my last cycle and my hair is already growing!
Everything crossed you won’t need chemo……but….it’s not the end of the world if you do….you have no lymph node involvement…..let us know how you get on? Xxxx
24 posts since
15 Jun 2019
I will Marlyn, thank you very much. I’m glad you are over yours now, onwards and upwards 
thsnk you xx
18 posts since
6 May 2019
Hi, was back today for results of op…. the margins are still not clear so need a 3rd op to clear the DCIS….as what is left is the In Situ they are not rushing for surgery, so I’ve got a couple of weeks then surgery again as my breast is really sore (and nipple actually).
Talked to consultant about Oncotype DX test and he said this outcome will decide whether I get chemo or not….but they won’t progress me to oncology until the surgery part is complete.
He stressed the ‘treatment’ part is surgery with anything else (radio, chemo & tamoxifen) the follow-up to reduce chances of recurrance. This made me feel a bit better as felt surgery bit was like going round a roundabout I can’t get off.
My only worry is the in situ cells didn’t show up on the MRI, surgeon was also happy tissue looked normal when he removed it….only showed at microscopic level….so thinking Chemotherpy isn’t so bad afterall if is kills any wee bits growing that they don’t know about.
Don’t really know much at all about Chemo and the variations….does anyone know how they decide what, how much to give, length of treatment etc.?
xxx
24 posts since
15 Jun 2019
Hi,
Goodness a 3rd op? To be fair I had my second reexcision today and definitely can say it wasn’t as bad as the lumpectomy and node removal, so wouldn’t be too stressed if there was a third, told there might be.
I have wondered too if the course was less harsh or shorter in this case, would hope so, maybe someone on here will have info on this. How do u feel about getting the chemo? Stupid question maybe but some people are more accepting of it knowing it’s killing off those bloody cells.
You still have the oncotype type test to go which will hopefully come back that it is not needed, I get my results next week at the review.
Hopefully you can enjoy your reprieve until yr next surgery and try to get back some normality, as hard as it is to think of anything other than this!
Take care, please keep us posted xx
18 posts since
6 May 2019
Hi, Best of luck for Oncotype results….please let me know what they say. I’m getting my head around the possibility of chemo….its the endgame I have in sight and want to make sure I’ve done everything so I’m not in this position again. The bit thats really bothering me (think same as yourself), it would mean I need to tell my kids ‘something’ (5 & 8) and really really don’t want to burden them with anything – my oldest is a worrier….so defo won’t be mentioning cancer.
Yeah not too bothered about another op….totally agree, much better than 1st one. I was actually home by 2pm in afternoon having cuppa.
It will be mid-July for surgery, so will keep you posted.
Very best of luck, take care xx
24 posts since
15 Jun 2019
Hi Marilyn And @een39
Had my review last night and expected to get results of the oncotype test but it’s still not back from US, was so wanting to know what the treatment plan is but delayed now to next week.
The pathology report for last weeks reexcision wasn’t clear so another op planned next week, he also said if next weeks doesn’t come back clear we would need to consider a mastectomy. This has totally thrown me and struggling to get my head round it. He said it would mean radiotherapy wouldn’t be needed, but chemo still a possibility.
Find we’re struggling more and more to keep all this from the kids, now with another op next week think we will have to tell our eldest only over the weekend although I worry she will do what we all did and go straight to google.
Whatever treatment is decided will start as soon as I’m back from a family holiday booked for 18th July, hoping I can relax and put this to the back of mind while we are away!
Hope you are both keeping well and enjoying this lovely weather!
Take Care xo
18 posts since
6 May 2019
Hi LindaAG, Jeez will that be a 3rd op for you too? Hope you feel o.k. about it….sending you a hug, but this will be o.k. and hopefully that’ll get everything this time around. My consultant told me 15 in 100 require a 2nd op, and 2 or 3 in 100 require a 3rd….so the odds are in our favour this time!!!!
Did you have an MRI prior to op? I did and none of these extra cells surrounding it showed up on mine so they thought it was just the tumor.
I’ve pretty much got my head around a mastectomy (if I go beyond the 3rd op) probably its the wee niggle at the back of my mind that the MRI didn’t show up the DCIS that surrounded the tumor, and what if there is more left over beyond what they know about that is getting ready to grow.
Anyway, you have a fantastic holiday, hope any pain is subsiding and put all of this to the back of your mind until your next op. It’s amazing how time helps you heal a bit….a couple of months ago i was a complete wreck, crying all the time, which is really not like me at all…but I’m getting my head around things and determined this will just be a blip and bad memory.
Totally understand the issue with kids though…I’m the same, so worried if I have to tell them, but I’m definitely keeping them in the dark for now as just can’t imagine the impact hearing I’m unwell will have on them. Must be worse with your oldest and the ‘google’ thing. I had myself dead and buried after reading half the things.
I’m off on holiday tomorrow, and will definitely be putting this out my mind as much as I can.
Will keep in touch, I’m back in on the 17th July for 3rd time lucky.
Take Care xxx
24 posts since
15 Jun 2019
Hi een39,
Hope you had a fantastic holiday and were able to put all this to the back of your mind. Were you away somewhere nice?
Had the op yesterday (feeling really sore today where the tissue was removed from but plenty of strong pain killers home with me) found out the oncotype score just before I went to theatre. What a day!
There are 3 different scores on the report, reoccurrence score is 25, the distant recurrence risk at 9 yrs was 12% but then the absolute chemo benefit with a RS of 11-25 <1% it’s this score he finds contradicts the score explanation at the bottom of the report which says RS 21-25 for less than 50 yr olds is 6.5% for all ages. 26or more for any age is a definite yes to chemo. (I hope this makes some sense! ) the score grades changed recently and he hasn’t seen this before, so he is referring me to the oncologist and said chemo most likely. I’m 49 now so had I been a few yrs older it would’ve been a no.
If pathologist report next week from yesterday’s op still shows disease he said it would be a mastectomy after chemo, still trying to get my head round it all but at end of day want to do all I can to ensure as best I can this doesn’t come back, so needs must.
Kids were told last weekend, with school holidays etc couldn’t have hid it from them much longer with me being off work so often.. my 16 yr old daughter cried and said she knew something was up as we had been acting strange , she seems to be coping well tho and more affectionate which I’m loving lol. My husband told my son separately, tears as expected but on the whole they have taken it ok. But an awful conversation to have to have with them.
Are they doing the oncotype test for you too do u know? Hope this has helped a bit re information u will get back. Forgot to mention I haven’t had an MRI no mention of one actually.
Take care xx
Grade 3 Breast Cancer – will I need Chemo?
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