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Types and Stages of Breast Cancer Questions about the different types and stages of breast cancer. |
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| 3/15/2012 | Hi Lillie. Thank you for your timely response to my concerns about my breast cancer recurrence, however I must clarify that in 2003 I was not offered chemo treatment as you previously surmised. After the oncologist reviewed my pathology results, which I had outlined in my prior question on 3/11/12 and have included below, she recommened hormone treatment. Should I have been offered a different protocol? Is herceptin given for Her2/neu positive DCIS? In 2003 I underwent lumpectomy of a 2 cm. tumor in my right breast, radiation, followed by 5 yr.s of Tamoxifen. Pathology results showed DCIS with microinvasion (< 0.1 cm), high nuclear grade, ER/PR +, Her2 3+, two sentinel nodes (-). The dissection was carried down to the chest wall but still two of the six margins were <0.1 cm. anteriorly and posteriorly. Recently had an excisional biopsy in the same area as my original surgery, which found DCIS with all the same characteristics except ER/PR (-). Is it possible that the original tumor had a mixture of both types of cells with (+) and (-) receptors but the majority were positive and therefore the pathology findings and after Tamoxifen only cells with negative receptors survived? Or does this indicate a new cancer? I will have a mastectomy on my right side, but am wondering if the recurrence has increased my risk of developing cancer in my left breast. I was originally told that the standard risk is 1% for each year out, up to the maximum of 25%. How long, after a 5 year course of Tamoxifen is finished, does the treatment protect you from recurrence in the other breast? Other than genetic screening for BRCA mutations and family history, which are both negative, is there a way of calculating my true risk ? | ||
| Replied | JHU's Breast Center Reply | ||
| 3/15/2012 | Agian, thank you for sending questions our way, but this amount of detail is difficult to address and answer in only several sentences. Consider a formal consultation/second opinion by calling Sheila @ 443-287-BRST (2778) for an appointment. | ||
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