Surgical Consult - 12 April 2012

Today I had my surgical consult at David Grant Medical Center with Dr. Jones.  This would be the third time I had my diagnosis explained to me.  I think it is good that they repeat it over and over because truthfully the first time that it was explained to me I was still in what I call "shock processing mode." Then I took all the information that they gave to me home and began reading up on the subject. Here are the two types of Cancer they diagnosed me with:

Invasive (or infiltrating) ductal carcinoma

This is the most common type of breast cancer. Invasive (or infiltrating) ductal carcinoma (IDC) starts in a milk passage (duct) of the breast, breaks through the wall of the duct, and grows into the fatty tissue of the breast. At this point, it may be able to spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system and bloodstream. About 8 of 10 invasive breast cancers are infiltrating ductal carcinomas.

Ductal carcinoma in situ

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS; also known as intraductal carcinoma) is the most common type of non-invasive breast cancer. DCIS means that the cancer cells are inside the ducts but have not spread through the walls of the ducts into the surrounding breast tissue.

About 1 in 5 new breast cancer cases will be DCIS. Nearly all women diagnosed at this early stage of breast cancer can be cured. A mammogram is often the best way to find DCIS early.I

When DCIS is diagnosed, the pathologist (a doctor specializing in diagnosing disease from tissue samples) will look for areas of dead or dying cancer cells, called tumor necrosis, within the tissue sample. If necrosis is present, the tumor is likely to be more aggressive. The term comedocarcinoma is often used to describe DCIS with necrosis.

Dr. Jones began by telling me my options:

1) I could choose to do nothing and there is an 85% chance the cancer would spread and could lead to death.

2) Conservative course of treatment which is a lumpectomy and lymph node biopsy.  They will remove the lump and take out at least 3 nodes under my armpit to biopsy them.  This will be followed with 6 weeks of daily radiation treatment and possible chemo depending on what is discovered with the lymph node biopsy.

3) I could choose to have a mastectomy followed by chemotherapy. 

Option number 1 was not an option for me.  Dr. Jones recommended option number 2.  Eric and I had already discussed what we thought I should do and we agreed with Dr. Jones that conservative treatment  would be the course of action best at this time.  I have a lumpectomy and lymph node biopsy scheduled for Friday, 20 April 2012.