Kathleen has invasive ductal carcinoma. Invasive simply means that the cancer has left the duct, nothing else.
There are 3 lumps that are malignant. Two in the left breast, one lymph node. Size varies from ½ inch to 1 ½ inches, but the size of the lump is not significant. What needs to be determined is if the cancer has spread, and that will be shown through the testing on Feb. 27th. What those tests results show will determine the course of treatment. It is lymph node involvement that triggers further testing.
The cancer is ERPR negative, which rules out the risk-reducing drugs available to some patients after treatment. Her results are called triple negative because she does not have receptors for estrogen, progesterone, or HER2.
Dr. Takabe (surgeon) is not pushing surgery because first of all there is a need to gather all the information before they can go forward. It is ultimately the patient’s decision as to the course of treatment she would like. Kathleen expressed concern that she would make the wrong choice. Both Dr. Takabe and his PA, Mallory Edwards, assured her separately that they would not let her “jump off the cliff.”
PA said she guesses that treatment will begin mid-March, and that waiting those couple of weeks does not put Kathleen at any risk.
Kathleen asked if her condition or treatment would be affected by the fact that she was told after a colonoscopy that she has arteriovenous malformation. Dr. Takabe said that refers to the shape of her vessels, and has nothing to do with breast cancer. She also asked about her polymyalgia.
