Grade 1 breast cancer

[ohdoriswheresthesalad]

I have been diagnosed with grade 1 Non specific type breast cancer today with dcis in situ. Lymph nodes clear from ultrasound.

I am massively worried. has anyone had any experience of this?

• [Title and first post edited at OP's request - originally titled Stage 1 breast cancer]

7 years ago. Lumpectomy and sample from my lymph node as day surgery, radiotherapy and Tamoxifen. I’ve just finished Tamoxifen. Still on yearly mammograms.

Of course it’s scary OP. It’s a massive shock. It didn’t feel so bad once I had a surgery date.

I told my employer early on by emailing HR.

I’ve told work they’ve been great. I just keep thing this is going to go tits up and tell me it’s worse than they expected? I really don’t want a mastectomy!

I was diagnosed the same as you in 2018, 6 rounds of chemo and then a single mastectomy. As mentioned above Liz Rhiordan is brilliant to follow or get her books.

Waiting for results and your plan is the hardest part. Be kind to yourself, make sure you have plenty of help for when you need it.

Have they suggested mastectomy or is it something you’re thinking about ?
My surgeon told me there is no evidence of a better therapeutic outcome with mastectomy over lumpectomy. I had 1.5 cm invasive ductal
carcinoma. Had lumpectomy and waiting on results.

Chemo hasn’t been mentioned thank goodness

@Ffififofumshe just said lumpectomy is the most common but only the mri will tell if the area is too big for a lumpectomy? Then it’ll be mastectomy there will be no option. I haven’t been told how big it is, just very small grade 1 no specific type with DCIs in situ which I’ve been told means unlikely spread as they’re cells that haven’t left the ducts ?

OP, I was diagnosed on 13th December last year, stage 1 but grade 3.

Ive had surgery, 16 rounds of chemo, 10 rounds of radio and I’m fine!

My chemo and radio were adjuvant (I stopped having cancer after my lumpectomy, but it was aggressive and treatment was to stop it returning).

I’ve just had a CT and my mammogram is in January. I’m confident that these are all fine.

Please do DM me, if you need more info.

I’m close to the end of my journey, but I can help you through yours.

xx

What does the grade and stage mean? My nurse told me they don’t focus on that I’ve been told it’s grade 1?

Stage 1 means it’s only in the lump and hasn’t spread to your lymph nodes or anywhere else.

Edited to add- mine was 9mm when removed. I only had a lumpectomy and radiotherapy. My understanding is that you always have radiotherapy as they can never be sure that all the cancerous cells have been cut out.

So I won’t know what stage until after the op? They said the ultrasound looked normal for my lymph nodes and normal axilla was recorded?

Stage is 1 - 4, yours like mine is the lower end and is small and not progressed.

Grade is 1 - 3 which is the aggressiveness of the cancer, the likelihood to return. Mine is grade 3, hence blasting me with lots of chemo and radio.

i was told from day 1, that I would need everything, not because my life was endangered currently but because they don’t want it coming back.

No, if they said you’re stage 1, you are.

Oh ok I was told radio is looking likely and then the hormone tablet?

I wasn’t told a stage, it says on my form thingy grade 1 non specific type with dcis in situ ER7 +
then the ultrasound showed normal axilla ?

That’s sounding like it’s not a very aggressive cancer. I’m having zolondronic acid infusions for three years.

Have you got a macmillan nurse assigned yet? They are brilliant.

Also you can access counselling through them, which I found great.

Maybe things have moved on since I had my treatment but I thought they can only be sure of your lymph nodes by taking a sample when you’re under general anaesthetic.

I had a lady talk to us yesterday from the clinic I don’t know if she’s macmillian?
they said I can call any time?

Grade 1 is least aggressuve.

I called back up yesterday and spoke to a nurse as we didn’t really take in what was said it was all a blur. I wrote down some things she said and I read them back so I knew they were facts of truth not what my brain had made up. I’ll post it and see what you think as you’ve all been through it

@MinnieMountainog I have no idea she said they take them during surgey to check but ultrasound was clear?

I was told right from the start it wasn’t in lymph nodes, they did take a sample during my lumpectomy also to be sure.

My ultrasound axilla was normal too. During surgery they took 2 lymph nodes for checking under microscope ( I assume)
I read there is about 70% accuracy for ultrasound ( which leaves 30% margin of error)
They said if cancer cells show up I’ll need chemo.
Yet chemo was never mentioned until a few days before my op.

Yes that’s correct, it’s a double check. But no reason to think it’s wrong.

Very confident, very positive outcome, not going to die from this.
Grade 1 non specific type with some DCIS which is no changes in cells. Lymph nodes clear from ultrasound - points to no spread atm.
Er7 + sensitive to hormones so will have hormone treatment for sure after

Mri is to check size etc cos dense boobs cos I’m young.
Looking positive towards lumpectomy, ill be home same day if I feel well but obvs need to wait for results of MRI.
If results say all cancer is gone then 4-6 weeks after OP will be 3 x weeks of radiotherapy at local hospital 5 x a week plus the hormone therapy. Looks like I won’t need chemo but can’t say for definite of course but looking positive towards not atm. Carry on as normal, this is blip in the road.

As diagnosis go, that’s positive, I came home sane day after lumpectomy.