My Experience with Stage 2 Breast Cancer Treatment

Hi Jeanette, I just started chemo for stage 2 IDC. I had DCIS and lumpectomy 2 years ago, margins clear but this year a swollen lymph node showed in my mammogram. IDC did not show in Mammogram , found with MRI. I was on tamoxifen for two years but now this is back. I did not do radiation after first lumpectomy but now wishing they had.

Thank you for your reply! I’ll keep you in my prayers!🙏🏻

I had a stage 0 lumpecomy on the right side. In January, margin was clear. Have done 17 treatments of radiation 3 to go. Surgery for me was a piece of cake. The radiation would have been plenty at 15, but now I'm dealing with the burnt skin, across the breast and under the arm. The rubbing is the worst part. Cream, cream, ice, been doing it all. But there has to be a light soon.

I am stage 2b w/lymph nodes removed, will go on radiation in the next month or two. No chemo. Had dbl mastectomy so I didn’t have to worry about future tests and removal of breast later

I was stage 2, no lymph nodes involved, had lumpectomy. I’m going through chemo and then radiation. Oncologist said it’s to hopefully keep it from coming back. I was Triple Negative Metaplastic which are both very agressive.

What cream are you using @Eileen J

I had a single mastectomy in November. I had no chemo but was told I needed 20 radiation treatments. First treatment my finger went numb. Scared me so bad I stopped. They ask me to reconsider so I did. Another week I got more numb fingers. About 10 in I got a lump in my throat and heartburn from *ell. I have never had it so bad. On my 16th treatment I couldn’t raise my arm and it hurt so bad, it was a weekend. I developed a bad rash on my stomach and it felt like bees stinging me 10+ and itch so bad but I couldn’t touch it. Went for treatment but told them I wanted to see the Dr first. She sent me to the ER. Was hospitalized for 5 days for strong antibiotics. Needless to say I stopped the treatments. I have stage 2. I might have made a mistake but I stand by my decision.

I was IDC stage 2b grade 3 and had lumpectomy. I was too afraid to do chemo which was recommended but did radiation 3 months after surgery. I’m single and never missed a day of work. Only had sentinel node dissected and my LV was clear tho my margins were <1mm. I just passed my 4 yr from surgery and all is still clear. I really don’t have any other tests done now aside from mammo. Feel like I was dismissed from treatment after declining chemo

I was stage one margins clear lymph nodes clean was giving the choice of doing chemo and I said yes. Chemo sucks but to make the best effort to not have it come back I said hell yes yet three years later I have 2 nodules in my right lung that have grown in size and a new nodule that appeared 6 months after my last ct scan but still no breast cancer so I might have a new cancer.

Jeanette, I was stage 2 IDC did radiation and chemo in 2002 plus 5 years AI. Thought I was cured, had mammograms every year for 14 years. Then, mBC (can't be detected with mammograms). I've been on chemo 9+ years now. 1 in 4 will have a recurrence within 5 years, 1 in 8 will have mBC. If I could do it over, I would have a CT scan every 5 years.

Yes , I had all of that 2 years ago and so far , all is well. I wouldn’t shirk on any therapy following surgery. There is always the possibility of an errant cancer cell running around looking for home. Whatever your Onc Doc recommends… go for it. This is war! Good luck!

For radiation, ask about skin film Mepitel. Huge help - I did 5 weeks of daily. They guess a bit on the Mepitel application - could tell where we missed a spot into week 4. Not insurance covered but worth the spend.

Exactly what I’m being told I have to do and I’m not sold on the radiation! I’ve had enough with really strong chemotherapy!! I wish you well!

Suzanne, I did Mepitel too! I wore it for 5 weeks last July into August. I truly think it helped. No burning, etc. I ordered mine from the Mayo Clinic. I only had slight dermatitis which was painful but tolerated.

Hi Jeanette, I had stage 1 IDC-lymph nodes removed-lumpectomy-reconstructive surgery on June 7,2024 and 20 rounds of radiation-hormone therapy exemestane for 5-10 years- I’m doing well

I have Stage 2 IDC. Lumpectomy with clear margins in December. Micromet in 1 lymph node. I had 32 rounds of radiation but no chemo. Now I’m on Anastrozole and Verzenio. I have my first mammogram post treatment in May and I’m terrified it will come back.

@Jeanette-I met with the radiation oncologist last week- I was ER+, HER+, PR- Stage II B, IDC breast one lymph node involved and had 6 rounds of Taxotere, Carboplatin, Herceptin and Perjeta every 3 weeks. Followed by a partial mastectomy and 4 lymph nodes removed. Pathology showed NO evidence of cancer- chemo worked! But surgeon said due to only partial mastectomy will need 25 rounds of radiation. Explained that the chemo killed the cancer - using a tree as a visual comparison- in the tumor and lymph nodes confirmed by the pathology of the tissue removed. So confirmed no cancer in the “trunk and branches” of the tree. But cancer cells could be hiding in the “roots” of the tree (remaining breast tissue) that the radiation will kill.

I have er, pr +, her2-, invasive dcis with 1 suspicious and one positive lymph node, 2.5 cm tumor, plus 1 cm tumor adjacent. Stage 2. 6 months of chemo even though oncto score is 17. Done to shrink tumor for lumpectemy. Chemo destroyed tumors and when lymph nodes removed, 3, showed negative after surgery. Currently getting radiation to destroy remaining microscopic cancer cells. I was never told my score, my oncologist said she doesn't use that but it was never explained to me and I didn't know I had an option to skip chemo but it had the desired result for surgery. Next they want to do kisquali and letrozole. I'm 68. I dont know what's right or wrong but the doctors acted quickly on my treatment and hopefully it will work but I'm unsure what is actually best for me going forward. 2.5 years of kisquali and 10 of letrozole seem like the destruction of any health I may have left. I'm not sure that is how I want to spend the last years of my life.

Same here, went thru dbl mastectomya d waiting to start radiation. No chemo

Jeanette, yes, I have had exactly that treatment for this cancer. I had chemo before surgery which succeeded in destroying tumors. Now having radiation. This cancer was a recurrence of same cancer in left breast, stage zero, treated in 2007.

Is anyone taking capcetabiene (xeloda). I just completed the second cycle and have developed severe neuropathy to my hand and feet any suggestions to relieve the symptoms.

Hi Jeanette. I have IDC, stage 2A with lumpectomy, clean margins for 2.2cm tumor, one lymph node removed with no cancer detected. Dr wants 12 weeks of taxol and Herceptin chemo followed by 9 monoid continued Herceptin and 4-6 weeks of radiation (5 days a week). Seems like a lot to me. I’m on the fence about the radiation, it has a risk of creating more cancer. I see the oncologist on May 5th and will need to make a decision.

I am IDC stage 1. Nothing in lymph nodes. I had option for lumpectomy but opted for mastectomy based on necessity for radiation. I really did not want radiation. My oncologist suggested chemotherapy 1x a weeks 12 weeks to catch any microcells that may still be there. I finished week 6. On Taxol. I have a year of herceptin - 1x every 3 weeks. Side effects I have experienced: fatigue, hair loss, constipation, diarrhea, generally not feeling well BUT manageable with additional medications. Hang in there ❤️

@Karen C. I did the lumpectomy, mentally I was prepared for mastectomy. I had my first treatment of taxol and herceptin yesterday. I woke up to diarrhea but it hasnt been bad so far. I’m tired and kind of shaky today. I’m still on the fence about radiation. Met with the radiologists oncology Dr where I get my treatments and they use a radiation that is not targeted and there will be some that affect my heart and lung, although slightly I’m not happy about that. I’m meeting with a proton radiation clinic next week and hopefully that will be more what I want. Less radiation to the rest of my chest. But it’s an hour and a half drive one way for me. Not sure if that is feasible 5 days a week. I’m still considering not doing radiation at all. I don’t know if the benefits out way the potential damage and side effects to possible cancer coming back somewhere else because of the radiation.

Radiation is the customary treatment with lumpectomy to get rid of cancer cells, if any, that remain. But since you are already having taxol and herceptin, I agree that you need more info on benefits of radiation in addition to chemo. Since I had mastectomy, I have no breast tissue that required radiation. Praying for you❤️