My sister has breast cancer...

Hi , I am not aware that anyone could be diagnosed with just an ultrasound! Usually there is a mammogram (unless your sister is particularly young) followed by ultrasound and if a lump is found a biopsy of the area! This is when the lump is sent away to see the type of cancer! 

I think the stage can be diagnosed by the size of the tumour, although wouldn't be told until the biopsy results come back with a diagnosis of cancer! Even then a stage one cancer could become stage 2 or more after surgery or scans! 

As for treatment, IF your sister has been diagnosed with HER+ breast cancer she would almost certainly need cancer! Although I might be wrong as perhaps if this is caught early they might just do surgery??

The injection you mentioned is probably Zoladex, its given once every 4wks and shuts down the ovaries. It will probably be given alongside Tamoxifen or another hormone drug! But take things step by step!

I wonder what age your sister is because with a cancer that is caught early sometimes chemo isn't required! Maybe hers was a large lump? 

Perhaps your sister hasn't felt able to talk about everything yet. It can be a bit of a shock and blur when you hear that news! Perhaps you could chat with someone who went with her? Or chat again when things are more settled!

The most important thing is that Breast Cancer is very treatable. But it can be physically and emotionally very tough and shes going to need her sister! Sounds like you really care and I'm sure that will mean alot to her. But make sure you look after yourself too. We are always here to listen and offer as much advice and support as we can to you and your sister.

Take care, hope this helps a little. Sal xxxx

Different health authorities have differing protocols. But as londonlass says BC is very treatable those of us who use the forum are evidence of that. Get your sister to come and join us she will get all the support she needs 

Sorry I never really gave much info. She found a lump and had a scan done as it looked cancerous, they said the lump is 1.2cm and they said lymph nodes looked clear. Then sent off a biopsy and she was told last Wednesday it is cancer. She has not really told me what type, all she has said is it’s in the milk ducts but its invasive and is fed by oestrogen. And she as told it’s stage 1 and not spread to lymph nodes.

She is due to have a mammogram tomorrow and coil fitted into the lump so when she has the chemo and it shrinks they will know where it is for when she has her surgery. She is only 34 so it’s a bit of a shock to us all though I hear more and more cases now of young women getting this.

Thank you, I have joined here as I am trying to be really strong for my sister as well as my mum who is not taking the news very well. I suffer with health anxiety and cancer has always been a huge thing for me as I have lost a friend to breast cancer and I am in shock I now have to watch my sister go through it. 

My fear is her getting rid of this and then it coming back and i know I should not think like this but it’s all that keeps popping into my head. I have two children (10 and 6) who are keeping my mind off things bless them. I really appreciate your post x

Hi 

The size and spread of the lump determines the grade.  Stage 1 is early stage breast cancer.  The lump is less than 2cm and not spread which is absolutely fabulous news for your sister.  

There are different types of BC - oestrogen fed ER+ (and progestrone PR+) , HER2, Inflammatory, Triple Negative (TNBC - which doesn't involve any those).

She is IDC (invasive ductal carcinoma - where it has spread to surrounding tissues.

Each treatment plan is made for the individual, but generally ER+ without spread to the lymph nodes doesn't involve chemotherapy,  However, it is possible to have ER+ and HER2 BC (a friend of mine had both and she needed chemo.)  If it's ER+ and spread to the lymph nodes, this also usually involves chemo.  But a friend's Mum had ER+ with spread to the lymph nodes and she wasn't offered chemo.  They obviously decided at the age of 80 that the negatives would outweigh the benefits.  

So, it might be due to your sister's age that they are recommending chemotherapy for her, or perhaps she has a combination of IDC. Or maybe she has a low ER+ (it's measured as a score out of 8 and if she's a low ER+ then that might also by why they recommend chemo).

With ER+, tablets are a definite as these are prescribed to reduce the oestrogen in the body.  Pre menopause it is usually Tamoxifen.  However, if this is of any comfort when I was diagnosed with mine (1.5cm IDC, ER+/PR+, 2 years ago at 51, surgery in the form of lumpectomy or wide local excision as it is also called, no chemo, Anastrozole - ER+ tablets for 5 yearsand finally radiotherapy), I met a lady who was 30 at the time she was diagnosed.  She was 52 when I met her and she had even refused to take the tamoxifen and was 22 years clear!  That's not something I would recommend of course and I take my tablets every day.  Your sister may be 5 - 10 years for the tablets due to her age.

I think we often hear about ladies who die from breast cancer, but we don't know about all the people who have had BC years and years ago who survive and never have it come back.  I was surprised how many people I know who'd I'd never known about when I was diagnosed and received messages from  them saying they were "xx years clear" etc.

The best thing you can do is support your sister through her treatment and not worry about return.  She'll have a mammogram each anniversary of diagnosis for generally 5 years, which will be nerve wracking for her, but try and not worry as she's been caught at a really early stage.

Kindest wishes,

Thank you so so much for your reply and all the info. I have found out it’s BC of the milk duct and it’s ER+ and HER2+.  That’s what really has scared me, that’s its HER2 positive as I know that’s an aggressive form of it. They have told her it’s very very small and that it’s treatable and that they are very confident she will get through this. 

She had a coil fitted today to the lump and a mammogram and it’s not grown anymore thank goodness. She has her MRI on Wednesday which I am scared about and then she should start her chemo on the week of the 29th July and they have told her she will need 4 rounds unless the MRI says there is more xxx 

You've had some great support

I just want to say I'm sat here more than one year on after HER2+++ breast cancer and alive and well. Mine was 3mm look at that on a ruler . Tiny tiny

No it wasn’t a walk in the park.

Yes it had days of deep despair 

But here kept me going because I had people who got it and who virtually held my hand through it

I made great pals too life time bosom buddies 

Now there are on the sight areas for you Carers and Family Groups seek them out for your mental health and support

Dont be afraid to say this is crap for me too. 

Gentle and sustaining hugs to you all

Leolady56 - known for the occasional gallop Miranda style 

Leolady56, thank you so much for your reply. Wow that’s amazing news your just over a year on from it all. 3mm is tiny indeed, I believe my sisters is 1.2cm and it has not grown in her last mammogram. 

I normally fall apart at anything to do with health thanks to my health anxiety but I seem to be handling it better than I thought. I have lost all appetite and constantly feel sick but I feel hopeful. I had a wobble a few days ago where I spent most of the day crying and feeling scared. 

It’s true what I have been told, you only ever hear the sad and scary stories and I never hear of the amazing stories where people have made it through the other end and it’s not come back. 

I did not know about the section for family support, I will go and have a look for that thank you xxx