how long is too long to wait for a trial?

[VDC]

THANKS to all of you! I spent today lining up new mammograms and possibly MRI. Mammo for sure is set. My oncologist from Mayo said it should show any progression since my "variety of cancer" has a ton of calcification that show up under mammo conditions. Hopefully more calc's would indicate the rate of growth. At least my onc thought so. It is a place to start. Depending on the outcome of this, will determine which scan to do next. At least I have some action going! Finally. I should hear about the clinical trial by the end of January and it will probably take that long for all the new tests and scans. So they should coincide and at least I'll have some idea of what I am facing NOW. (instead of what I was facing in November) Thanks guys! Any other suggestions? I don't mind bluntness at all. I'm a pretty blunt gal myself. ;-) Any tests or scans that you would recommend? I am new to this and don't mind more information. I'm also a scientist by trade so I don't scare easily....and I research much!

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

When you say surgery -- do you mean surgical biopsy?

How do they know DCIS? From looking at calcifications? On CT? On mammo?

[VDC]

Andrea,
No I had two stereotactic biopsies. The first was local and diagnosed my calcifications as DCIS ER-, PR-, Grade 3 with necrosis.

After a "run in" with the local facility I flew to Rochester Minnesota Mayo Clinic and requested a second biopsy to confirm and run further tests. This stereotactic biopsy also said DCIS ER-, PR-, Grade 3 with necrosis, BUT it also added Her2 3+ and KI-67 20% Nice.....more "good"news.

The surgery I refer to is lumpectomy to be followed by radiation. Not a excisional biopsy. Of course the difference between the two is negligible. Mayo does a great job during their lumpectomies and the removed tissue is tested by the pathologist while you are still under anesthesia so that if the margins aren't clean they can remove more before closing you up! Sounded like a good plan to me.