Newly Diagnosed- too many questions

dawn418

Newly Diagnosed- too many questions

dawn418

Hi everyone- I don't know where to start... I was recently diagnosed with stage 3 ductal carcinoma in my left breast that has spread to my lymph nodes. After 2 weeks of having every test I thought possible, my doctor told me I need a PEM scan "just to be sure they didn't miss anything" but she still has me scheduled for a lumpectomy with lymph node removal on Nov 1st. I am only 30 years old, no history of cancer in my family, and married for one year... This was the month my husband and I were going to try to have a baby- now we are battling cancer... They told me if I wanted to have a baby in the future I should harvest some eggs NOW, as I will be on Tomaxifin for 5 years- after my chemo and radiation, and they cannot guarantee my period will return. Needless to say my head is still reeling from the news of the cancer itself, all the tests, the biopsy's, the waiting... Now I have to wait for the PEM scan - will it affect the outcome of my surgery? Will I need a mastectomy vs. lump if it shows more tumors?! So much waiting, so many questions, and now the thought of never having babies. How do we deal with this?
I know I am all over the map here with my story- I just feel like I am going to explode today.
Thank you all for listening and I pray for everyone out here :>
Dawn

Anonymous

Dawn,

Im to meet you this way, but you have found a wonderful place for questions and advice...this is a very supportive/loving place....we are all here to help each other when the outside world doesnt seem to understand what we are going through...

I wish I had answers to your questions but I dont....everyone gets through this in different ways but for me I find it much easier to talk some things over here with others that have gone through this before me...

I hope that you will continue to post here and let us help you with the things that we can...

If you dont feel comfortable posting a question or opinion here where everyone can see you are always welcome to send a private message and we can visit that way too..

You are starting on a journey that none of us ever wanted to take but we will always be here to help you answer questions, cry, rant, rave...whatever it is that will help you through your path...

Hugs

Jule

nash

Hi, Dawn. It's all overwhelming in the beginning--hang in there.

I'm surprised they told you staging before surgery--did you mean grade 3 IDC, as opposed to Stage 3?

It's a good idea to have presurgery scans. Doesn't mean they'll find anything, and then you'll have a baseline. You should also have a bone scan.

If there are more tumors in the breasts that they don't know about, they should light up on PET.  If the docs really want to be sure about what's in the breasts, then they can also order a breast MRI.

If they do find more masses, then yes, you may need a mast. But odds are you'll be OK to go with the lumpectomy/SNB for now.

It's a good idea to harvest eggs now, given your age. Also might want to consider BRCA testing.

You wil find tremendous support and info here--keep coming back, and we'll help you best we can. 

Hugs to you and your husband--I know how hard this all is. 

dawn418

Hi- I have had every test there is- mammo, CT, MRI, PET, and bone scan.  This last PEM scan will apparantly rule out any small tumors that didn't pick up before- I guess I have "dense breasts" and they are having a hard time determing good tissue from bad on all these scans, but from the two biopsies- the tumor in my breast and in the lymph node- it was determined stage 3, grade 2.  I think it is only stage 3 because it has spread to the nodes...

I also had the BRCA testing- I am waiting on the results now...

Thanks for your support.  Now I hold my breath (again) until the PEM scan results- this waiting is just awful.

nash

Interesting--wasn't familiar with the PEM. Actually thought it was a typo and was suppossed to be PET. Glad all your screening scans were clean. Sounds like you're getting really good care.

The waiting part is the worst--I think you'll feel a little better when all the testing and surgery is over and you have a clearer picture of everything.

I know I really held my breath until the BRCA test came back. Good luck with the surgery next week, and keep us posted.