I'm joining the Stage III team.

FightingforA

I was diagnosed last week with BC. I was informed that there was DCIS, Lobular, and Infiltrating Ductal all present in the biopsy. Total size is 6cm. There's blood and lymph involvement, but the BS said she wasn't going to look at the nodes until after chemo. I'm meeting with the oncologist tomorrow to get my plan in place for treatment. She told me that I'm stage IIIA, ER-,PR-, HER2+. My head is still just spinning from all of this. I have a 6 month old daughter, and just want someone to tell me that I'm going to see her graduate from college.

MiniMacsMom

hugs. Its petrifying i know. But we r all here for you. I am stage 3 and my son was 14 mo at official dx. Its scary but you can do it. Im in the middle of chemo and it sucks but we will hold ur hand. Again big hugs. Ps i have seen tons of.women on here 5+ yrs out. And a lot are 10 plus yrs out. Our chemo and treatment now is even better than 10 years ago!

bak94

There are lots of positive stories out there! Check out the stage 3- 5 years out thread! The diagnoses is very scary, but does get better as you start your treatment and have a plan.

Kodapants

Welcome to the board that no one wants to be on. God bless you 100 times over. Things will work out as you have a sweet baby to live for. Stay strong as this time in the process seems overwhelming and scaring. Hugs,

Kodapants

MaxineO

Sorry you had to join us, but we're a great bunch of women!  I had a hard time with being stage III, but it gets better with time. There are lots of stories of long-term survival, and treatments get better every day.  Chemo will shrink down those nodes and then they will cut out the rest. Stay with us, we're happy to help and just carry you along when you need it. Sending lots of hugs and hope.

lexi4

Welcome nsmolen. I am so sorry that you have been diagnosed with bc. It's terrifying to get the diagnosis, but once you get a plan of attack I am hopeful you will feel a little better. It is definitely no fun, but you can do this. We'll be here for you.

Hugs and Prayers,

Lexi

Moderators

nsmolen, we're here to support you every step of the way. If you have any questions at all, the community members can answer with their own experiences, and the main Breastcancer.org site is packed with medically-reviewed information on any test, treatment, medication or other subject you're likely to run into.

Your Mods

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Momof2inME

nsmolen... Welcome. I have had lots of support here, especially reading about all the women who are many, many years out. You are defintely NOT alone. My son was 17 months and my daughter 4 at the time I was diagnosed. There have been lots of changes but my kiddos, as most are, are resilient. My daughter loves my wig and my bald head equally. I am in the middle of chemo and have a hard time being stage III as well. It slowly gets better day by day.  {{HUGS}}}

Brooke

jennyboog

I'm sorry you've had to join us here but welcome.  This is a wonderful site full of support and info  and it got me through some dark days.  I will be 2 yrs out in July and was a complete basket-case right after dx....I had a 18 mth old and 4 yr old and it's a lot to take in at first.  Tx is doable, even chemo is tolerable with the help of some meds for SE and once it starts & you have a tx plan in place you will feel much more in control.  Take each day at a time, find a dr you trust in and come here whenever you need us, we've been right where you are. 

SharonMH

Hi nsmolen,  Welcome to this forum. Sorry that you have to be here. Things really do get better. I have found so much support from everyone here. SharonH

Outfield

Nsmolen, welcome.  It astounds me how many stage III women there are with young kids.  Mine were 2 and 3 when I was diagnosed.  Great family and friend support got me through treatment, but it was still so hard.  My older child, my daughter, really had a rough time with it but it's good to see how she has rebounded and is having a good year this year.  

I wish the best for you through this. 

lkc

Hi there Dearest,

Welcome, I am glad you found us, and we can help you.

I know it is scary  as the initial days are the hardest. But you will be ok. My advice is to surround yourself with ONLY positive people, take GOOD care of yourself, & come here often for support, and accurate information.DO not google as  there is alot of outdated BC data out that is not relative in todays setting.

Stage III  can throw you, but please keep in mind, that we get aggressive treatment  which is a good thing in the long run.

My pathology was very similiar to yours and I will be celebrating  7 yrs in 2 months.

 You'll get there too!

Anonymous

Hi nsmolen  Just dropping in to say hi and welcome to the group that you never dreamed you would join!!  Everyone here is supportive and encouraging, and we all have our stage III issues of fear about this diagnosis.  Hang in there

 Barb

Momine

Welcome on board. I was Dxed back in June, and am almost finished with active treatment. It has been rough at times, ain't gonna kid you there, but I am still here and plan to stick around as long as possible. You sort of work through the fear in fits and starts. It WILL get better, I promise, and don't forget to laugh. Oh, and if you feel you need some xanax or similar for a while, do NOT be afraid to ask for it.

FightingforA

Thank you all for your support and encouragement. I met with the oncologist today. 8 rounds of chemo and then surgery. Starting with Cytoxan and Andriamycin and then 2nd half will have Taxotere. MUGA scan tomorrow, port inserted Friday, and 1st chemo on Tuesday. I don't know that I comprehended how long of a process this was going to be. 24 weeks of chemo seems like a long time.

TectonicShift

I just had my 7th of 8 chemo infusions this past Friday. Before the first one I thought I wouldn't be able to get through it. But I have and you will too! Be good to yourself and spend as much time on the couch with fun TV or in bed with good books as your life/family/work will permit. The port is a great idea and the procedure to get it is pretty easy. For now, eat whatever makes you feel good. For me it was ice cream and orange sherbet during the AC chemo. Try to go up and down stairs several times each day as a form of exercise if you can. Get all the anti-nausea med prescriptions filled and take them every day to stay ahead of the nausea. But be careful of Zofran - it can make you really constipated. The only thing that worked for me with that problem was a tea called Smooth Move. (Colace didn't work for me.) Ativan helped control my nausea and anxiety somewhat too. I am weening myself off of it now. Above all don't be afraid to ask for and accept help, especially with a six month old.

I am surprised to be near the end of chemo. I thought it would seem like a lifetime but instead it seems to have gone rather quick. But I did let myself sleep through a lot of it and I watched endless TV. I'm not ashamed to admit I cried most days during December, January, and February. It's part of the process I think. Now I am feeling more upbeat.

The good news is chemo is most effective on hormone-negative BC. Plus you'll have Herceptin which has revolutionized BC treatment for HER2+ patients.  YOU CAN DO THIS!! One day at a time.

jennyboog

I'm glad you got to see your onc. and it sounds like you're getting the standard tx....I got the same.  I know right now it does seem like a long time but looking back it seem to go by fast to me.  The old saying....days are like weeks but the weeks are like days   Just a suggestion...you might want to look for a March chemo topic, then you can find people on the same time line as you but we're always here to answer any question you might have also.  The port really helps things, I still have mine as of now.   Take it easy and allow your body to heal, drink lots of water to stay hydrated, do what you feel like and try not to be a Superwoman.  This is an emotional rollercoaster ride so don't read too much into how you're feel that particular day...it will end and you do move on.  Let us know how things go.

Karina121293

Nsmolen, I am joining the rest to welcome you, though wish you never "had to know us". I know, how scared you are, especially thinking you are DCIS, and then stage III. You will have a better organized mind once you start the treatment. Then one thing will lead to another and it will be behind you before you know. If you have chemo before the surgery, then think of it as a good thing , as it will kill most of the cancer. It is doable, just take care of yourself, take each day as it comes. Day in, day out, then it's over and you are finished with the 'monster". Come here often, let us know, how you doing. This is a perfect place for support. Good luck and hugs.

NancyD

nsamolen, you've found us! We're the sisters-in-waiting you need to help you through this ordeal. First, many of us thought we were lower stages when we were biopsied, and then suddnely found oursleves thrusted into Stage III after our lumpectomies or mastectomies. But please, think of the stage as tools for the doctors to plan your treatment—not your prognosis.

Being Stage III means you will be carefully monitored, receive the most agressive treatment and quite likely live much longer than you fear. Don't go spending that retirement money, lol! Stats are  based on info gathered 5-10 years (or longer) ago. Although I don't see in it the current plan your oncologist has laid out, Herceptin will likely play a part in your treatment, and that's something HER+ women didn't have a decade ago.

Good luck, and stay with us!

sespebadger

Hi nsmolen,

24 weeks of chemo sounds like forever, but we're here to tell you you can do it. I'm sure I'd never been so scared in my life, but I marched right in to the infusion room by myself and you will be like all of us and march in as well. My daughter was much older (15), but I thought of her when I needed inspiration. Please reach out to friends and family and ask for help. I really appreciated being driven to treatments. Rest as much as you can. Drink lots of water. I watched lots of movies for distraction. I took one ativan each night to sleep for about 8 months and then stopped. I also took one before chemo infusions (I let the nurses know) until I got used to the infusion sessions. Chemo is doable. I thought my port was a great improvement over trying to find a vein, and the surgeries to put it in and take it out were easy. I'm sending you best wishes for getting through this ordeal. I am just past two years out and life is pretty much back to normal and I don't think about cancer all the time. There are lots of women stage III who live long healthy lives. That's where we want to be!! 

Sissydi

Nsmolen, I feel like I wrote your story! I, too was told probably just DCIS, and went up to finally a IIIa.....we are on the same treatment! Stick to the boards! Everybody has been super helpful to me. I was just diagnosed in Late Dec., so I am not very far ahead of you. I'm here for you anytime !

Annaanne

Hi.  Make sure to ask about adding herceptin to your neo adjuvent mix, with the taxotere.  That was my protocol.  I had a similiar dx and am now 7 years out and just fine.

Annaanne 

FightingforA

Thanks for the support and encouragement ladies.

Annaanne~ I definitely plan on asking them about that when I see the doc again on the 4th. It seems like it has been a miracle for so many! I can't undestand why it wouldn't be a part of my treatment! That's my #1 on a list of about 30!

kimf

nsmolen,

Many of the ladies covered much of what I would say,  but I'm chiming in anyway. My dx was much like yours, IDC, DCIS, er/pr neg her2 + stage IIIC with 15 pos nodes for me. I'm 7 years out and doing just fine! My youngest was 2 at my dx and she is now 9 1/2 and my oldest just turned 16 and will be driving soon and another in the middle. I completed the same course of chemo you will do, also had the year of Herceptin that I'm certain you will also do, plus radiation. All of this is rough but very do-able and you will persevere and be looking back at this in no time!  Best wishes! 

FightingforA

kimf~ thanks for I love to hear wonderful survival stories like yours. I think it's just so overwhelming at first and I was just so consumed with the diagnosis and the statistics. I needed to stop reading all of the info out there about survial rates etc. I've been doing much better, although still have a ways to go in terms of positive thinking. I have to switch my brain from "I want to be a survivor", to "I WILL BE a survivor".

Thank you!

Josiekat

I was diagnosed in December and there is nothing that prepares you for that first month. I too have young kids and the nightly bargaining I did, hoping and praying to see them finish elementary school, has shifted. I now look forward to many milestones and years to come. I am over halfway through chemo and getting the plan for surgery together. I hope you find that time and an action plan help ease your mind. You are in good company, there are many kind and comforting women on this site. Xoxo.

Bugs

hi honey...a bit late in chiming in to welcome you to our forum.  It sounds like you've had your first chemo by now?  That is one off your list never to be seen again.  I hope you've also joined a chemo thread to get tips and tricks on getting through chemo?  I know it doesn't seem like it's possible, but the weeks do go by fast.

I'm 6 years out and my son was 8 when I was diagnosed.  He's now 14 and barely remembers that I had cancer.