When you were diagnosed...

beth1965

Yes Camillegal i was very fortunate to have had the people i did checking me. I had alot of cancer in me and i am sure that the moving along so fast was important. I had surgery (BMX) within about 2 weeks.

I hope that other people will be as fortunate as me.

mags20487

I knew from the faces of the mammographer to the US tech to the radialogist that first day of testing it was cancer.  The next week had the biopsy on a Thurs.  Met with surgeon on the following Wed 8/17 for "official" DX even though he told me the Wed before that he was 95% sure it was cancer.  Had my BMX on 8/23....really fast because I wanted it that way.  With the metaplastic dx you must move quickly.  Went from 1 lymph on initial exam and US to 3 lymph nodes at surgery within that 2 week period it for sure would have killed me fast!

Maggie

Blessings2011

My mom had BC when she was 61. When I turned 40, I started getting annual mammos. With a family hx, heavy dense breasts, and a list of risk factors a mile long, I kept asking my PCP for at least an ultraound in addition to the yearly mammo. He kept telling me that I didn't need one. And every year after each mammo, I got that cheery little postcard congratulating me that I didn't have cancer!

But he changed his tune the day I went in bleeding from my left nipple. He actually freaked out and said he suspected Paget's Disease. Of course, I consulted with Dr. Google, and found out that he was waaay off the mark, but in his defense, he had scheduled me with a BS for two days later.

She examined me and reassured me that it was probably a papilloma, very common, and benign. But to be on the safe side, she'd refer me for additional diagnostic work.

The next two weeks were a blur....I had seven different diagnostic procedures. The Radiologist was a gem....she honestly thought that even though she couldn't see a papilloma, the tumor she was biopsying felt so much like a fibroadenoma, she wasn't worried. But she kept digging like a dog with a bone, determined as she was to get me the best possible diagnostic information.

Seven procedures later, they found DCIS with a microinvasion of IDC. Neither the Radiologist nor the BS had anticipated that.

But I did.

In my mind, it was always a matter of "when" not "if".

After that, no one downplayed the seriousness of the dx, but did their best to be positive and informative.

camillegal

Firestorm u look like a teenager????????????????

firestorm531

Cami - and I act like one too!  LOLOL

camillegal

firestorm ---good for u

Kmtmom1

I posted another thread, but wanted to let you know... MRI showed...

left breast upper inner quad in area of pt palpable concern focal area of asymetric non mass like low level enhancement.

Anyone have any insight?  I was just told I need a biopsy.  Prayers please! For anxiety during/before/after my MRI.. and that it's b9.  Thanks:)

mckenna

are you having an MRI guided biopsy?

Kmtmom1

yes mckenna

mckenna

i had an mir guided biopsy.  there was very little if any pain.  the hard part is the laying still and i had trouble getting through what they were actually doing.  i wish i had had something to relax me.  the next time i have to have an mri or mri biopsy, i am going to ask for something.  i had my biopsy on a wed morning and had my results by friday around 11am. good luck and hoping for b9 results.

Kmtmom1

Thank you very much McKenna. 

wrsmith2x

Finally figured out what High Risk is:

Low risk
Node negative AND all of the following features:

Pathologic tumour size ≤2cm, AND
Grade 1, AND
Absence of peritumoural vascular invasion, AND
HER2/neu gene neither over-expressed nor amplified, AND
Age ≥35 years

Intermediate risk
Node negative AND at least one of the following features:

Pathologic tumour size >2cm, OR
Grade 2-3, OR
Presence of peritumoural vascular invasion, OR
HER2/neu gene over-expressed or amplified, OR
Age <35 years

Node positive (1-3 nodes involved) AND
HER2/neu gene neither over-expressed nor amplified

High risk
Node positive (1-3 nodes involved) AND
HER2/neu gene over-expressed or amplified

Node positive (4 or more involved nodes)

camillegal

Wow u did ur homework.......

kathleen1966

I don't know if I posted here before so I apologize if this is a duplicate!  My radiologist was soo sure, positive that what I had was cancer that I called everyone in my family that night before I even had the results from my biopsy, which happened directly after my mammogram and ultrasound. I even asked her "Well if this is NOT cancer, what do you think it could be" and her reply was "I can't think of anything OTHER than cancer that this could be".  There were a lot of glum faces, shaking heads and a large group of nurses outside the door as my screen was being shown to me. My radiologist also said "Why did you wait soo long to come in?". "Why didn't your gynecologist send you in sooner" and also "There are tumors we are NOT concerned about and there are tumors we ARE concerned about and we are VERY, VERY concerned about these tumors"....I couldn't see tumors on my mammogram.  She said she could see them, but never pointed them out.  When I went and got a second opinion, this surgeon described the tumors as diffused and vague. I don't think they were that big.  I have no idea how they got to four nodes. 

I had put off mammograms due to long term nursing and no family history.  I really never thought this would happen to me. I was 44 when I had symptoms that brought me in. I called and asked for a diagnostic mammogram without seeing anyone regarding the breast first hand. I Just knew there was a problem. There was no lump.  It was a tiny sore on my nipple and an inverted nipple that brought me in. Despite this, I really wasn't all that scared after my radiologist acted this way.  I actually really, really liked her. She was always upfront and honest with me and I really appreciated it.

I just celebrated my two year anniversary of having been diagnosed with breast cancer. And I am very happy to share any information with others.

 Soo funny, my stats below disappeared and so I wrote it all in and then when I posted my stats were back so I came back in and edited that part out and when I saved it, the stats were gone again!! 

Stage IIIA, Er-, Pr-, Her2+, 1.6 largest tumor, extensive DCIS, Pagets disease of the nipple, LVI invasion and four out of 15 nodes positive

wildrumara

Kathleen - I wonder if we had the same radiologist since we were being treated at the same hospital (ha-ha). 

I went in for my routine mammogram last August, but had felt something in my right breast for a few months.....there was an area (ridge) that felt bumpy??   I was not concerned though.....just thought it was an increase in the fibrocystic changes I had for years. 

Since I go to Comprehensive Breast Center, I waited in the waiting room after the mammo, hoping that like in years past, the tech would come in and say "Good to go, you're outta here".  Instead she came in and said we need to get a few more views and that they had called my GYN office to get approval to do a diagnostic mammo.  Still didn't have a suspicion.  It wasn't until they said "We'd like you to have an ultrasound" that I started to get a bit nervous.   What tipped me off that something was going on was when the tech walked me down the hall to the room and said "Are you here alone today sweetie".  I wanted to say "of course I am....I came in for a routine mammo".   I knew something was up. 

The ultrasound tech proceeded to do the ultrasound and was spending a lot of time probing around my lymph nodes.  I still had my composure and still no one was saying anything to me, even though deep down I knew this wasn't good.   When a radiology resident walked in and took the ultrasound probe and started looking around, I definitely knew they were looking at something suspicious!    

About 5 minutes into the ultrasound, a lovely attending radiologist came in and said "Has anyone talked to you yet"......from there she told me that there were two lumps and that they were pretty positive that one of the lumps was cancer but they weren't 100% sure about the other one.  

She said "We'd like to do a biopsy now".  I called my husband, he came into the city to be with me, we talked to a few docs (radiologists) and nurses (who were wonderful) and then I proceeded to have my biopsy.  They pretty much told me before I had my biopsy results that these masses were highly suspicious for cancer.  Therefore, when the bx results came back 3 days later, I wasn't surprised.  I was 42.

camillegal

Most of u are so young I'm so sorry u have to go thru all this. It's so disruptive and stressfil for u. Oh I'm not saying when u'r older it's OK, cuz it's never zok I just mean so many of u have youn kids and husbands and jobs---just a lot of responsibility.

jill47

kmtmom:  how I found out about my bc: annual pap at ob/gyn early May 2012, my ob/gyn insisted I get my mammo this year (last one 2008). Mammo 2nd week May, call back from radiology center for re-take because of "suspicious" results. Go back 3rd week for 2nd mammo, before I went home radiology Dr. told me I had microcalcifications in my right breast but not to worry since 85% of them are not cancer but he wanted me to get biopsy to make sure. They wasted no time, sterotatic core biopsy was on May 21 (typical procedure 40 min. mine 70 min. Dr. wanted to take out more tissue he wasn't happy with initial samples). He talked to me afterwards and said "have lots of ice cream tonight". I had a feeling he knew something, today I feel he knew something but didn't say anything because tissue had to go to pathology. May 24 biopsy results were delivered to me by my ob/gyn of 18 years and she delivered the news. She went the extra mile and made me an appointment to see a breast surgeon the next morning for consultation.  So from initial mammo to dx it took only 3 weeks. My bc surgeon told me she does surgery 4-6 weeks from dx, my surgery 6 weeks post dx. I have an excellent ob/gyn, cancer center/hospital.  my warm hugs to you, you'll get through this!

Aruba

Age 53.  First abnormal mamm ever 6/21/12.  In the next week had U/S, met with BS who I asked based on films does it look like cancer?? He said yes but path would tell all. Had biopsy and then dx on 7/12. Lumpectomy and SNB on 7/20. Found out path of that 2 days ago and now await octotype to see what lies ahead.  What a difference a month makes

FernMF

Aruba:  The option for chemo BEFORE surgery was not discussed with me, also a Stage 1 - seems like if the OUTWARD sign of chemo working is observed BEFORE surgery, that would be a good thing.  After double mastectomy, my only recurrence indicator will be metasteses in a couple years . . . just saying . . .

Did my first round of chemo yesterday.  Received my Neulasta injection today - I am a CHICKEN for shots, so after my fear-tears, it was over.  I requested the shot to be warmed (they had already done that) . . I asked about getting it in my stomach as Sylvia suggested, the nurse said that they never administer in the stomach at this place.  I haven't been there long enough to KNOW for sure, but feel confident they are competent and caring . . . so, in the back/fatty part of my upper arm.  No problems.  So far, no side effects except for metal mouth and "fear tears".  God is Good.  Thanks for all the good news from you who are having anniversaries of note.  This is WAY encouraging to me, a NEWBIE.

camillegal

Fern try eating u'r food with all plastic utensils for a while--the metal mouth might still be there but for some reason I didn't taste it in my food so much. Just a thought.

FernMF

Aruba and Camillegal:

Day 3 and 4 were HELL - the steriod was just TOO much. Day 5 and 6 MUCH BETTER.  I am going to work tomorrow.  Feel "fairly" normal and walked 2 miles this morning . . . . God is GOOD!  Good luck to all my flat sisters out there!

FernMF

Saw the Oncologist (sweet man) today, 7 days past first chemotherapy - white blood cells were 16,200 - YIPPPPPEEEEEEE - thanks Neulasta . . . after a full week, I honestly believe "I can do this" . . . I was so very petrified fearing the worst, now the first week has come and gone and the doc says it is unlikely to get worse during the next three sessions . . . YIPEE YIPEE YIPEE . . . picked up the EXPENSIVE wig on the way home - it's actually quite nice, hubby says he thinks he likes its color better than my color (of course, who would really know what my "real" color is - I haven't let it be au naturale for 100 years) . . . so, GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL, I am a very happy camper today.  You are all an inspiration of hope - - may God in his mercy wrap his big loving arms around you and STOP THE MADNESS that your body is experiencing . . . I pray for you PEACE to sleep, STRENGTH to walk and sit, DESIRE to eat and drink, and REMISSION/CURE for the nasty cancer . . . .  THANKS A BUNCH FOR YOUR INSPIRATION.

proudtospin

Fern--so glad for you, now go celebrate!

gee, my name is Iris and my sister is Fern so I feel like you are my sister!

FernMF

Iris. We are flower girls. Where are rose.daisy.magnolia.tulip.wysteria??? Ha ha. Made us smile.

proudtospin

Fern, you must be of the same humor!  when my sister Fern and I used to complain to my mom (whose name was Cosma...sort of like a flower), that we wished we were named Susan or Mary, mom would answer, "I could have named you Rose and Petunia" at which we would fight to be Rose!

Course, now I like having a non common name! Hang on girl, us flower ladies are tough and will get through all this junk and come out on the other side...smelling of roses!

FernMF

Proudtospin - I am named for a woman who was very influential in my dad's young life . . so, I have always felt "special" about having a significant name . . . but WHO IN THE HECK WOULD NAME THEIR SWEET LITTLE CUTE BABY GIRL FERN???? Truly, a perplexing mix of OMG and "I enjoy being uniquely named" . . . ha ha ha

Yesterday a slightly inconvenient rash started - side of neck; lower belly; at panty-line between my legs - itches like poison ivy - incidiously!, seems to be spreading - it doesn't LOOK like poison ivy and I haven't been in the weeds or outdoors . . . last night 2 benedryl's and a sleeping pill later after a colliodal oatmeal bath and reading for 4 hours, I finally slept for 3 hours - I'm at work today - no problems (except itching) . . . IS THIS A SYMPTOM OF ONE OF THE CHEMO DRUGS?  Anyone have similar experience?  I showed the oncologist the rash yesterday, he was NOT impressed - no "biggie" - actuallly wasn't a biggie to me either until it kept me awake all night.  THANKS for any opinions. 

FernMF

Proudtospin:  since childhood with this "unique" name, I've never met a person named Fern except WAY-OLD gals (now that I am way old, this isn't as funnY) WITH BLUE HAIR . . I always thought my hair would turn BLUE when I got old because of my name . . . . ha ha ha ha . . . . now, it'll just fall out, really?  God definitely has a sense of humor!!!!

proudtospin

Fern, well my sister is not way old~~she is my younger sister..  On your rash, hate to suggest this but could it be shingles?  Shingles is on one side of the body, rash, hurts and itches at the same time.  And hits when you are run down~  If it is get thee to the docs for the meds now!

FernMF

PROUDTOSPIN - another opinion was that is a side effect of the taxotere . . I have a call into the oncologist's office to ask about that . . . I'll ask about shingled as well.

proudtospin

Fern, sure do hope they figure out the cause, hate side effects of meds! then again, hated shingles too!  best of luck figureing it out