Recently diagnosed with IDC in right breast

bearcub

My hair was to my waist but it is short now, I cut it about 2 weeks ago. I kinda like it and will miss it when it goes. DH will shave it when it goes. No to working for the last 7 years. I was a young mom!!! 3 adult kids, 8 grand kids, a dog and a cat!....how about you!

Mindy703

Three kids 11,9, and 5. Husband (and a cat). I went to try on wigs today. I found a raquel welch wig. It looked like my hair. I was surprised. How are feeling right now? Nausea, aching, diarrhea? I am having diarrhea, but I think it is IBS because I am constantly thinking about this. I am concerned about the lymp node biopsy. Supposed to be the 18th when they put the port in. Talk to ya soon, I hope.

Mindy

bearcub

I bought a wig, not sure I like it, but it looks cute with a hat over it. I feel totally normal, no real SE at all. I keep waiting for something to happen. I have continued biking 16 km. a day and eating and sleeping well. I did not have neulasta shot, in Canada it doesn't seem to be the norm unless necessary

Good luck with the lymph node biopsy, it's scary, you will do fine, are you doing SN? Mine healed just fine. They did mine during surgery.

I have no port chemo nurse doesn't think I will need one, only 4 treatments and good veins. The less surgery the better.



Good luck, your kids must keep you hopping, did the 5 year old start school this year?



Where are you in the world?

Mindy703

I am in A town called Sapulpa. It is in Oklahoma. Probably sounds funny to you. But a lot of the places names derived from the Indians. No SE'S (learning the abbreviations!) that is great.

I wish I didn't have to have a port. BS didn't give me a choice. I haven't met with the oncologist yet. I do that sept. 14th. I am sure he will answer more of my questions then. Yes SN biopsy. Yes terrified they will come back and say cancer is everywhere. Everyone keeps saying "just be positive". Easy for them to say. Will keep you posted.

Mindy

Mindy703

Neta,



I just saw your message you posted in July. That is exactly how I feel right now. I am 41 mother of three. I am waiting on the oncotype dx, BRCA, and a lymph biopsy. Family and friends keeps saying "oh I am glad they caught it early." But I don't know where they are getting that. The bs said this has probably been there for 3 to 5 years. Without any of the tests who knows how far it has spread? I too have IDC, grade 2 , 2.6 cm x 2x2 and 2x1. I know everyone on here seems strong and positive. They also seem to know the lingo and more of what is going on than me. I am trying to learn all I can but...... I see the oncologist sept14th. I think that will help. Like you I am ready to just start doing something about this, other than wait for test. Sept. 18th I am having a lymph biopsy and a port placed for chemo first then surgery after chemo.

You are probably in a whole different place since your July post. Would love to hear your story and experiences. Let me know.



Mindy (oklahoma,USA)

Mini1

Mindy - They may just mean it was found in an earlier stage. They said the same thing about mine and they were figuring it started 5-7 years ago. I know they base it (at least in part) on the rate that cells replicate and how long it would take for it to even show up in a test since you can fit millions of cells on the tip of a pin. My husbands CA showed up in his mid twenties and they said he was probably born with his. They were amazed it showed up when he was so "old."

lisa2012

Hi MIndy- I had ovaries out Nov. 2011 because I tested positive for BRCA1. It was preventative. Then in December I had my first MRI screening that you start doing if you have this gene mutation. Surprise! They found a very small tumor (8mm.) So I had bilateral mastectomy first with sentinel nodes (3 on each side, clean.) Oncotype was 38. Started chemo (4 rounds of Taxotere/cytoxan) mid- April. Had exchange surgery to put implants in Aug. 7

How was it? Well, it's no picnic but I made it through.  Lost my hair, never threw up or felt nauseous though eating was an issue especially 2nd round for me. Fatigue, and all the garden variety side effects but no infections, no hospitalizations, etc. I could not work as I was exhausted and my job (school principal) was too pressured and public for me to handle it. I had sick leave and then the summer vacation helped me just deal with treatment etc. My kids are semi-grown (24 and 25) so I did not have to take care of young kids. Do you have young ones?

My hair is about 1/2 in long now and I have "complete coverage" of my scalp. I am healing well from last surgery. It's all unreal and maybe it always will be. However, here I am, back at work, and supposedly with an excellent prognosis. 

Mindy703

Lisa,



I can't believe it is happening to me either. I am beginning the year journey you have been through. It is so overwhelming.......money concerns, kid concerns (ages 11, 9, and 5),working, my hair, my husband (not being able to handle extra duties, hurting and not feeling well, etc.. I could go on and on.

My oncotype came back at 25. So we are doing neoadjuvent therapy. Sept 18th a port will be put in and the bs is doing a lymph biopsy. Does the port bother you? Is it painful under the skin? Can you feel it like when you exercise or something?



Where are you a principal, elementary, jr high, high school? I am sure they are glad to have you back.



How do your breast feel? People say you cannot feel them? I am electing for BMX. However, surgery won't be for 6 months or so.



Mndy

Neta69

Hi Mindy,



First of all, all the things you feel are normal and we have all felt the shock and the fear and the grief for our loss of the way life used to be and the way we used to be ourselves before bc came along an reminded us that we are not immortal.

I'm sure some of us handle it better than others but I think we all need to work through our feelings. Several other survivors have assured me that these feelings will get better with time. For some it gets a lot better once treatment starts and you feel like you are actually doing something about it. I am a little furter along in treatment now. I am still anxious and sad. Sometimes I am paralyzed by fear, but I also have good moments and my advice to you is to try and stay in the present as much as possible. Focus on today, on the here and now. Don't think too far ahead, just one day at a time. I contacted a cognitive therapist who talked to me about Mindfulness. It helped a little. Medication also helps. I take sleeping pills and anti anxiety medication. My pathology came back and as you can see in my signature the tumor was slightly smaller than they first thought, it was hormone positive and HER2 negative. However, the lab found a few isolated cancer cells in my sentinel lymph node that didn't show during the first check under microscope during the surgery. When I finally got to see an oncologist it was decided that I would go ahead with 4x TC chemo followed by radiation. I didnt get the Oncotype test. I am doing my second treatmen tomorrow. The first one was no

fun but went ok I guess. I have now lost all my hair and I'm finding that hard. I got myself a nice wig and some headscarves before I started chemo so I wouldn't have to do it when feeling sick and emotional. When my hair started fallng out a friend took me to the salon where I picked the wig out and they cut my hair 1/2" short. It was sad but it was better than my hair coming out in clumps allover the place.



I want you to know that you are not alone in this. Around you are many, many women who started where you are now and made it through the pain, the fear and the treatment and came out the other side. They say it gets better with time. Some say they are stronger, better people and live their life with a purpose they didn't have before. I am hopeful that they are right. For now I try to just take things one day at a time.



Hugs

Mindy703

Neta,

I am doing ac chemo every two weeks for 8 weeks then T chemo every week for 12 weeks. That is 20 weeks. Is that normal? You are only doing 4 treats total? I will have 16. Did you know your MIB percentage?

I have a lymph biopsy and port placement scheduled for wed. Chemo thurs. how long after you first treatment did your hair start coming out? I mean day 3,4,5,6,7?? They are sending me to a chemo class but I can't go until after my first treatment because I have soo many drs appts.



Thanks for insight and sharing. It helps

Mindy

Neta69

Hi Mindy, we are getting different drugs, and each case is different. Probably best not to compare our regimens. In my case 2 oncs considered me a borderline case for chemo. I will also have radiation after. My hair started relly coming out on day 13.

edithesther

Hi, found you after my pathology report Thursday. I thought I had DCIS but was told it was IDC. Reading on here has helped. When he said Chemo almost fainted. Knew radio was on the cards but when he said chemo also bit of a shock, now I know not the only one.

I had 25mm tumour all removed with no spread, Lymph nodes clear. Really thought radio only. DH has fallen apart and is freaking out, this morning announced he wants to give up work to look after me ! I am starting to feel smothered. I really don't like to sound ungrateful but I want things to be as NORMAL as is possible. If he is at home 24 7  don't think I could cope.I have raised three children, ran my own business for 8 years, then had up to five part time jobs at one time. Bit older and wiser but could have done with all this help then.

Sound really mean I know but had to rant at someone. He is semi retired now anyway 3 days a week so I am not completely on my own but life has a good balance at the moment and the thought of him saying he gave up work to look after me makes me want to scream.

I want to up about and back at MY little part time job as soon as possible, despite chemo.

NaniAlice

Hi, sorry you had to join this club. But I'm sure you will find this site very helpful.

I was dx with IDC in 2009. I did neoajavent (before surgery) chemist, fallowed by mastectomy, then rad. Chemo wasn't really bad. Just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore, it was over.

About the DH, mine reacted similarly. He just couldn't trust anyone else to take care of me. He went to every Dr apt. Every treatment, every test. I have 4 grown children. Finally they had to sit down with him and let him know he wasn't alone. He did get over it quickly when he started to see I was going to be ok. Communication is so important. Remember he is your cosurvivor.

I'm sure you will both be just fine. Hang in there

hugs from Alice

edithesther

NaniAlice, Thank you.

I know what you mean about every appointment and test :-( 

 Our eldest Daughter came for my final results and the difference in how I felt was amazing. I was calmer and took in more information because she was there. She chatted to him and kept him straight on a few points. He kept on and on about why chemo ? The doctor had already explained that it was an insurance policy for my future. I ended up angry and shouted that I didn't know why he was angry it is me it happening to ! The cosurvivor comment made me rethink, thank you. Will try and be a bit more gentle with him, I do tell everyone how wonderful he is being if he is in earshot, don't want him to think I am being ungrateful.

This is hard enough to cope with right now, just need some ME time to take it all in. Convinced DH to go out tomorrow to see his friend and fellow guitar player for a jam session. Then golf on Tuesday. Perhaps I will have my head around it all by then.

Hope you have a good week.