Newly diagnosed in Fall of 2012

Hollycat

Newly diagnosed in Fall of 2012

Hollycat

Hi friends. I was diagnosed in Sept. of 2012. Anyone else joining in about now?? I am loving the 2012 Sisters threads and have learned so much...

Jeaner

Hi Hollycat,

I was diagnosed 4 days ago.  I am having my double mastectomies this upcoming Friday.  I'm incredibly anxious and hoping nothing has spread into my lymph nodes.  Even if they are negative I think I will do the chemo.  I am also opting for the DM's in hopes of not having to do radiation. 

Anonymous

Hi girls,

Diagnosed 9/12 and scheduled for a BMX on 10/16. Can't sleep tonight. Making lists of everything I think I MUST take care of this week. This board has already been a huge blessing in helping me prepare, but I think that finally joining so I can connect with others on this journey will be an even greater blessing!

Moderators

Welcome to BCO - we're glad you found this wonderful community.

When you're looing to connect with others who are at the same place in treatment you are, check the main forums for Surgery or Hormonal Therapy or Radiation Therapy, where there's always a month-specific conversation. Each forum has a list of useful links at the top of the forum too, and there's always the main Breastcancer.org site, with thousands of searchable pages of information about tests, treatments, medications and more.

Hollycat

Hey friends..glad to hear from some other "newbies"..I had a lumpectomy which revealed my cancer. I am having a sentinal lymph node biopsy on Oct. 16th and depending on what that reveals..either I will do chemo or schedule my prophylactic double mas (i will learn the abbreviations soon!!). I think I am doing tissue exp. too.

 My surgery requires a little extra planning since I have a 14 year old in a wheelchair. Trying to wrap my brain around arranging care for me and for her for so many weeks...

 Dulcigirl..we will be be "under" together on the 16th!

Hollycat

Just another tidbit of info..I am an ATM protein gene carrier so radiation is not an option for me. Any of your docs talked about hormomal therapy?

iatigger

I received the call on 9/17, IDC Stage 1 ER+ PR+. Scheduled for a double mas on 10/15. Just counting the days.

Hollycat

Welcome iatigger ..I hope you will find some support with us. I love these boards...I can spend hours learning!

iatigger

Thanks.  I also forgot to mention that the oncologist is planning on putting me on Tamoxifen only no Chemo as long as there aren't any surprises that come from surgery, like a bunch of node involvement. So I might get get keep my hair.

Hollycat

That is good news. I am hoping for the same...just like you...depends on lymph node involvement.  Are you doing reconstruction?? so many options...

Trixie62

Hello...diagnosed with IDC September 19th and now scheduled for BMX on October 22nd. It's a scary time for certain. Mostly worried about my daughters. We lost my husband, their father, 3 years ago to sudden heart attack and now this....ugh. Trying to stay positive and calm.

Hollycat

Trixie...jump on to November 2012 surgeries. This thread did not really take off...have found a great one in the Nov surgery...

MiaLansink

Hollycat,

   I hope your sx went well and that you are healing well. I, too, was dx in Sept. I had my first sx (lumpectomy) Oct 4th but did not get clean margins. Med oncol wants to start chemo next week so I will get a port placed on Wed 10/24. After chemo is finished I will get a double mastectomy with reconstruction (debating on implants vs flap). I hope you were able to find help for your daughter and yourself. I too am very stressed about how to care for my 3 children during this. I will keep my fingers crossed for you that there is no lymp node involvement. My friends from Alabama are the toughest girls I know!! You will do great!! Maria

Hollycat

Thanks Maria...I ended up cancelling and am going to do it all in one surgery..take the lymph nodes with the mast and reconstruction...looking at first or second week in Nov..  did you do the onco-type test?

Dx 9/6/2012, IDC, <1cm, Stage I, Grade 2, ER+/PR+, HER2-Surgery 09/04/2012 Lumpectomy (Left)

Hollycat

Trixie62...are you ready and on go for Monday?

Hollycat

Girls who have just had the surgery check in with us when you are able...and keep us posted! Thinking of all of you.

Megroy23

Hi. I was Dx with IDC stage IIIc w positive lymph nodes in Axilla and up to clavicular area. I have great team of drs and opted to do my six rounds of TAC chemo first, then my surgeries ( 3total) and then of course radiation is still recommended at the end. I was just diagnosed in sept and I was always on top of mammos, etc because of my family history. Mine is so aggressive and on top of tissue so chemo first will see if it actually shrinks/responds. The first chemo round within 24 hours left me horribly sick but the drs want to know because they can truly tweak your meds to avoid the awful SEs. This second time they had me start Ativan in addition for nausea (Ativan has anti nausea factor along w anti anxiety) and they increased my decadron during chemo and added Ativan. Of course the three days of emend but that additional stuff a day before and an extra day after had me going and doing my normal weekend routine. The Neulasta shot was a different story.... I'm researching if its really necessary since I hurt so terribly and I'm a 43 yr old healthy mom. I did take Advil ad zyrtecD instead of Claritin b/c I already take that daily for allergies but the joint pain in my knees made me stumble and I couldn't play piano for days... And the pain was everywhere, but that is what caused the most change in my lifestyle. Granted its temporary but I question the need for it if I avoid being exposed to ill people and practice extra safe precautions during the immune crash week. I really hope to be active with this site. There is nothing more comforting than talking with people in the same boat! I am positive and look at this as a temporary battle. My motto is a verse from the bible "she is clothed in strength and dignity and laughs without fear of the future"... But we all have our days.

Megroy23

Hi. I am IDC Stage IIIc w positive lymph nodes so chemo was priority and my hair was gone in 14 days. That's hard for me and its just a femininity thing, and it also announces you are sick. I'm also triple negative so hormone therapy is not an option for me. I hope you find peace with your treatment plan because attitude really is everything. We all deserve our days of pity parties though so I'm really hoping to get linked in with people here. Like new mothers, their advice and true experiences do such much more good than med journals and stats! Good luck!

Megroy23

I'm a newly diagnosed September Girl, and I already feel better joining this site. I need to navigate around and make sure I see all responses to my posts and I guess edit my profile... Is that where you added where you are from, etc.? Nice to meet you! Lol

Megroy23

I hope you did we'll with the port placement. It's the way to go. My ten year old son sees it and wants me to keep it covered just because I think it worries him but now that I've already had two treatments of TAC chemo, my hair is gone and he likes my pirate scarves! Lol... Hope to keep in touch, I'm just a little ahead of you in this journey and my pink warriors have made all the difference in my outlook. Although already positive when you have good strong women in your corner, you can't go wrong!

MiaLansink

Megroy23,

Hey glad you found this group. Yes I edited my profile to add info about my dx and location. What is TAC Chemo? I will be starting A/C on Wed...Boo! But glad to be moving toward kicking this thing. Scared about my hair falling out. Tried on wigs with my sister yesterday and I looked silly, I think I will do the pirate thing too!

Megroy23

TAC is taxotere, adriomycin and cytoxin so is that your A and C? Adriomycin is the one that takes your hair although taxotere can too. It's too hot here in FL for wigs right now but the Raquel Welch and Jon Renau synthetic wigs are gorgeous! Not the natural hair crazy expensive ones either. YouTube those wigs and watch how real they look with their monofilament scalp so it looks really real and my stylist trimmed very little to make it even more natural. They will fit better once you lose your own hair... I love having it as an option for special occasions. But the scarves I've found on head covers.com are gorgeous! Stay positive... It makes such a difference. You have a gorgeous face and I really play up the big brown eyes with the scarves and I get tons of compliments. True ones from real friends! It's temporary and its just hair but its our femininity and it sucks to lose that confidence on top of what we really need to focus on. Don't give up on the wigs.. I'm telling you there are some gorgeous ones now. My mom had awful wigs and I was only fifteen when she died so I was glad to see they had come a long way with that at least! :-)

MiaLansink

Thanks Meg! Yes that is my A/C. Wow, TAC, that is a lot of chemo, sounds like those bad cells will have no where to hide!  I really needed to hear the rest of your post! Your attitude is contagious, I was having small pity party this afternoon but your post served as an adjustment. Thank you. I will check out the wigs on youtube, that is a great idea! I have some scarves and hats ordered from headcovers.com and I have been eyeing a few RW wigs! I am sorry that breast cancer has already been a big part of your life before your own dx. I am sure the advances in medicine have surpassed the advaces in wigs!!

Mia

Megroy23

Good morning. I'm so glad you found my post helpful. I have found most comfort in people who are a few steps ahead and remain positive. That is my plan but I'm normal and we need to allow ourselves those days or pity parties from time to time ... I always feel even better to march on after I allow myself a moment. If you ever want to reach out immediately to me, don't hesitate to find me on Facebook (meg Roy, Jacksonville, fl) my profile pic is my college son's baseball team in their prayer circle before a game with pink armbands showing. I keep my site nothing but positive and I have friends that post encouraging kick butt stuff that really uplift me when I'm in chemo chair. Bring your IPad and/or laptop when you go... I loved posting when I was there. What anti nausea meds are they giving you pre and post? I could not get the taxotere the first due to high bilirubin so it was just AC at first but I ended up getting really sick starting 24 hours later. This is not to concern you, everyone is different and the doctors WANT you to tell them if you have trouble so they can tweak your meds to avoid it. They added Ativan (normally anti anxiety but they write it for nausea) and I took it one day prior in addition to decadron and of course the 3day emend and a extra day of decadron and Ativan (into fourth day of chemo) and I did absolutely wonderful side effect-wise this second time so please don't suffer, they are there to help. If I can do anything for you, please use my cell to (904) 338-1106. I text a lot. I couldn't sleep the night before my first round just b/c of anxiety so if you have something to take, do it! I'm here for ya girl... You are in SC? We are getting high winds due to Sandy so I'm just being lazy. Please let me know when you YouTube the stylists using real models for the RW and Jon R wigs- my girlfriends were like "now ill wonder every time I see a woman with great hair if its a wig"! Lol I made one of the biggest bummers a fun thing. I hope you will too!

Daldred

Hi your information is really interesting, I got diagnosed 8days ago and am waiting for a bone scan and ct scan this week, I know I have grade3 aggressive ductile breast cancer, it's such a shock my head is choca with what ifs , was wondering if that's normal even though I've been told I'm not at the point of no return the plan is chemo once I get results if it's spread which is Friday just wish it was here, I'm very positive just down moments as my mum has had the all clear after 6years so I know what's ahead when others had a scan n biopsy did your lump feel more prominent ?? I'm going to look on the website you've said for headscarves so thanks x

Megroy23

Hi, so glad you replied to me. I found out I was grade 3 long before I had the results to know what stage I was, etc. I had bone scan, ct scan, echocardiogram (because one of the chemo drugs I have is tough on the heart) and a bone scan. It was on the very top of my left breast so I could feel it as soon as it came up, size of a marble. In two months it grew to be the whole side of my left breast (size of tumor matters when it comes to radiation, etc mine over 5cm) and positive lymph nodes in the axilla and possible up towards the shoulder. I chose chemo first instead of surgery because with chemo and the fact that the tumor is where I can feel it, I will actually feel it shrinking knowing the chemo is working. Sure enough, only two rounds of chemo and the tumor is softening and seems to be smaller although dr hasn't measured yet. I went from thinking the marble was scar tissue because I've always had mammograms every six months because of my family history to having the needle core biopsies where the radiologist basically told me it was "cancer, we just know which kind" and I didn't get the "call" with the invasive ductal carcinoma confirmation until a few days later.. then it was ct, bone, pet, etc etc and yes, I was going through the phases of someone does with any tragic news, denial, depression, etc. But I also have a very positive attitude and have a huge support group and attitude really is everything. I am looking at a full year of treatment by the time I complete six rounds of TAC chemo (taxotere, adriomycin and cytoxin) then surgeries and then radiation. If you don't take it literally one day at a a time, it is just TOO MUCH. And honestly, knowledge is power. Don't read the internet and magazines right now. Talk to your team of doctors (make sure you like them, it's an important relationship so invest the time in making sure you are with the right group) and talk to them about your options. It doesn't say where you live, but here in Jacksonville I have many options but the Baptist system I've chosen to go through ROCKS! My doctors talk to me about protocol for our types of "popular" cancers but there are so many things they can do to personalize your care and treatment. I was so sick after my first round of chemo, I had to be wheelchaired into the med onc's office three days later (it was over a weekend) but once I called they had me come right in, put fluids in my port for hydration and extra meds for nausea. Having had that experience I knew what to talk to my doc about the next visit before round 2. I reminded him of my "visit" and told him that I knew we could do more to combat those side effects and he tweaked it to where I took anti nausea two days before chemo instead of one along with the three-day EMEND and decadron and I did not feel the least bit nauseated ONCE this last time. I'm 43 and I had my two older kids young so I have a 25 year old daughter (who gave me a grandbaby girl this past June), a 20 year old son on baseball scholarship at a local school so he's close, and a 10 year old son. I gave in to the fact that I would have bad days, and I do but they really are just "days"... I didn't like losing my hair so the first sign of shed, my husband shaved it. Get scarves and even a wig NOW... you will be too engrossed in everything else later. Do anything that makes you feel like you are in control of this battle and not the other way around. I am grade 3 and stageIIIC and this coming year is going to be a bitch but it's not permanent and neither is it for you. Don't hesitate to contact me.. my biggest help are women that are a few steps ahead of me in the same battle. We've got this!  

MiaLansink

Hey Meg, Thanks for the reply. I am going to send you a face book request. I have spent entirely too much time on the Internet looking at wigs this weekend (Sandy cxled 5 soccer games for our family this weekend,,,,can't decide if that was a blessing or a curse!) I am getting increasingly anxious about starting chemo on Wed but have decided to channel it into finding an awesome Halloween costume to wear for treatment. So I saw that you work in the medical field, I do too and I have been planning on continuing working during treatment. However I just read your previous post about your SEs and medicines to prevent SEs and was wondering if you have been able to continue working through this?  Are you getting a recovery shot the day following chemo?     

Wigs. Too many to choose from! I have narrowed it down to Jon R Gizele or Houte....part of me wants to do something different but I will probably play it safe and get something similar to my natural hair.

Pity party. I try to only invite myself! My friends are awesome but I feel a lot of pressure to "fight like a girl" and "stay strong" so I think I am letting people down when I have a weak moment. So glad I have this website! Truly was an attitude adjustment the other night!! I appreciate all of your positive words.

It sounds like you have a great support system and fantastic medical team! I am lucky to live so close to Charleston, we have a ton of MDs to choose from.  Thanks for your cell #.  What school is your son playing for? My nephew is a freshman and is pitching for Furman. Sorry I meant to to PM you this.

Megroy23

Yes please Facebook or text me. My profile is now me with two friends who dressed up for dio de la muerdas - day of the dead and they won the contest we were at. You will see my Jon R Zara in that pic. Lol and I still get some woman every single time I wear her or my RW limelight that cracks me up! Everyone flips in how real it looks. My closest friends though are the ones that text me daily and I am honest and they get it. I don't make it a big a deal but I say not a great day and they say they expect that and still know for the most part I got this and they let me vent and then I'm done. Don't pressure yourself into being anyone's hero but your own. I am a dermatology nurse and worked in the back with the only dr in the practice. No cosmetic, high volume patient type derm thank goodness but I did end up giving notice. Thankfully I am in a position that we can afford to do it but I was there two years ad it wasn't a job that would lead to any missed opportunity advancements if I left and I really just want to battle this as healthy in mind and body as possible. They tweaked the meds and I did great the second time. Please reach out to me before Wednesday so we can really talk. You are going to be fine and I would have given anything to talk to someone a few steps ahead of me before my first chemo so I could be open and honest and flip out a little bit without being worried if the person was going to think I was losing it- I wasn't but it sure feels good to just throw out every thought you are having to someone who gets it!

susancats

Hi Meg & Mia-

I feel a little like a voyeur reading your conversations back and forth. I am new to this whole BC thing too- I am having a second opinion on this coming Friday to talk about treatment. I didn't connect with my MO- and I didn't feel much compassion. I am hopeful that this one I meet will be right for me. I am awaiting my OncoType DX test to see which is the best treatment option for me. I am going to start Tamoxifin at the end of the week.

I appreciate reading all your posts and relating to many of your comments. Bless you both and have a great weekend!

jenjenl

New, only 1 week in.  IDC, stage 2 - 2 small lumps (1 is .7 mm, 1 is .5 mm) and a mammary lymph node (not so good).  Had my MRI - showed another possible lump .5 mm in other breast.  I meet my chemo guy tomorrow and then the CT and bone scans on Thursday. I already took the genetics tests. I feel like things are moving fast but not fast enough for me.

Treatment plan to date - chemo, double boob removal (cause of age) then rad (tbd).  I don't see that as a common approach so kinda concerned.  I will see if chemo guy agrees with approach.

I have such anxiety over the CT/bone scans I am so terrified it has spread.  TERRIFIED. 

I am going to be able to work through my treatments (taking pto for chemo sick days) I get to work from home.  Saving STD for surgery and LTD if needed.

I hope I find my courage soon.