Glad to know this site exists

rabbitvelvet

Hi everyone,

 I found the lump 5 weeks ago.  I'm a member of Kaiser so it took this long to see my doc, get another mammo, then an ultrasound and then an ultrasound fine needle biopsy.  The radiologist slipped and said " We think it's cancer but you knew that, right?.. "  Now 7 days later I got the call from Kaiser's breast care nurse;  Invasive Ductal Carcinoma!  Estrogen/progesterone receptors and HER2 pending..I  see the surgeon tomorrow with my grown daughter as my wingwoman!

I think I am ready for the next stage but ?

                    Thanks for listening,  Marcia   

SelenaWolf

Your meeting with the surgeon is, likely, going to involve going over your preliminary results and discussing what your surgical options are.  Taking your daughter is a great idea; A LOT of information is going to come at you very quickly and another pair of ears can be invaluble.  Don't forget that you can solicit a second opinion - and a third - if you feel uncomfortable with the surgeon or with the surgical choices being recommended.

You may receive preliminary staging at this point, but keep in mind that it is preliminary.  You won't be definitively staged until after your surgical pathology results are in.  The information from your surgical pathology will be used to help determine your stage, the grade, receptor data, HER2, etc. and what your treatment plan will consist of.

You may, also, be sent for other tests: bone scan, abdominal ultrasound, blood tests, and x-ray or MRI.  The purpose of these tests is to determine if any evidence can be found that the cancer has spread.  They are standard protocol at most cancer centres and do not automatically mean that they suspect you have mets; they need to do these tests to get the best all round picture of where you are healthwise and how it will affect- and determine your treatment plan.

Good luck tomorrow!

rabbitvelvet

Thanks Selena,

    many thanks for your response....full of a lot of into.  You're right that I am feeling overwhelmed. 

    Just waiting for my daughter to pick me up for my 10am appointment at Kaiser.  Now I have more information (thanks to you) and I will do this!!(as though I had a choice)

Marcia

                                         

barsco1963

Marcia - This site has been a godsend for many women and men. I hope that your appt was informative for you today and that you are a bit more knowledgeable about what your next step may be. Keep us posted on how you are doing.

rabbitvelvet

I am now scheduled for a needle localization, right breast  lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy on December 12th....  Since I'm a retired OR nurse the procedure doesn't scare me....what is freaking me out is that I have to have chemotherapy !!!   I guess it's fear of the unknown and loss of control plus the fear that I won't be able to endure the physical side effects and I'll wimp out.  Any suggestions on how I can survive chemo?

   thanks, Marcia

Racy

Marcia, I'm sorry for your diagnosis, but you will survive chemo, if needed, as thousands of us have.

There are many tips here; read back over previous chemo threads.

The worst part for me was hair loss : (:.

Keep in touch and we will help you every step of the way.

SelenaWolf

Chemotherapy is "do-able".  There are so many things they can do to help with nasty side effects, especially nausea and vomiting.  I found chemo easier than I'd feared, but not as easy as I'd hoped.  The extreme fatigue was debilitating, but I didn't once feel nauseous or vomit.  The hair thang?  Well, they can't do much about that, but - personally - I didn't find losing my hair as awful as I found waiting for it to grow back.

mia42

I think that being a nurse makes us more scared because we don't like to lose control (btw nurses tend to be control freaks LOL) and we have cared for people during times of debilitating illness--scary. I had needle localization and clip insertion during my biopsy but my surgery was not too bad--went in at 9am and was home by 5pm. The next step is where I am stuck and running out of time, I feel, to make a decision. My heart goes out to all of us dealing with this and I know that we can beat it!

rabbitvelvet

You 'guys' are great (grew up around Chicago...hence yose guys!) 

I appreciate all the encouragement.  I will definitely check the chemo thread. 

 Today my daughter told me that she had read somewhere that everything I will need after surgery should be placed lower so I won't cause myself pain, raising my arm. Duh....where has my common sense gone?

I took the advice of another discussion and requested Ativan from my regular doctor....I can't keep staying up all night and stewing.  Even if I never take it, I will know that it is there.

                          Thanks to you all.........Marcia 

  

Jennie93

Hi Marcia,

I was in pretty much the same place you are, just about a year ago. Not one of the docs had ever said a thing about the possibility of chemo before my surgery, so when they hit me with that news afterward (turned out I had some positive nodes) it was a huge shock. It was very difficult for me to come to terms with that. I started a thread on here and poured out my fears, and everyone was so wonderful, talking me through it. I don't know how to link to a thread. But if you can find it and read all the comments I know it will help you too. It still makes me cry a little bit. Everyone here is so kind, so helpful, so supportive.

rabbitvelvet

Hi everyone,

    I am so thankful that this site exists, thanks for all the encouragement.  I've just finished informing my brother, cousins and my girlfriends and they have been wonderful.  I've told each and every one about this site and how helpful you all have been. 

   I guess my head is already in a better place (less reactive) because this morning I found out the doctor's surgery scheduler made a mistake re: my surgery date.  She told me December 12th but she really scheduled me for December 16th!  Steam came out of my ears for about 5 minutes until I found my equilibrium and told myself..." well, I now have 4 extra days to get my house in order, Christmas shop....."  You guys all know that women always can find ways to fill up time!!  Think I'll treat myself to a pedicure and a deep conditioning treatment at the hairdresser:) I'm keeping my long hair through surgery then I'll give it to Locks of Love just before chemo.

                                      Best Wishes