Just diagnosed jan 7th 2014

Dolphingirl1

I received the news on January 7th. I had found a lump right before my birthday in December. Had mammogram and sonogram on 12/20. Had Biopsy done on 1/6 and got the results the next day. Seen breast specialist on 1/10. Was sent for MRI on both breast because of the density if the lump haven't been marked she does not know if it would have been detected. MRI showed 6mm oval mass in the left upper quadrant of the other breast. Was schedule to have a sonogram and biopsy this past Wednesday but they were unable to find it . So now this Wednesday I go for a MRI with biopsy. I also am going to a plastic surgeon on Thursday. I am so afraid. I have been going through so many emotions. I am so scared. I feel so alone. Boyfriend not very supportive. My insurance is the pits. I have a four thousand dollar deductible. I live paycheck to paycheck. I do have short term disability to pay all my household bills but I do not know what to do. I am trying not to get to stressed about it. I am afraid of the surgery. Leaning more towards double mx with reconstruction. I think I just wanted to vent tonight. Thanks for listening.

I was dx with IDC. Stage 1. Grade 3. ER+/PR+. HER2-

 

RMlulu

Dolphingirl1  -  ugh cancer:( sorry a dx that no one wants to hear. But you found this site great info and wonderful threads! Vent we understand. 

Breathe, it is overwhelming.  Waiting for a plan to evolve is hard.  Use your wait to your advantage. Checkout your medical package and FMLA, visit your BC center and find out what services are available for you, talk with the BC head RN gather all info, check out a support group...helps to see others working their way threw c and what you are facing and making it.  It's all doable.  You will be fine brave warrior.

Stay focus on today.  Don't get ahead of yourself, don't goggle Mr ivegotcancerimgoingtodie. No need to rehearse something that you may never gave to do.  Read the breast cancer husband...speaks in layman's terms.  Find an appointment buddy.  Make your list of questions...ask ask ask.

Than breathe! You've got this just a one day at a time...as you form your team, visit the BC center, meet other BC warriors, you will realize you ... You can do it! 

The waiting is the grandest...not all the answers come at once ...so focus on today...blow some bubbles, soak in laughter, enjoy family friends that make your heart smile.  Will be in your pocket {{{squeeze}}}

Cindy

Dolphingirl1

Thank you. Think I just needed to talk.

shellbell1963

dolphigirl1

I too have been diagnosed with IDC as of January 3. I am beyond stressed as I am waiting for my treatment and surgery. I am self employed as an accountant so this time of the year is stressful let alone dealing with breast cancer. My husband is not supportive at all. Its like its my problem. I can't offer any great advice but wanted you to know that you aren't alone and I feel we all need each other for support. Just wanted to let you know that. Take care and feel free to message me if you want to talk, complain or compare our stories.

LBF625

I was just diagnosed too.  Actually a few days ago.  Trying to stay positive.

Dolphingirl1

anytime you want to talk just message me. Thanks for sharing. I am here if you need to talk or just want to vent.

jojomg

I was diagnosed oct 1..the first day of breast cancer awareness month. I have idc one tumor 1 cm ..I decided to do the diep flap surgery I had it on dec 13 and it was hard..thank god my daughter was home from college for winter break , I can say I've never really been scared ...I had no armpit lymph involvement but after the masectomy they found idc in situ in the breast tissue and 2 breast lymph nodes with idc. so now I wait...I saw the plastic surgeon already and she says I am doing great.I'm stil in a  lot of pain my stomach is so damn tiight I feel like someone is sitting on me. my breasts feel like they are filled with cement. I will tell you this after a masectomy get a special shirt or jacker or cami  with pockets to hold your drains..imperative I wish I had known. Yours sounds like they caught it reallly early and I'm glad I didn't do lumpectomy and radiation because they never would have found the 2 breast lymph nodes..but all and all its been fine and I'm healing and waiting for one more test to come back I forget the name of it. to tell us if the cancer is going to come back and how aggressive it is...I would feel better if my oncologist didn't say waiting 10 days might be pushing the envelope....that was scary ..and he was saying he wished he had the pathology report..my breast surgeon said he has it...so you have to click with your drs I'm switching next week but hang in there this is so curable..we will be fine

jojomg

My husband said when he had an ear infection that we were both sick...really comparing your ear ache to a double masectomy and I had the diep flap so my tummy is so sore..but I think that I don't look sick to evryone they've forgotten about it . waiting is horrible

Dolphingirl1

Thank you. I have been thinking about getting the flap instead of implants. I guess I will find out next week when I go to the plastic surgeon, which reconstruction procedure I will get. I was wondering how it felt. Do you know where you can get the cami or shirts with the pockets.

Cceandme

I was diagnosed January 16th. Also IDC ER+/PR+ , HER2- stage 1. I found my lump on left breast just before Christmas. 

Waiting to schedule surgery sucks. we did things a little different. Biopsy first. Then this week mammo, ultrasound and then bone scan. 

Waiting to find out what the next step is.

Think I've decided on double mastectomy with implants. Not sure yet I'd I need TE's. Dr said it depends on PS. 

Good luck on your journey.

Dolphingirl1

Same to you.

AndreaJ50

Itis so hard to believe at this point, but it does get easier. Right now you are in shock and scared (perfectly normal) and sometimes it feels impossible to take one day at a time... It can be one minute at a time!!

The stages of grief are bang on!  Everyone here has been through them, and although we are all at different points on the path, what we all have in common is we have all experienced the feelings at the beginning. It changes our lives forever!

It is hard to be strong when you feel scared or feel like you've lost all control (speaking as a bonefide control freak) . So just Keep breathing and trust the professionals- this may be your first time, but its not theirs. 

Once you have a treatment plan it becomes easier because you can focus on that. Lots of hugs coming your way!!

Take care,

Andrea

edwards750

jojomg - the test is called Oncotype. I had it done. It is pricey but I was blessed BCBS paid for it. It takes about 10 days to 2 weeks to get the results back. Genomic Labs did the test on my tumor. When the report comes back it will tell you how aggressive your tumor is and their evaluation based on their findings about the chance of recurrence. FYI my score was 11; my tumor was determined to be non-aggressive and I have an 8% chance of recurrence based on my taking Tamoxifen for 5 years. I am currently taking the drug and 3 years out from my DX. For all of you who were just DX we all can truly feel your pain - the pain of waiting. This website is your lifeline - it was mine then and is now. As for the boyfriend and husbands who aren't supportive - shame on them. Your problem? How outrageous is that? I wonder how they would be if the situation was reversed and they had cancer? Rmlulu is right...breathe...and repeat. Try and keep busy if you can. Dolphingirl...we have a $5000k deductible so I can relate to the strain of out of pocket expenses. I made arrangements with my doctors to make payments. One of was semi-resistant but I told them insurance had already paid a chunk of the bill so they should be willing to work with me; they did. I reached our deductible in 3 months; then it was 100% thankfully. That meant my 33 RADS treatments and BS's bill were paid totally. So as bad as that deductible is after it is met you don't have to worry about the bills. I know hard to do. It was for us too. Actually our deductibles are not that uncommon with the rising costs of health care. One of my husband's doctors wanted us to pay the full 1600 out of pocket for his procedure to remove a basil cell growth. Their contention is since our deductible is so high and since they have been burned with allowing payments we should divvy up upfront. Not happening. We worked something out. Its hard to deal with this disease and the financial worries that come with it but you will. We will more than happy to help in any way we can. We all have truly been there, done that all in different ways and some the same. Just keep the faith and vent whenever you feel like it. You are definitely among people who care. Diane

alc4405

I was diagnosed last Friday January 24th with infiltrating ductual carcinoma. Hormonal receptor status.   I am only 33 years old! I went  to the doctors this past week, they said it was really small and felt it was an early stage. I decided on a bilateral mysectomy. I see a plastic surgeon next week and a genetic counselor to see if I have the gene that has a predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer. My world has been shattered and I am not really sure how to handle my roller coaster of emotions. One question I have is how long did u have to wait for surgery? How do u handle your feelings? 

msphil

we here have known the feelings you are going thru, but take a deep breath is good advice, you will be in my prayers as for all of us.msphil(idc, stage2, 0/3 nodes, L mast, chemo and rads and 5 yrs on tamoxifen) and now a long time Survivor(Praise GOD) ps my Faith and family support is very important, I stayed Positive and HOPE is so crucial.

Dolphingirl1

I still have not been scheduled. Had to have a biopsy done on a mass in my left breast last

thursay. Seen the plastic surgeon Friday and a genetics counselor today. Think it may be scheduled within the next week or so. Can only have one breast done at a time.

Dolphingirl1

Handling the feelings go from one extreme to the next. A lot of crying, then I get angry, then I try to laugh. I cry almost daily. I am scared but I have to be positive. I have a nine year old son have to be strong for him. He understands a lot. He sits with me when I cry.

Sometimes I wonder if I am choosing the right approach. I know that it is the best option for me but then I start thinking about my boobs being gone and how the new ones will look and feel. I started being mad at them which is making it alittle easier to think about them being gone.

Remember we are warriors in this battle.

Dolphingirl1

thank you. I have almost met the deductible already between the sonogram and biopsy, the breast specialist, mri, the other sonogram on the left breast, MRI with biopsy left breast, plastic surgeon, and the genetics counselor.

Just having someone to talk with helps

Bubster59

Hello,

Sorry to hear about your diagnoses, some of you are so young.  My first bout with idc was in 97, at 43 yrs old. lucky it was stage 1.  I did radiation and lumpectomy.  Opted out of the Tamoxifen and chemo.  Always got my mammograms.  14 months ago started to have a discharge from same breast, went to primary Dr.  had mammogram said it was neg.  this sometimes happens.  It really bugged me every day.  In Nov had another annual mammogram and after a core biopsy for calcification's found that I have idc in the opposite breast.  Explained to the first surgeon that I was still concerned about the discharge in the left breast and he did nothing.  I went to a larger hosp hoping to get a better response, same thing.  Finally pretty much begged for an ultrasound.  Not sure yet if it is cancer but they found a 5 cm  lump and two smaller suspicious areas .  Ladies please push for ultrasounds who knows how long this has been growing.  I surely hope it is not cancer.  Could not feel it and I do not have large breasts.  Will keep you posted.  Thanks for letting me vent.

AndreaJ50

I am so sorry you are going through this. I think there is nothing worse than not being heard!!!

Good for you and your persistence! I hope the best for you.

Keep us posted.

Take care,

Andrea

Hardygirl

Hi,

I am diagniosed with IDC on left breast on Oct 21st and had lumpectomy in Dec 2013.  It is 3cm, one node involved, ER+, PR- and HR-.My oncotype is 16 and my Oncologist recommended for radiation and hormone therapy. I met with my RO two weeks back and worried about the side effects that come along radiation. 

I need suggestion as to whether I should go for mastectomy or go with radiation and hormone therapy. need more advice on radiation side effects. I took second opinion but it looks like it is not mandatory to go for mastectomy but it is my choice depending on the comfort level. I am scared of recurrence and wants to reduce my risk by going with mastectomy. I have appointment with surgeon and RO next week and looking for more info on the decision that should be taken.Any advice

lalala

I feel your angst dolphingirl1!  I am also recently diagnosed with IDC after screening mammo turned up "suspicious lesions".  Follow-up diagnostic mammo and ultra-sound turned up 2 tumours (0.8 cm and 0.5 cm) in rt breast (1 of which wasn't seen on either mammo so I'm a fan of ultra-sounds now).  Had lumpectomy surgery and sentinal node removal on Jan 28th.  Was sure that was all and then I'd be scheduled for radiation after scars healed.  Just found out this past Friday that several areas of DCIS were found by pathologist on samples taken along with a 1.5 cm tumour in lymph node.  Was absolutely devastated as I didn't expect that.  Now waiting, once again, for my doc and the cancer clinic to decide on whether to do another surgery with more tissue and nodes OR go to radiation as originally planned OR go to chemo OR some combination of all three.  The constant waiting and building yourself up for each appointment and being let down is an absolute roller-coaster of emotions.  Crying, then researching and feeling better, then wallowing in worst-case scenarious, then chatting on here and feeling better again.  I know I will feel better once this next decision is made .. one way or another  ... just knowing that there is a plan allows you to arrange your life, job, finances, family so you can cope and physically make your plan for surgery, radiation or chemo and get your head and heart into it.  We are women, and we are strong, and we have it in us to be warriors .. even if we don't think so.

Kuchenhexe

Dx'd Nov 19 of 2013. I too have IDC and am living paycheck to paycheck. This site might be useful to you in finding some free resources that can help.

Breast Cancer Freebies

Dolphingirl1

thank you

Jayaytea

hardygirl,  so hard, right!  

So sorry for what you're going thru.  I was DX with IDC  and faced the decision of a lumpectomy with radiation to follow, or UMX with immediate reconstruction. At my consult wit the surgeon, I hadn't even dreamed they'd discuss a MX for my case.  After much thought and discussion with my DH, that's what I went with.  I'd heard from women who were emotional at the sight of their misshapen breast after a lumpectomy and I'm so small breasted I thought, "what will be left anyway"?, I was afraid of recurrence, and I really wanted to avoid radiation.  So I opted for the UMX/recon.  I had Sentinal node biopsy which was negative. Now I'm on Arimidex for 5 years.  Lots of side effects with that, and it seems every breast cancer DX ends up on some anti hormone treatment at some point.  Just remember that there can be numerous future surgeries once you embark on reconstruction.  That in itself can be an emotional roller coaster - dealing with each result and deciding how much more to have done.  

Best of luck with whatever treatment you decide on.  J

Dolphingirl1

thank you. mmx done with tissue expander. scared to death but it needs to be done.

Hardygirl

Jayatea, Thanks for the reply. I have an appointment next week so lets see what will be decided. I already had lumpectomy and so I will wait for my surgeon to speak up.

Tazza

Well,  in hospital.  Had surgery 19/3/14. Grade 2, 2 cm. Lumpectomy,Mammoplasty, nipple flap/graft. Now waiting for pathlogy. Anyway give me info on lab results,  what to expect etc

Hardygirl

Hi,

After Lumpectomy and second time surgery for clear margins in Jan 2014, I am still waiting next course of action. While debuting for the mastectomy vs radiation, My surgeon recommended for Radiation. The radiation oncologist recommended for PET scan before starting radiation and two hot spots were discovered in the process. The one hot spot in Iliac bone was negative after an MRI Scan which is little bit happier news for me after roller coaster emotions. The other hot spot is in lymp node and still it is suspicious. I was been operated two times and they didn't find any malignancy in the lymp nodes. After 2 months of surgery it was diagnoised through PET SCAN. Now as the surgeon is out of station still waiting for the next course of action of combinations like mastectomy along with lymp node , or radiation and hormone therapy to shrink the tumor(in case) or biopsy followed my surgery(in case tumor is identified).

I went for second opinion  on the lymph node involvement, and it has been mentioned as might be because of inflammation or infection and not sure till the area is operated again. Hell lot of things to deal. Does anyone in the same boat?

AZ85048

Tazza - So very sorry that you were in the hospital and that I just saw this thread!  How are you doing?

Hardygirl - I have nothing in the way of advice to offer as my lymph nodes were clear.  I just wanted to point out to you that this is kind of an old thread and you might get a better response if you start one of your own asking for advice...