Diagnosis: Ductal Carcinoma

MarieNJ

I just got diagnosed with ductal carcinoma. They believe it is invasive.  I am making an appointment with a major cancer hospital.  Please help. I need all the help I can get at this point. 

mdg

I am sorry you have to join us.  The beginning is so hard.  Get a copy of your pathology report so you can understand what it says. There are a lot of great resources on this site that can provide you with good information.  There are also a lot of great women here that can provide friendship and support.  Hugs!!

MakeLemonade

Mary1952 - so sorry to welcome to this club!

First, don't panic.  It is going to take a bit to wrap your head around this, but you can do it!  Take deep breaths ... And feel fortunate.  There are so many diagnostic tools now, so many treatments, so much more knowledge than even 20 years ago, that the outlook for those with BC is very good. 

I believe that Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) is the most common form of breast cancer and is treatable!

Unfortunately you are now in the "hurry up and wait phase" which I found to be very difficult.  I like to have all of my ducks in a row and it is just impossible at that point!

You will probably have a mammogram, an ultra sound, possibly an MRI, biopsy.  More waiting to get results.  Some results come back almost immediately others can take several days.  All are tolerable... The easiest by far is the ultrasound - just have to lie there in a darkened room :-)  

Until you get a diagnosis, it is hard to keep your mind from racing, but try!  

Wishing you all the best ... There is a lot of support on these boards.  

Moderators

Mary, We are very glad that you found your way to this community where you will get lots of support and information from our wonderful members. Please let us know how we can continue to support you. The Mods

MarieNJ

Thank you so much for supporting me. My husband is picking up reports, mammo, pathology and ultrasound. I am a bundle of nerves. The doctor's office is supposed to fax this to the doctors referral at a major cancer hospital. I feel like things are moving in slow motion.  I am just so worried.

ziggypop

Hi Mary, I'm sorry that you have been diagnosed, but glad that you have found this board' there's lots of info and support here. There is no way that anybody can not be scared at hearing a cancer diagnosis, but one thing that you should know is that there are many, many different types of BC and various stages etc. and the vast majority are very treatable (some of the treatments are not very pleasant, but they're doable) . You will probably have a number of tests and procedures in the next week or two - those tests are to help determine the best treatment plan for you. Treatment varies a lot - for instance some people end up having chemo, some don't. Don't think that you will by necessity have all the things that you hear about cancer treatments. 

It's a really good idea to stay OFF DR. Google - he's a bad diagnostician & always makes people much more anxious than they need to be. Also, if you need anxiety meds, ask your doc for them. They help many women especially in the part when you just don't know what is going on. Most of us find that once a treatment plan is in place, the anxiety lessens a lot - maybe because we are being proactive in 'fixing' it.

Many hugs 

MakeLemonade

When is your appointment?  

It is okay to be mad, angry, scared. To scream and cry.  But then you will pull yourself together and be strong.

This part is hard because you want something to be done and yet it feels like all you are doing is waiting! 

You can do this.  Deep breaths.  

voraciousreader

Once you have a treatment plan, you will be on the journey of finding your new normal.  Some get there sooner, some later.  Until then, we'll be here for you.  In the meantime....register on the NCCN website and read the professional version of the breast cancer treatment guidelines.  Also read the footnotes and the last 20 or 30 pages.  There's a wealth of info that you should familiarize yourself with.  Knowledge is power and the more you learn about breast cancer and treatments, the less frightened you will be. That should make the load of your journey less weary.

I wish you well.