How quickly does it progress?

AmyG516

I am 44 yrs old and have had normal mammograms for 3 years.  I had my annual obgyn appt at Christmas and he felt nothing during the exam.  I went last Friday for what I thought would be another routine mammo but radiologist saw mass he didn't like, ordered more pictures and then an ultrasound after he didn't like the 2nd set.  After the ultrasound he sent me immediately for a needle core biopsy.  Dr took samples from 2 sites, both ends of the mass she said.  I received a call Monday morning that both were cancer.   Went yesterday for a MRI of both breasts and have an appointment with a surgeon next thursday to go over all the results.   I just don't understand how this has surfaced all of a sudden. How quickly does it progress? 

My hope is that it is not that far a long because of the time frame but am I just wishful thinking?? 

Amy

tangandchris

Hi Amy....my name is Amy too

I really don't know the answer to your question to be honest. I know when I felt my lump in the shower I swear it wasn't there the day before. I literally seemed to appear overnight.

You will know more one you meet with the BS. Hopefully they will be able to give you info on the staging, the grade, and type of cancer it is. I know this is overhwelming, this is some of the worst times when dealing with a BC dx. Waiting for more info. ((hugs)) This is a great board an many of us have made it our safe place and it has kept us sane.

 

exbrnxgrl

Amy,

No one can give you a timeframe. You still know little about your condition. Grade, stage, hormone status, IDC, IBC etc.  You are making the assumption that everyone progresses, not true or that everyone with bc dies, also not true. Take a deep breath and wait until you have all the info before you start going down a road you may not need to travel. Take care.

Akevia

I heard from my oncologist it can some times take between 2-5 years for cancer to develop but it could be sooner depends on the type of cancer.

Kicks

What type were you told it is?  DCIS, LCIS, IDC, ILC, IBC

A lot depends on the type.  Some do take years to develope but IBC is very aggressive and rapid.  In my case, I had my annual mammo in late June and it showed nothing even vaguely suspicious.  Aug 7, I had a new mammo, US and biopsies because a lymph node had enlarged.  Had the path. report the next morning - IBC and 17 days later started neoadjuvant chemo.  No one - even your Drs - can give you an absolute time frame for anything.  You will learn more after you see the surgeon.  To me (based on my experience), waiting a week to get an appt with surgeon says that while it is important to be seen, it's not critical.  Again, just my personal experience with IBC, I was DXd on Fri, saw surgeon on Monday, Rads Dr on Wed and Chemo Dr on Thurs.

AmyG516

Thank you both:)  You're right I don't know much at all at this point about my condition or the disease in general.  My husband has heart disease and it has progressively gotten worse.  I guess I incorrectly assumed BC would be the same way.  It is just hard for me to get my head around this appearing out of nowhere.  I religiously see both my primary physician and my obgyn.  I would have thought one of them would have seen something coming.   I have not told my husband or son yet.  Waiting until at least after I see the surgeon.  My son is a high school sophomore and is preparing for final exams   The last thing I need him worrying about right now is me.   So I am struggling through this by myself for now.  

Saying lots of prayers and trying to learn what I can.

Amy

MelissaDallas

Kicks, LCIS is just considered a condition that increases your risk, not cancer. Most women with 

LCIS do not go on to develop cancer.

Infobabe

Amy, we are your new girlfriends.  

We have all been where you are now.  Come here when you need to talk or vent if you don't want to burden your loved ones.  

Just be sure to get copies of all your pathology reports.  If you are in the US, it is your legal right.    You won't understand them now but you will.  You will find it hard to understand anything if you are not well armed with the facts.

Kicks

I wanted to add one of my favorite sayings - there is no "One Size Fits All"!  Meaning that we are each unique and come in to the battle differently.  Some will be in great health from the beginning but others may already have health issues which can complicate the prognosis..  I never expected it to raise it's 'ugly head' as I had always been very active and healthy (only times ever hospitalized were for my 2 C-sections), no family history of any form of cancer on either sides of family for at least 4 generations.  Many have no history of it either.  No one knows what 'tomorrow' holds for any of us, with or without a BC DX.  

One suggestion I have is to gain all the reputable information you can - your Drs will probably give you info/pamphlets.  Be very careful though with doing too muchsuch random searching on the quack "Dr Google".  Therethere is a lot of good info that can be found but there is also a lot of 'bogus stuff' and stuff meant to scare.

Keep in touch!

Slappy-Squirrel

I was diagnosed with IDC on April 7th. I will be getting a masectomy June 5th. Right now I just wish it was all over. My BS is at a seminar last week and this week or I would have tried to get this done sooner. The waiting is so hard.

Shirley

Kicks

MelissaDallas - I have seen in various places/sites, LCIS listed as not cancerous yet as it is 'In Situ' but I have also seen it listed as cancer but not yet Invasive/Infiltrating, same with DCIS.  My only knowledge of it is what I've read, having no personal experience with it.

aff

Amy,

I just found these boards and wish I had known about them in Dec when I was diagnosed. You will find amazing, knowledgeable, supportive, strong women here. It all feels so overwhelming right now. There is a ton of information and a ton of language you don't yet understand. I know it's hard, but try to take it one day at a time. I agree that "Dr. Google" may not be your friend in the beginning, especially before you know the specifics of your diagnosis. If you can, I suggest you bring someone with you to these early appointments to help you take notes. It can be very overwhelming to hear all that the doctors are going to tell you in the next couple weeks. My sister came to each appointment with me and took notes. I was able to go back and review those notes at my own pace, when I had questions, or when I just couldn't remember what the doctor told me. I was so glad she had done that for me.

You have found a great support system here. Prayers and hugs for you. Post as often as you need to. The waiting is extremely difficult but you will get through it!

MelissaDallas

They are actually trying to change the nomenclature on it-many places are now calling it lobular neoplasia. It is not treated as cancer. If nothing worse is found on an excisional biopsy the general recommendation is just closer surveillance and possibly tamoxifen or an AI as a preventative, especially if you have other risk factors that up your risk. 

Mommyathome

MelissaDallas,

I see that you had a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy. I'm scheduled to have my exchange on June 2 and TAH/BSO on July 1. How was the recovery for the TAH/BSO? I go back to work the last week in August. Will I be up for traveling by car July 11 for 3-4 hours?

MelissaDallas

Mommy, I'm not the one to ask:) 

Mine was for cancer with an 11 inch incision, appendectomy & omentectomy thrown in for good measure. I woke up 40 pounds lighter than I went to sleep. Not your run of the mill TAH/BSO.

Akevia

Amy , I agree with Kicks there is no one size fits all and we are all different. It took me about 2 weeks to see my BS and I have aggressive IBC and from my experience it took a matter if a few months for it to develop from nothing to stage 3   but with that being said good luck to you.

exbrnxgrl

AmyG516,

Breast cancer is one of those diseases that most often, can not be seen "coming" by anyone. BC cells spend a long time, years, being too small or too few in number to detect, by imaging or any other means.  We all wish it weren't so but that is the current state of things. As I said earlier, wait until you have all the details of your bc and try not to worry (hah!) too much.

Rocket

Mommy,

I had a laparoscopic hysterectomy and oophorectomy. I was out Christmas shopping three days later for five hours. If it is a traditional hysterectomy, the recovery would of course be longer. 

Rocket

Amy,

I had three large tumors in my right breast that had been growing for years, but I had 9 years of normal mammograms the most recent being nine months prior to my diagnosis. My doctor thought I just had fibrocystic breast tissue. I had extremely dense breasts and mammograms can't detect tumors easily through dense breast tissue. Unfortunately, all three of my tumors were palpable, but my doctor never ordered a biopsy, ultrasound or MRI. He relied to heavily on the normal mammograms. I trusted him. The CT scan only detected one tumor. The third tumor wasn't even discovered until I had my mastectomy and the pathologist discovered it in the operating room. I was very fortunate that it hadn't spread to my lymph nodes.

AmyG516

thank you so much everyone for your help as I struggle to understand!  I will stick to this group for my research until I meet with my surgeon.  I'm scared enough already I don't need google making it worse!

AmyG516

Didn't sleep at all last night, meeting with my surgeon for the first time this morning. As scared as I am, I'm looking forward to finding out the MRI results and pathology details.  At least I will have an action plan later.  Please keep me in your thoughts today!

aff

Thinking about you Amy. You will get through this! Once a plan is in place you will feel like you are moving forward.

edwards750

We all unfortunately know what you are going through Amy. Today is your appt so you will have a better idea of what you are dealing with. We all can relate to the shock of it all too. I can't imagine any of us was really prepared for THE DX. I know I wasn't. Who knows how long those cancer cells were lurking around. You did what you needed to do with routine mammograms. It's the best we have for detection right now. I knew I had it because I was called back for an US. It was 2 weeks after my mammogram and that had never happened before so I was braced for the bad news. Never felt anything. Once you know what you are dealing with the process will move quickly. This forum was and is my lifeline. Keep us posted and remember its not the automatic death sentence anymore. They have come a long way in BC treatments. 

Diane 

Rocket

How are you doing Amy? Thinking of you!

NeelCancer

Hey Amy,

I can understand how much tough situation is this, but the thing which can help you in this situation is hope and positive attitude. Though I'm not from medical field, but still i would like to share one thing which will help you that try to include fruits and foods which contain more quantity of Anti-Oxidents. It will help you to fight against cancer.

GorgeousGrandma

Hi Amy, I am your twin....I am 44 years old and give myself regular breast exams and have had clear mammograms for the past three years. About a month ago I felt a lump and thought it was because I was lifting weights heavier than usual trying to build muscle back into my droopy boobies. After about a little over a week it hadn't gone away then I received the news on Mother's Day (Sunday) that my aunt had passed away from complications from her stage 4 colon cancer, she was only 52. That Monday I called to have a mammogram. That Thursday I had the mammogram and ultrasound in which they then scheduled me for a biopsy the following Wednesday. I went to my aunt's funeral that Saturday. May 17th.  On May 21st I had my biopsy and on May 22nd at 12:02  pm (high noon) I received the news that they had indeed found cancer cells. Wow...what a way to soften the news. I remember how alone I felt at the time...no matter what other issues are going on in your life, this news now takes center stage. I understand exactly where you are coming from and feeling. I remember wondering how I could have gotten this (like it was an STD or something!!! Smh)..I eat the ant-cancer foods, watch my sugar intake, no to fried foods, etc.... I went down the list of the known causes and could only check 1 for alcohol consumption in which I love or should I say loveD my martinis. As there is no rhyme or reason to this..... I am chalking it up to WHO KNOWS!

I just told my children, I am a mother of 4, and soon to be a grandmother. At first I only told my oldest son who was taking me to my appointments, and I was not going to tell my younger children because I didn't want to worry them but a few true friends told me how selfish I was from not allowing them to have the strength to go through this journey with me. I cried then told my younger children two days ago. They were shocked then very supportive and now randomly give me hugs and kisses. (The best medicine for anything if you ask me). 

But I truly thank this forum for even existing....I have been reading posts on here for the past 4 hours and it has clarified a lot for me. I had made decisions on what treatments I wanted and absolutely did not want. And the resources that have been provided are priceless. I googled until I couldn't google any more and still did not receive half of the information that has been provided. 

So now I am scheduled for surgery on June 12th. Thank everyone of you for posting your journey's as it has helped me to put mine into perspective. I will also be requesting my pathology report tomorrow before my surgery now that I have help to understand them. 

It's a lonely condition but I truly do not feel alone any more. No one in my circle knows my feelings, thoughts, or worries and now I have a place to share. 

We are on this journey together Amy and my prayers are with you!!

AmyG516

Wow - you are my twin!   Thank you for sharing so much!  

I too have learned so much from reading posts from everyone here.  I had my PET scan today.  Good thing I closed my eyes before they put me in the tube!  I still need to have a CT and bone scan.  I was supposed to have them today also but the insurance approval hasn't come through.  Beyond frustrating!   

Met with my surgeon and  feel much more comfortable.  Initial reports look like we caught this early.   She went through lots of surgery options so now I wait until all the test results come back before I need to make a decision.  I have an appointment with plastic surgeon for consultation on Monday.  Then next Thursday I have a genetic test appointment and if I get the scans completed I will also see the oncologist.  

I still haven't told my husband or son.  Until I know the test results, I am trying to keep from scaring them.  My son starts his final exams next week and I don't want to upset him.  I had to put our dog to sleep in February because he had a chest full of cancer tumors.  My son's grades dropped significantly because he was so upset.  He's finally back on track and I don't want to ruin that. Hoping I can ho;d off until he's done.

My husband's first wife passed away from lung cancer.  I am scared about how he will react when I break this news to him.  Funny thing is I remember thinking when we first got married that nothing bad would ever happen to me - lightning doesn't strike twice right??  He has a bad heart and I have spent the last 20 years planning for if something happened to him.  Never thought it would be me.   

This is a wonderful forum and I never feel lonely when I leave.  Such wonderful and caring ladies!

I will be praying for you also and look forward to hearing how your surgery goes!!

Amy

Mayanne

Hi Amy and Goreous Grandma,

I just wanted to tell you both that I'm thinking of you as you go through this initial scary time.  You are both courageous and strong!  It comes across in your posts.  As you garner more information, meet your teams and have a plan in place, you will feel more at ease.  

Amy, I'm so sorry to hear about your dog.  I lost one of mine just after I received my diagnosis and before surgery and it was a tough time for all of us, so I understand your wanting to protect your son!  

Soon you'll be on your paths to lick this!  Sending prayers and best wishes.

AmyG516

Thank you so much Mayanne!  I took a weeks vacation from work just after Mother's Day because I finally felt better and brought our new black lab puppy home.  Was having a fantastic week getting to know her when I went for my mammogram that Friday and this whole nightmare began.  I'm sure I wouldnt have picked her up if I had been diagnosed beforehand. 

  I do feel better with each appointment I have.   So many blessings in my life to stay strong and fight for!!

Mayanne

That's the spirit, Amy.  It's good to know it was caught early.  I had the same question as the title of your thread.  Last October my mammogram showed concerning calcifications and I was scheduled for a six month follow up with magnifications in April.  That magnification was called "clear with no cancer".  And you'd suppose that a magnification would be accurate, so I wasn't worried at all.  I was told to resume my regular yearly mammograms in the fall. 

But in October, my mammogram showed more calcifications, forming into a more suspicious pattern and I was sent for a biopsy.  The results showed that I had DCIS and I could not understand how this would have changed so quickly as to be not alarming at all in April and alarming in October.  I asked my PCP and RO this question - "Was it not there or did the radiologist misinterpret it in Apri?"  Of course, no one could a answer and maybe didn't want to delve into it.  I guess to ease my mind I might have wanted to take my April x-rays for a second opinion, now that we knew, and find out if it were there and hiding or not apparent - or if that radiologist wasn't paying attention,  But, of course, the important thing was that it WAS found in October and that was still early.  I like to think that all of the professionals do the best job they can.

I'm glad you have your puppy.  It seems that she was meant to come along to be with you.  I hope your son does well with his exams.  Feel free to PM me, if you'd like to talk.

GorgeousGrandma

Hi all, My surgery was successful...the lumpectomy only lasted 21 minutes and the margins are clear. Thank you all for your well wishes and prayers. I go in for a follow-up next week and my prayers and for everyone going through this. Amy, my twin, I am praying and thinking great thoughts for you and hugs and kisses to all!!