Treatments??

Kristen81

I was just diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma on June 18th. The MRI has shown that my lymph nodes look fine (yay!), but it has detected some more suspicious masses in the same breast. I'll be getting those checked out on Monday, and also a meeting with a breast surgeon.

First question, what do these meeting entail? I have no idea what to expect....almost everything has seemed like babbling to me and such a blur. All I know is I have cancer.

Second question, what are the treatments for Invasive Ductal Carcinoma?

Third, When do I find out what stage my cancer is?

 

Oh....The symptoms that I have is a sudden inverted nipple and a lump. But in the past couple of days I can notice a change in the shape of my breast happening. Is this normal? Does it mean that the cancer is progressing?

Sorry for so many questions!!

Thank you,

Kristen

Kristen81

I'm new to the site, and I didn't mean to delete my post. I was just diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. I just want to know what to expect, from breast surgeon meeting to treatments. Is a lumpectomy outpatient? Should I cut my hair short to prepare for chemo?

Please give me some insight. I'm only 32 years old, this is the last thing I expected to have happen in my life.

Thanks,

Kristen

Helenna

Kristen81, though no one wants to be part of this club, I can tell you that in the few weeks I've been here the love and support you will feel from this amazing group of ladies is unbelievable. This is a place where everyone can relate to what you are feeling. There is so much info on this site, just scroll through and find basic topics so you don't get ahead of yourself.

After each meeting and stage of this process you will feel so much more informed as you become more educated on all this, knowledge is power and you will start to feel some control I believe. When you meet with the breast surgeon, please take someone with you who preferably is a good note taker and have them write things down. The breast surgeons have done those meetings hundreds/thousands of times so they pretty much will lead the meeting but you might want to have some questions written down. 

I just had my surgery this past week and the recovery is going just fine. You too can get through this, right now the not knowing is the most difficult time for you. Don't worry about your hair right now, just get a brief overview of what you can and then go to your first meeting ready to gain knowledge. I am sending big hugs your way, I'm here for you if I can help!

ohiofan

Kristen,  Don't panic.  This is a great place to get information from those who have gone through this process. 

When you meet with your breast surgeon, he/she will tell you what they are thinking at that time with the information they have.  You will have a team of doctors who will work together to get the best results for you. Their plan will depend on the type and size of your tumor.  Most times, surgery is the first item on the agenda.  (Yes, a lumpectomy is an out-patient procedure.  I was in surgery at 11:00 and home by 5:00 with a drive of over an hour!)  When your results are back your RO, MO, and BS will go over the findings.  They will tell you the final size and type of tumor.  Node, margins, and grade will be included.  Those will determine if you need chemo (if it is close they will order an Oncotype test), radiation,  hormonal therapy, or a combination.   At least that was my experience.   

 I know it is hard, but take a deep breath.  Wishing you the best of luck during this journey!

Kristen81

Thank you for the great information. My brain is just going 1000 miles/ minute. It doesn't seem to rest. I just feel very confused, but I'll get it together. I know in my heart I'll get through all of this. I just need to slow down!

Thanks again!!

Kristen