Diagnosed IDC and Waiting to Schedule Surgery

mkinoly

Hi everyone. I've been reading posts for a week or so now, trying to learn how others cope, the treatments they choose, etc. Thought it might be good for me to start participating, so here's my first post.

I'm 48 years old and about 6 weeks ago my right breast started having a very unusual painful burning feeling whenever pressure was put on it. I waited 2 weeks before seeing the doctor, thinking it might be hormonal (I have to enter perimenopause at some point, right?). While studying my right breast for any obvious sign of a problem, I noticed a firm area on my left breast near the nipple. I didn't think much of it because I have lumpy breasts and this didn't feel like what I thought something concerning would feel like (no hard, pea sized, round lump here). Fast forward and it turns out they don't see anything wrong with my painful right breast, but the firm part on the left breast is the long side of a 3 cm malignant tumor.

I had a core biopsy (which was excruciatingly painful since not all parts were numb--I completely felt 2 of the 5 samplings) which showed I have infiltrating ductal carcinoma grade 2 ER+ PR+ HER2-. I'm learning all these abbreviations and acronyms... I feel like I've joined an exclusive club, but one I don't want to be in! I feel so blind-sided--I was all wrapped up in trying to figure out my other health issues that this never crossed my mind. I know many women are diagnosed younger than me, but I keep feeling like I'm too young, and I don't have any risk facts (besides being overweight), and I just got married for the first time not even 2 months ago (my wife is 3 years out from stage 2 lung cancer)...

Anyway, I have an MRI scheduled next week and if only the left breast is involved I'll be having a mastectomy. If the right breast has something, that one's going, too. I'm also going to have my ovaries removed. It's very important to me to not do chemo and to not take meds, so I'm learning everything I can about naturopathic treatments and already have a pile of supplements (I've recently been majoring in nutrition in college, so that background is helping me). I also have an appointment to see a naturopathic oncologist, plus my second appointment with the breast surgeon. I won't be doing reconstruction. I've never had major surgery and want to just do what I have to do then carry on taking care of myself to hopefully avoid recurrence.

Sorry, that's longer than I thought it would be, but wanted to get my overall story so folks can get to "know" me. I truly appreciate everything people share on here, the good and the bad. I'm so sorry you are all in this exclusive club with me.

Maureen

BayouBabe

Maureen - welcome, but so very sorry you are finding a need to join us here. Breastcancer.org is a wonderful place to find support. Weekends are slow, but others will have words of welcome soon. Be sure to search some of the other forums for more info on chemo, ovary removal, naturopathy, etc