New to the cancer world

phrogger78

Hi, I am Erin, I have posted in the just diagnosed forum but I saw this, and since I was just recently diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, I figured I should join in here as well.

I found symptoms just over 2 weeks ago and have gone through a mammogram, ultrasound, biopsy of the breast mass and my lymph node and have met with the general surgeon and will be seeing a breast specialist tomorrow. Frankly I am glad my friend went with me to my first appointment since she pushed the radiology department to get me in asap for my mammo as they were wanting to schedule me for january.

I do not have a stage or grade yet, I have no idea what the tumor is receptive to as that hasn't come back from the pathologist. We are all making assumptions here, but as of now, everyone I have spoken to (Radiologist, surgeon and surgeons PA) all believe it is related to my years of fertility drugs, particularly the high doses of estrogen and progesterone that I have injected into my body, not the actually follicle stimulating drugs. I am only 37, started having kids at 17, breast fed or pumped for 10 children (7 full term pregnancies) and I also was amenorrhea while lactating. All things that are supposed to help reduce risk I guess, but not for me.

My tumor itself, which I call Patrick, like from Sponge Bob because the jerk looks like a star on the ultrasound, is small. 1.4 x 0.7 x 1.3, but it is in my axilla lymph node. We did a biopsy on the node and the cancer is there as well. The node itself is significantly larger than the tumor. So far the Dr's are all a bit baffled by it, so rather than doing the surgery with the general surgeon, I am being sent to the specialists. The Dr I saw yesterday warned me that they could advise chemo before surgery, but said the breast surgeon will make those decisions with the oncologist and me.

So right now I am doing the waiting game, which is fine, but I like having a plan, so I can at least research and help explain it all to my husband. His head is spinning and unfortunately he was out of town when this all started (he is in the Navy and was away for work) and he is supposed to be leaving again soon so there is not only fear about what is happening to me, there is fear about how to balance his work obligations as well as his need to be home with me.

As for me, like I said, I am 37, I am a full time nursing student and mother of 4 boys (3 I gave birth to, one is my step son who I have had since he was 3). I was a surrogate multiple times which is why I used so many fertility drugs.

So that is pretty much me and all I know at this point. I am feeling pretty good, I am not too concerned about the cancer itself, I am concerned with how all of this will affect my schooling. That is pretty much it. Oh and how to explain it all to my 6 year old son and my step son who is 16 but has autism and is socially and emotionally delayed.

Gohan1983

Hi. Today, many cancers are completely curable (except some lung cancer, glioblastoma or pancreatic cancer). Tell your children you are ill and the treatment will take a long time. Many ladies are afraid of chemo. This is completely understandable. But try to think about chemo like your best friend, not enemy. Try to look at drip like your tree of life. I know that is difficult, but not impossible and it really helps. Hair loss is part of your treatment, you should tell your kids about that earlier to prepare for it. I wish you a lot of courage and optimism!

phrogger78

Chemo is my friend that is what I keep saying. Honestly I even said it while getting my biopsy, the radiologist and the ultrasound tech were talking to me about everything going on and I explained that I have to just laugh about it all in order to just deal with the situation and the u/s tech said to me "laughter really is the best medicine" and my response was "well yes, and chemo". We all got a really good laugh about it, and that is just where I am at. Lets get this show on the road and get it taken care of.

I have met with the surgeon and I am waiting on getting a PET scan then I will meet with the oncologist. The plan as of now is to do chemo first, then we will discuss what type of surgery I will get after that. The surgeon is estimating over the summer for surgery most likely which alleviates most of my fears, which is this disease affecting my education. While chemo and 14 hour days on my feet don't seem like an ideal situation, that is still more realistic than trying to recover from major surgery while still trying to finish school, especially since I can not miss any of my clinicals.

I still haven't explained this all to my little one, but my other kids all know what is going on and haven't had much to say about it, other than that sucks, you'll be fine.