Am I reading too much....

Kkubsky

I have been exploring on this site and came across HER. I am not familiar with what this is. I was just diagnosed a few days ago and have seen a surgeon. I do know that I am ER/PR negative which I guess is not a good thing. Nothing was said about HER to me but as I poke around this site and read about it, I am getting myself all worked up again.

I am amazed at how calm so many of you are. I am just a walking ball of terror and fear. I really haven't eaten or slept well for days. Everytime I start to feel a bit calmer, I read some more stuff and go back into terror mode. I do know ladies that have had br ca and are alive and doing well. Why can't I just calm down, breathe, and look for something positive. Why do I have to read all the worst case scenarios? Part of me thinks I need to just stop reading anything, but the other part of me says to stay informed. How do yo all stay so calm????

MelissaDallas

Kkubsky, with pure DCIS HER status doesn't really enter into it. Herceptin is only given for invasive breast cancer that is HER positive. Please try to stop catastrophising.

Kkubsky

It is hard for me to not go into panic mode. My mom died of brain tumor when I was 10 yrs old and I guess it has made a lasting impact on how I view cancer. I know brain tumor has nothing to do with breast cancer, but for me, the association is still there. My dad died of lung cancer, my brother also. So I am trying hard to put things in perspective, but it isn't easy.

BarredOwl

Hi Kkubsy:

The first few weeks after diagnosis were very scary, and later on, waiting for final pathology was very hard. Your experiences naturally affect you, and your own diagnosis can revive the trauma of your losses. From your reading, you probably know that DCIS has a very favorable prognosis. So, please keep repeating to yourself, "This is highly treatable, and I will be okay." As you meet with your doctors and develop a treatment plan, you will feel better, even though it is hard to believe now.

BarredOwl