Just diagnosed with IDC

brandford37

Hey guys from March 7, 2016 my life all turn up side down, on March 7 I was diagnosed with Invasive ductal carcinoma on my right breast don't kno the stage as yet still waiting. -Invasive Morderately Differentiated Ductal Carcinoma. -Nottingham score 6/9 (2+3+1) in this limited material. -The invasive tumor measures at least 1.4 cm. -No definitive Ductal carcinoma in situ identified. -No microcalcifications identified -No Lymphovascular invasion identified and now I'm waiting on the results on --ER/PR/HER2 study progress; and addendum will follow. Please someone help me I have 4 kids to live for I'm a single mom oldest 14 second 11 third 10 fourth 7. I'm doing my surgery April 12 I'm going out of my mind please share your comments with me and telling me how to deal with it.

StaceySue2U

I'm so sorry you're going through this as a single mother with four children. Do you have any family around to help you out?

I thought my world had ended when I got my breast cancer diagnosis in January. You're in the most difficult stage right now - you don't have all the details or a complete plan yet. Emotionally, it will get easier for you. From the results you have so far it sounds pretty encouraging.

What kind of surgery are you having April 12? Lumpectomy?

brandford37

Yeah i think the Lumpectomy and some tissue from under my arm. The Doctor said the type of cancer I have they gonna save my breast. But I'm wonder if it's the best idea.

Italychick

right before surgery, my breast surgeon did a breast MRI to see if there was any troublesome area other than my 1.3 cm idc lump. Nothing was identified, so I did the lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy. 14 months later, I had a second breast MRI done which still confirms no other areas of disease detected. Had anything shown up, I was prepared to do a mastectomy. So maybe ask for an MRI? They can lead to false positives and I think might miss DCIS or LCIS, but mine seemed to identify the idc tumor pretty well. I also asked the surgeon to go for wide surgical margins around the tumor, and she did. She said she could do a fat fill later on for cosmetic issues, but my surgical site doesn't look that bad, and I had 10 cm X 10 cm removed. Mine was at the 2:00 position on the outside of my left breast, and under clothes you can't tell I even had surgery. I am a DD breast though, so I think the size of the breast might matter for cosmetic issues.

I'm not sure, but the word moderately might mean a grade 2. No invasion identified is good.

Breathe, and take it one step at a time. Don't look too far down the road, that makes things even more scary. Best of luck.

brandford37

Thank you Italychick I appreciate ur comments can't wait to get over the surgery then I will be able to move forward with the treatment

Italychick

You are welcome, and best of luck. I barely remember the time around my diagnosis and surgery, I was in so much shock. So this timeframe might seem like a blur to you. Just try to do as much "normal" as you can. The process takes time, and normal life goes on. I got very obstinate and through all surgery andtreatment I focused on maintaining as much of my normal day to day activities as I could.

And with 4 children, I am sure a normal day for you is pretty hectic!

brandford37

Haven't tell my family only 4 close friends to me and my half sister i told and they're supporting me all the way. After my surgery and I kno exactly what's the next move I will tell them but for now I will keep it as a secret.

etnasgrl

((((Hugs)))) to you!
I know that this is such a scary time, but it's going to be okay. It may not feel like it right now, but it will be. Just take things one day, one hour, one moment at a time if you have to, and breathe.
I also had Invasive Ductal Carcinoma and had a lumpectomy. Honestly, it was a pretty "easy" surgery. I was home later that afternoon, checking my email. I also had the sentinel node biopsy done at the time of the lumpectomy, (which is pretty normal procedure). That incision was more sore than the lumpectomy site! Having a small pillow to wedge under my arm helped SO much!!
My tumor was at the 11:00 position on my right breast. My surgical oncologist suggested having a plastic surgeon come in behind her and do a tissue rearrangement once she completed the lumpectomy. Because of the tissue rearrangement, my right breast looks the same as it did prior to the lumpectomy, minus the scar. I've noticed from these boards that tissue rearrangement is common in some areas and not in others, so I guess it depends on where you receive your cancer care.

I highly suggest that you purchase the book, "Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book", which is considered the Bible for breast cancer patients. She is a breast surgeon and her breast book covers EVERYTHING that you need to know about breast cancer, treatment plans, surgery, radiation, chemo, hormone blockers, etc. Every single thing is covered in her book and it got me through a lot of confusing times! She even tells you how to read your pathology report and what it all means. Very, very helpful.

Continue to post here as there are so many incredible women here who are always willing to help and offer advice. This is a scary, uncertain, and overwhelming time right now......but it's going to be okay!

BusiaX4

I found my breast lump on Valentine's Day. Just 44 days ago but it feels like years. A week and a half later went to my PCP who ordered a diagnostic mammogram and breast ultrasound. Had that almost 2 weeks later and was told I needed a breast biopsy. Another 9 days go by and I have the core biopsies done. Then 6 days later my PCP's office calls with my results telling me I have ducal carcinoma in-situ and she will mail me a copy of this pathology report.

My mind eases a bit since Valentine's Day. Internet information tells me that this is a non-invasive cancer and highly treatable. So I finally tell my family making sure to stress the "highly treatable" part. That alone was very hard to do.

In the meantime I made an appointment to see a breast surgeon but couldn't get in for another 2 weeks. Then 3 days after talking with my PCP my pathology report comes in the mail and I thought "what the heck". It says I have invasive ductal carcinoma, poorly differentiated. Grade III. ER-/PR-, HER2 pending (FISH). Also it clearly states carcinoma in-situ component not identified. Now I'm frantic because so much time has already gone by. I did call my breast surgeon and scheduled an appointment for the 30th of March with a Nurse Practitioner.

The most prevailing thought that goes through my mind is why is this taking so long. I can't sleep or eat. It's all I can think about.Now I have to tell my family all over again. Not sure if I want to.

brandford37

Thank you Etnasgrl appreciate it I just can't wait to get over the surgery then I take it from there.... So sorry BusiaX4 about ur diagnosis I'm in the same position as you didn't even tell my boyfriend and my family anything as yet I'm waiting till after the surgery and I know the treatment I will be getting then I will tell them...

maureenb

You are in a really hard stage right now. I will never forget the day I was told my diagnosis. I thought my life was over. I have three kids also and all I could think about was that I would never get to see them grow up. Or if I did get to see them, it would be from a sick bed somewhere and I would be bald and scary looking. Those were some of the hardest days of my life.

I am three years out from dx now and my life is pretty much back to normal. There are a lot of obstacles that you will have to overcome. A lot of choices to be made, and a lot of waiting.

You have so many sisters here for you- so just keep talking and people will help you through every step. And that's how you have to live this - one step at a time. Get a great oncologist. Get a great surgeon. Learn all you can and do whatever you need to do to get through this. Maybe you need to talk a lot and have tons of people around you. Or maybe you prefer to deal with this quietly with your online friends. I did a little of both. Ask me anything and I'll share my experience. Good Luck to you!

maureenb

I know it seems like so much time is going by and cancer sells are just growing non-stop. I was frantic, too. Just wanted to get it out of me - like yesterday. I didn't wait for my preferred surgeon and picked someone with less experience who could do the surgery sooner. I have regretted that decision a lot. It looks like she got all of the cancer out, but I have had to have 5 reconstruction surgeries so far to try to correct some mistakes she made. My advice to you is to focus on doing what you need to do and making sound decisions PLUS still trying to enjoy some moments in your life each day. I was just like you. I couldn't do anything but think about cancer. I didn't eat or sleep, or want to do anything fun. I just felt sorry for myself. I cancelled a trip I had planned for 2 years, not because my doctor told me not to go, but because I felt like I couldn't enjoy it with cancer hanging over my head. Take some deep breaths and just make the best decisions you can. Get the best surgeons, even if you have to wait a little longer for them. Your life is continuing. It is different. And it is challenging just now. In a way that most people cannot even fathom unless they have been through it. You will get through it too. Parts of it will be hard. But you know what? Even on my worst days, I could still read with my son every night. I still had that. And things like that are enough. Savor them. Part of your life will now be dedicated to getting better. But not ALL of it. Love and Good Luck!

BusiaX4

Thank you so much for your words of encouragement, maureenb. I thought those same thoughts. I'm trying to go about my days with some normalcy and it has been helping. Tomorrow is my first appointment with my breast surgeon's nurse practitioner. I'm not sure what she'll do but hopefully I'll at least have someone who will answer my many questions. I picked up the cd of my mammogram and breast ultrasound yesterday. Of course I had to look at it. The mass in my right breast is 3.5 cm and I can't understand why I never noticed it until now. I guess I was overconfident because breast cancer doesn't run in my family, and I didn't have any of the usual risk factors so I never checked. But after this beginning stage is behind me and my mind is in a calmer state; I'm going to make sure my daughter goes for routine screenings. I don't want her to go through what I am.