Just diagnosed

Angelaw69

hi, I am new to this, I have not ever done this before. Everyone has told me to find a group or somewhere that I can communicate with others that either have or are going through the same thing. I was diagnosed with invasive mammary carcinoma that states its a grade 1, but then says "and" low grade ductal carcinoma in situ. I just didn't know if that was two different cancers. I do know this, my world seems to of turned upside down, I had started school in the fall (late in life student) so I had to put that on hold,  and I feel like I am having a hard time dealing with all of it. I have surgery on feb 13th, and then I don't know about chemo. They will do the oncotype DX, but this is all so new to me, I still have a hard time believing it. I guess I just was wondering how any of you handled it at first to get to that point you excepted it. Thank you for any advice you may have.

MTwoman

Hi angelaw, so sorry you are here, but glad that you found the site. I'm sure others will chime in with helpful information, but let me just tell you that ductal carcinoma in situ in a non-invasive cancer. It does not have the ability to travel outside of the duct (hence the in situ). It is treated when found, but your invasive mammary carcinoma specifics (size, grade, receptor status (er+/-, pr+/-, HER2 +/-)), as well as family history, genetics, etc will be what your doctors will use to determine appropriate treatment. For example, if you are ER+ (estrogen receptor positive), then a medication that blocks the effedts of estrogen is typically recommended. It is quite common for women to have DCIS show up in addition to their invasive cancer OR have what is thought to be 100% DCIS show up with a tiny bit of invasive cancer when it has been removed and studied thoroughly. Please don't let that throw you. I know right now you are overwhelmed. That is pretty typical. This site can be very helpful for collecting good information as well as getting support and discussing other women's experiences with them. Right now, try practicing good self care: relaxing warm bath, meditating, binge-watching favorite tv or movies, listening to soothing music, taking a walk, or just spending time with loved ones. The waiting to fully understand what you are dealing with, before you have a plan in place is the absolute worst. Once you have your information, your team in place and you are able to make decisions and move forward, you will feel more empowered and less lost. Sending you hugs and white light.

Angelaw69

Hi MTwoman, thank you for the information and suggestions, it does help. The hardest decision I have had to make so far was whether to have the lumpectomy or the mastectomy. I looked at my onc and said, "How am I suppose to choose that' He went over things and basically said its my choice and he knew it would be a difficult one. Everything happened so fast that as I was sitting in his office it felt so unreal, because this happened to other people not me. Now I was that "Other person" and didn't know what to think. I had family members tell me to do this and others say to do that, I just wanted to scream for them to leave me alone. I choose the lumpectomy finely because it was what I thought was best. and  will find out after the surgery about anything else. I have read a lot of posts on here and I pray I can one day get to the point of having the kind of strength I see on here. I sure am glad I found this site though, It helps, and right now I feel like the littlest thing will help hold me up, so thank you.

Lafish

hi Angelaw1969, mtwoman has offered so much great advice, from what I have read on this site I believe you have made a good choice, you can always have a mastectomy after a lumpectomy but you once you have a mastectomy that's it. Just take one day at a tiime. Try not to second guess decisions you make.

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nye1980

I don't think any of us thought we would have the strength that we all eventually find as we wade through treatment. Where you are right now is probably one of the hardest places to be, but as full pathology comes back and you have a treatment plan, you start to really focus on taking it one step at a time. And you learn to understand that, for a lot of women, breast cancer is treatable. So many women have said on this board that worrying doesn't change the outcome and as ridiculous as that sometimes sounds, it helps me to not waste my energy on it. I also ended up taking a good six to seven months out of my life (and I'm grateful I had the privilege to do so because chemo was a tough one for me), but you do get back to it a different person. Cancer really forces you to sit in the moment and slow the heck down.

You are in the perfect place for support as you navigate this journey of yours.

Angelaw69

Thank you all so much, this site has given me the ability to find out so much more information then anywhere else. I am grateful that I am able to read about or discuss things that I am going through with people that are or have gone through it. I am going to take things one day at a time and for now keep myself busy until my surgery and the path report comes back and my treatment plan is in place. I'm sure then I will have only a few hundred questions .   

Moderators

Hi Angela! We also wanted to give you a big warm welcome to the BC.org Community. We're sorry you have to be here, but glad you've found us and decided to post!

If you need help around the boards or the main site feel free to send us a private message, we're here for you!

Best wishes,

The Mods

MaggieMae123

Just wanted to give you  a big hug and wish you the very best. I had DCIS as well as invasive too. I am a year out from my chemo and feel great.  You will get to this point too. It is soooo hard at first though. I remember how I worried but once you get going on your treatment it gets easier. 

Angelaw69

MaggieMae, thank you, that's how I feel right now is I want to get my surgery over so I know exactly what my treatment plan will be and then I can get going on it. Oh the waiting is the hardest part right now. The 13th can not come soon enough.