Just diagnosed today with IDC.

Hope2018

I'm still trying to digest the radiologists call to me today regarding the biopsy.  She said I have IDC (moderately differential) and I am waiting for the receptor results.  I believe the nodule size is .7 cm.  My appointment is Jan 5 with the surgeon.  Boy am I scared.  I would really look forward to any input on this journey thru their treatment.  I have been crying on and off today especially when I think of telling my best friend (mom) who is 91.  Anyone who would like to share their feelings and experiences would be helpful.  I know I need to get into a more positive mood especially for mom.  

moth

Hi Hope, I know it's scary.

FWIW, I told my parents by phone, very quickly after I found out. I preferred to just get it over and done with. Is your mom in good health? If you're worried about her getting upset, I'd truthfully focus on saying this is early stage cancer and very treatable.

You can see in my sig line the surgery I had. I was told that in my case, doing the lumpectomy + radiation has the same outcomes as a full mastectomy. I'm still waiting to hear about what comes next. It's good you're seeing your surgeon so quickly - I find the waiting hard. I just want to know what we're going to do.

I won't lie - I'm still upset. I'm careful what things I read. Some things upset me so I'm careful to screen things from myself. But there are moments when I forget about it for a short time at least.

Moderators

Hi Hope2018-

We're so sorry you find yourself here. Getting a diagnosis is never easy, and the first days and weeks are an emotional roller coaster. We completely understand wanting to keep it together for your loved ones, but you also need to give yourself time to process the news. Everyone's feelings and experiences are different, and all are valid, including yours! But just know that you're not alone, and we're here with you every step of the way.

The Mods

TamaraColo

Sending hugs and support your way! I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma on October 18, and had a double mastectomy in November. I think it's all still a shock, and I'm not sure yet that I've settled on "how I feel" about it all. The best advice I received was to take each day one at a time, so I encourage you to do the same. I was worried too about telling family. Somehow, it becomes more real when you tell others, and that's scary in itself. Because my mom was also diagnosed with breast cancer 2 years ago, I knew I had to tell her first, and it was really hard. In the end though, she was my best source of support, and I'm glad she has gone through all of this with me. I hope you find some peace within yourself so that you can do what's best for you.

Tamara

Hope2018

Thank you so much for your input.  My Mom is in fairly good health at 91 (no cancer).  We are like sisters and see each other a lot so I better get in shape and put on that smile which will be the best thing for the both of us.  I will take your advice regarding how I present the situation to her.  

Waiting is the worst as I had waited almost 3 weeks between the mammo/ultrasound report and the biopsy.  I am glad you have the surgery out of the way and keep me posted on your next step.  We will get through this.  Just remember there are many women that have good outcomes.  And we will keep each other positive thru this.   I am trying to fill my time with good upbeat music and funny movies.  Laughing is a great pastime. 

I'm wishing you a more healthy New Year.  

OCDAmy

Hope, this is the hardest part! Waiting and worrying gave me anxiety attacks which I had never had before. I couldn't even say Cancer without crying. My MO prescribed anxiety meds and it helped me so much. I also felt much better when I had a plan and knew what I was up against. Best of luck to you, so many of us are gettin through this together

ElaineTherese

Hope,

((Hugs)). Good news: if your lump is 0.7 cm, you have an excellent prognosis. It seems as though you have caught it very early. Good for you! I told my Mom about my cancer after I had a plan in place. Best wishes!

Hope2018

Hi Tamara,

Thank you for your well wishes.  Yes, I will take each day at a time and get thru this.  

Hope2018

HI OCD AMY,

It sounds like the anxiety medicine might be a good idea.  Just think that all of this will be behind you.  I'm looking forward to sharing all this stuff with you.  

voraciousreader

no rush in telling your mom. Get all your info. Get your treatment plan in place. Register at the NCCN website and read the professional version, NOT patient version of the breast cancer treatment guidelines. The professional version is filled with way more info. Afterwards decide whether or not you want to tell her. My mom is now 92 1/2 and was 85 when I was diagnosed. My mom is a retired nurse and would have been worried sick AND would have wanted to be in charge of everything concerning my treatment. Mom lives in Florida and I don’t. My treatment didn’t involve chemo. So...it was very easy not to tell her. It is approaching eight years since my diagnosis and I have NO regrets about not telling her. In fact I feel better knowing I spared her from knowing. Furthermore, I told only a handful of people. Again, I have no regrets.

I wish you the best

Hope2018

Hi voraciousreader

Thank you so much for directing me to the NCCN site.  All this information is so overwhelming.  But a cancer diagnosis is not something we all take lightly.  It sounds like you made the right choice with regard to informing your mom.  I live right around the corner from mine and we see each other ever day so at some I will have to tell her what is going on.  Congratulations on the 8 years and I hope there are many more free years to come.  

I bet the Dr. that told you that you weren't on the Titanic has a lifeboat....I have been focusing on the info regarding the IDC diagnosis and I don't know anything about Pure Mucinous Breast Cancer but it sounds like you did all the right things.   Thanks again for the info on the NCCN site.  I will take a look. 

Georgia1

Hi there Hope. Just chiming in with what others have said: The best message for you and for your mom to hear is that you caught it very early. and that's a great thing. In my case I had a .7 mixed IDC/ILC. Like Moth, that meant a lumpectomy and radiation, which has been stressful but brief in retrospect. I now need to take a daily pill of course.

Perhaps you can wait to tell your mom after you know your receptor status and have a surgery date? You will feel so much better after you have a treatment plan, and I'd imagine the same would be true for your mom. But do what seems right for you of course.

And I get the fear and sadness too, we all do, and I'm sorry you're going through this. In my case I had a friend going through BC at the same time, so we had an inside joke we called "feeling all the feelings" because we cycled so rapidly through despair to hope to anger to, sometimes, laughter. Just take it one day at a time and soon this will be in the rearview mirror.

Hope2018

Hi Georgia1,

I'm so glad you responded to my post.  It sounds like you and your friend were in sync to share the "feeling all the feelings".  So even through we are experiencing all the bad things we find all the good things in it as well.  Thank you for the advice about my mom.  I agree that would be the best thing to do. 

It sounds like your treatment went well and I am wishing you many more years of being free of the big "C".

I'm planning to find some funny movies for the night to get my mind off of all this stuff.  Wishing you a healthy New Year. 

radgal

Dear Hope,

Sorry to have to welcome you into the pink ribbon club of which none of us ever wanted to join.

I, too, was diagnosed with IDC and my lesion was also .7 cm or 7 mm.

When I was panicked, overwhelmed and exploring my options online, I learned of something called intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) -- it is radiation therapy for 20 minutes directly to the tumor bed immediately after the lumpectomy is performed. I was able to have this done; there are certain criteria that must be met. It saved me from 6 weeks of whole breast radiation therapy and all the pain and stress that comes with that.

I was so overwhelmed when I was diagnosed and didn't know what to do--bilateral mastectomy, do nothing, single mastectomy and such. I googled and looked online for answers to my numerous questions.

I was actually perusing a breast cancer forum about women who opted to do nothing. It was here that one of them mentioned lumpectomy and IORT and mentioned the University of California--Irvine website. I read about it on their website, then googled IORT breast cancer and found a breast surgeon within miles from me who, it turns out, is a pioneer of the procedure.

If you're inclined, google intraoperative radiotherapy. It is what I had along with a lumpectomy and I am very grateful I had this done.

Snickersmom

Dear Hope,

You have come to the right place. I was diagnosed in March of this year and had a BMX on May 3rd. I was originally scheduled for a lumpectomy, as the tumor was only .5mm but then they found 2 other areas of question and so my surgeon didn't feel that he could easily do a lumpectomy and get them all (they were in 3 different quadrants). when he said he needed to do a mastectomy, I immediately told him to take them both, which is what he did. I have absolutely no regrets. There was nothing in any lump nodes, which was a relief. I did not have reconsruction nor do I intend to.

My 104 year old mum passed 6 months before this happened and while I'm glad she didn't live to know what happened to me, i would never have hesitated telling her. She would have sensed that something was wrong even though she lived in Arizona and I am in Florida. But if you decide to tell your mom, wait until you have all of the facts, treatment plan, etc. That way, you can answer any of her questions she might have and you probably won't sound so frazzled.

Waiting is the absolute worst thing. I would never have been able to stay sane without the help of good old Xanax. Now my MO has me on Zoloft, which is better for me. I do have Xanax to take if I need it. Don't hesitate to ask for something for your nerves. You don't have to be a hero.

Even after 7 short months, I still wake up thinking what a horrible nightmare I've just had. And then I realize that it wasn't a bad dream at all. You are not alone and we are here for you

EastcoastTS

Hope:

So sorry you're here---but know that you are not alone.

This site is a lifesaver for information, advice and understanding. Come here to ask anything and when you need to vent. We get it.

{hugs}

Hope2018

Hi Radgal,

I'm so glad you found a procedure that worked for you.   I understand that each case is different and it was so helpful for you to suggest the intraoperative radiotherapy.  I will know more when I speak with the Breast Surgeon and what they will suggest.  I believe so much depends of the Grade, Stage, receptors, and hopefully no spread to the Sentinel node.  I'm glad it worked out for you and please keep me informed on how you are doing.  What I would really like to do is hop a plane to Florida and sit on the beach.  That might be my best medicine.  What a journey we all have to face.  

Hope2018

Hi Snickersmom,

By the way I do love snickers.  Candy always puts a smile on my face (always dark chocolate for sure).  

I'm glad you had the procedure to relieve yourself of any future concerns especially since there was nothing found in your lymph nodes.  I'm hoping that there is none found in my sentinel node.  If there is that would be another story.  

I hope you live to 104 just like your mom.  What a miracle and I thought my mom at 91 was a miracle.  Perhaps we will both have the good fortune living to that age with a better quality of health.   

It seems like I have waves of going about the day with hours of peace and then all of a sudden it hits me that I have to face surgery and treatment.  It's like a panic feeling and I feel like I have to empty all my drawers and closets and give my things away.  Did you ever feel like that?  

Maybe Zoloft will work for me once I see the MO.  I am not one to reach for any drugs.  I think before I even take an aspirin.  But I guess through this new passage I will succumb to drugs.  Thank you for your support.  It definitely gives me some comfort.  

Hope2018

Hi Eastcoast TS,

Yes, I am find that this site is helping me vent and share all these feelings.  I'm sure you will be hearing from me after my visit to the Breast Surgeon this coming Friday.   (hugs2)

Georgia1

Thank you Hope. Best wishes for you and your mom for 2018. After a few icky weeks you will wave goodbye to BC in the rearview mirror.