my sister just found out she has breast cancer

Anonymous

my sister just found out she has breast cancer

oreilly

My sister was just diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma and high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ with comedonecrosis and cancerization of the lobules. We are at a loss at what all of this means. Anyone help us with this? Thanks so much.

Dustien

Have they set her up with a surgeon to consult with?  I had my yearly mammo at our local Mercy Hospital Clinic and two days later they called me back to a different facility for another look and did a sonogram.  Then four days later a biopsy.  Then diagnosis and they immediately set me up with a MRI and a general surgeon to meet with the following week.

It was all happening to fast though and I wanted it to STOP!  So I called my insurance and asked for a list of Breast Cancer Specialists in our area and then hit the internet.  After a bit of reading I decided right then I wanted a 2nd opinion from someone who is a dedicated Breast Surgeon.  So I called the one the very next morning and they set me up with an appointment the next day.  I cancelled the MRI and the general surgeon appointment through Mercy and never looked back.

The Doctor I chose has been absolutely wonderful.  I saw him 3 days after diagnosis (they had me set up with the general surgeon 5 days after that) and when I walked out of his office, I understood nearly everything I needed to know.  His nurse immediately called to set me up with an MRI on a dedicated breast MRI machine (40% more accurate at picking up breast problems then the general MRI Mercy had me set up with) at an imaging center about 30 minutes away, but that was fine by me.  There was a bit of a delay since insurance had already preapproved the first MRI and that approval had to be cancelled and this new MRI approved, but it happened quick enough, and yesterday, two weeks and two days after diagnosis, I had my Lumpectomy!  I'm a bit hyped up on Hydrocodone, but overall I'm feeling great!  

I'm on no special insurance (just the affordable care act) and this Specialist and the Special MRI was covered just as the first doc and general MRI would have been covered.  I felt like had upgraded myself from Coach to First Class at no extra charge.

I guess what I'm saying is, if they've not set your sis up with a dedicated breast surgeon (as opposed to a general surgeon) then she might want to find some who are in network with her insurance and do some research on the net of them.  Then choose one she likes who can get her in fast and go from there.

It really paid off for me to handle it this way. I felt so much better about my care as soon as I talked with the Doctor.  When I was diagnosed and things were happening around me, I felt out of control.  Approaching it the way I did put me back in control and that was so important to me.

The sooner your sis is able to talk with a specialist and have him explain everything to her, the better off she's going to be.  Also have her ask them about any breast specific MRI imaging available in the area.  If there is one in your area, or not to far from where you live that's where a specialist will be planning on sending you anyway.

It's so good of you to reach out for help for your sister!  Good Luck!