Received the news

llupp

Doctor called Friday afternoon and told me my biopsy came back and that I have cancer. He went into a lot of other thing about the biopsy but to be honest I was stunned. He said Cancer care would be calling to get the ball rolling with a MRI and appt with an onco. doc and a surgeon. I have the up most trust in our local Cancercare center my husband had 2 cancers and They did a amazing job. They called a hour later I have an appt. on the 13 th for the MRI ant the 18th for both the onco doc and the surgeon. Would it be out of line to call the doc back on Mon. and have him repeat the biopsy results when I have a pen handy, i am just floored.

LisaAlissa

Hi llupp!

I'm so sorry to hear about your news.

No, it wouldn't be out of line, but I'd suggest you just ask for a copy of the pathology report from the biopsy instead. You're entitled to a copy and in fact should plan to get/keep all of the various reports your diagnosis and various treatments will generate.

You'll then be able to formulate whatever questions you might have before your appointment on the 13th. At the same time, if you have questions before then, come back to this thread and someone will probably be able to help.

Hang in there,

LisaAlissa

Anonymous

Oh my dear, I am so sorry, but welcome. We are a great bunch of women who know what you are going through and care. You'll be okay, and it's right to acknowledge you will be terrified and that is normal. I think the most unhelpful thing anyone who hasn't been in our shoes tells us is "don't worry". My husband had cancer too once upon a time, before my dx, and I felt like my dx was a double-whammy because the fear I felt over possibly losing him just exacerbated my own fears about my survival.

In the early days I tried to find as many long-term (like decades) survivors as I could and read their positive stories. I also acknowledged that Dr. Google is often unreliable, doesn't use current research, and makes wild, untruthful claims about treatment, etc. I asked questions here, mainly, only, and used the search function to find even more answers and reassurance.

We are here for you!

Claire in AZ

chronicpain

Sorry about the bad news, but welcome.Once you have gotten your bearings, fill in your path information on your signature line (sometimes it helps us help you if we also know age and menopausal status).

I suspect all of us here remember where we were the day we got “the call”, just like we remember where we were when we heard about 911.

I, for one, had to get a prescription for a sedative from my primary care doc to tide me over for the first few weeks of uncertainty after I got the biopsy report when I would get panic attacks and could not concentrate at work or sleep, as do many, and some ladies also see a counselor.

It is good you have confidence in your cancer center, but as others suggested, get your path report, and read our threads about your tissue type and therapy options. BC prognosis for most is very good these days!

Hugs, and hope,

CP

Runrcrb

Yes, call the doctor's office and ask for a walk through of the biopsy results. Also ask for a copy but if they don't have email or electronic medical records, get them to tell you again so you don't have to wait for snail mail.

Hopefully your doctor also told you that an MRI is a great tool to find other areas of concern (avoiding multiple surgeries) but you will also likely get some false positives - areas they biopsy and the results are benign. So if your MRI results say "x areas of concern" don't freak out.

This diagnosis stage is the worst with anxiety and worry. Take lots of deep breaths and realize that worry won't change the outcome. Take time to understand what doctors tell you, ask questions until you understand and the restate what you heard in your own words to confirm. If you can, take a friend to your appointments whose job is to take notes. If you have a significant other, he or she may be too close to the situation to hear what you don't hear.

All the best.

llupp

Thanks all for you all your info will call the doctor in the morning tell him I will come in to get a had copy of the biopsy report. Hubby decided to book a flight flight to Arizona so i can visit my sister for the next week so we are not not just waiting for the appt. Gotta love that man.