Diagnosed last week, operation tomorrow, feeling scared.

WorryThePooh

Hi everyone, new here. I am a mum of three, I feel as if I am trapped in a nightmare I can't wake up from, and wish I was dealing with this better. For some reason I believed I would never get breast cancer, no family history and a doctor once told me my breast tissue was least likely to get breast cancer. So my diagnosis of IDC last week has left me in complete shock. I am very fortunate to be having the lumpectomy already tomorrow, but feel absolutely terrified. Trying to focus on the fact that the good thing is the cancer will be removed, but then I don't know if there's any spread. Apparently they do a dye test first, no idea what involves or if it is painful. I suppose I shouldn't be focusing on all these small details, but anyway...oh dear rambling on here.

JoE777

WTP, you're doing pretty good if you're already finding this community. Every emotion you named is so normal and you'll be so much calmer after you know you path of treatment. You can see my signature at the bottom of my post. I had a lumpectomy at the bottom of my breast(almost a partial mastectomy) but my surgeon did a great job so I just have a perky side for a 69 yr old. I did have dye injections in preop with a cat scan to locate the sentinel lymph node for removal to test for cancer. It was clean so no need for more nodes to remove. I told my surgeon if my margins weren't good, go ahead and do a mastectomy so when I woke up I had to ask what procedures they did. Needless to say I was relieved it was a lumpectomy but would have gone further if that was needed. Hang in there and try to remember to breathe. I'm bad about holding my breath and collecting all that tension in my chest and shoulders. Hugs and have a peaceful night. Keep us posted. J

WorryThePooh

Thanks Jo, you made me laugh about your perky side. I have been told I have to wait a week till the 29th Nov for the pathology after the lumpectomy, before they can know if I need further surgery. If I need a mastectomy I know I will be upset but definitely would rather have it than risk losing my life. Thanks for the hugs, hopefully will be able to sleep a bit tonight.

GreenHarbor

When I was first diagnosed, I had many of the same feelings. My orderly and predictable life was now anything but! Once I had the surgery and got the final pathology (mine also took a week), I felt much better. On a practical note, I had surprisingly little post op pain. Alternating Tylenol and Advil, along with ice packs, kept me comfortable. Good luck tomorrow- I’ll be thinking of you! Check back in when you can and let us know what happens.

Salamandra

That's great that you could get the surgery so fast! I hope it all goes smoothly and well!

The waiting is so hard, and there's really not much to do. I got some anxiety meds from my doctor that definitely helped. For a while, throwing myself into work helped. Venting to my friends, etc. It felt like ages waiting for the pathology to come back.

Do what you can to take your mind off things and come chat with us here when you can't! Hopefully you'll at least get a couple restful days in surgery recovery.

star2017

Best wishes, WorrythePooh. Another mom of three here letting you know you will get through this. It is so overwhelming. Just take it one step at a time. And let us know if you have questions or need to vent.

WorryThePooh

Thanks so much GreenHarbor, Salamandra, and star2017. I am glad to hear that you didn't need much pain relief GreenHarbor. I'm not keen on strong painkillers as they make me feel weird. Yes the waiting is hard and I do feel overwhelmed, find myself hyperventilating quite often. What's worse is that my husband just came home from visiting his parents down the road, and I can't believe it, my mother in law has just found out she has breast cancer too.

Polly413

Worry the Pooh - I have had 2 lumpectomies. The first one was just the breast not lymph node. Had it on Friday and was back at work on Monday. Was a very fast healing. The second one included sentinel node biopsy and that one did leave me more tender under the arm. Nevertheless I took only one half of one opiate pill and then used Tylenol for a few days. I was 72 the second time and still healed very fast. Maybe what they mean by possible additional surgery is just going back in to clean up margins -- not a mastectomy. In any case a big hug and good luck wishes from Polly

star2017

Oh my goodness, so sorry to hear about your MIL's diagnosis too. This will be a rough year for your family, but you will get through it. Remember, one step at a time. Best wishes to all of you, including your husband!

Snickersmom

worry - just breathe! We've all been exactly where you are tonight, and there's not much I can tell you that will help right now. I had a BMX last year and no pain at all, so hopefully your lumpectomy will be a piece of cake tomorrow. Remember that it's the fear of the unknown that's always the worst.

You are going to be just fine. Take it one step at a time and remember that we are all here for you.

Moderators

WorrythePooh-

We just want to warmly welcome you to our community. As you can see from the response you've gotten so far, this is a very supportive place, and we're all here for you! Best of luck tomorrow, please keep us posted!

The Mods

Anonymous

Hi there Pooh, I also echo the others: you are going to be fine. If you look at my status below and see what I've done--well, I never thought I'd be able to get through it all and I did. You have to get a little fierce right now--even some righteous anger that this happened to you. Anyway, getting into that mindset empowered me when I felt helpless because of that damned dx.

I was always lean, exercised like a fiend, ate organic, and was a vegetarian. Lived in a community with clean air, water, etc. I quit smoking over 20 years before my dx, breast fed my daughter, and got regular mammograms. No b.c. in my family. I was shocked when found out about my dx, too.

You'll be okay! This is a bump in your life road--which has a lot of miles left on it--it's a big bump, but just a bump.

We are here for you--

Claire in AZ

WorryThePooh

Thank you so much everyone. all your messages mean a lot to me!
Surgery went well, although was so sick afterwards, lump and sentinel node removed, still very bruised, sore and tired. Just have to wait for pathology results on the 29th to see if spread. Not sure why my befuddled brain imagined having the op would make me feel it's all over but even if I don't have to have further surgery, I have to have radiotherapy yet, most likely from early January at this stage. Woke up this morning feeling so scared of going through that, and coping with looking after my kids at the same time.

AliceBastable

WorrythePooh, I just passed the halfway mark on my 33 day radiation schedule. So far the only problems are how tedious it is to go every weekday (I'm retired and thought I was past that!), and one tiny rash spot that seems to have been a reaction to the tape marker. Odd because I didn't react in the other spots, but they stopped using tape and it's all cleared up. Oh, and I had a re-excision; no big deal and didn't even need a pain pill afterward.

JoE777, a lumpectomy IS a partial mastectomy.

msphil

sweetie I remember going thru this as I was preparing our 2nd marriages I too had no history of breast cancer But I realize yrs later it made me even stronger to be here to help others get thru. I am now a 24yr Survivor Praise God if I didn't go thru it how would I Inspire others to fight and get thru it also we are stronger than we think. God Bless Us All. msphil idc stage2 0/3 nodes 3mo chemo before and after Lmast got married then 7wks rads Honeymoon then 5yrs Tamoxifen.

Snickersmom

Msphil - congratulations! Your post has really made me feel better! You are right - it does make us even stronger than we already were.

WorryThePooh

Thanks ladies and AliceBastable I am thankful for the reassurance regarding the radiation, I hope to be as fortunate as you in regards to little side effects.