Just diagnosed, feeling numb

Amf5484

hi everyone, I’m new here. I’ve read a ton of threads and admire all of you strong women. I’m 34, no kids and was just diagnosed today. I don’t have any details, my doctor told me over the phone. I have an MRI scheduled for tomorrow, which I am freaking out about, followed by a meeting with the surgeon Friday and a biopsy on my swollen lymph node next Tuesday. I don’t know what to expect in the days to come, all I know is I’m so scared. Any and all advice isn’t greatly appreciated

jessie123

I know you're scared -- that means you are normal. Remember, it doesn't hurt to get a second opinion from a different facility. I've learned there usually is no emergency to rush right to surgery - guess that depends on your biopsy report. Also, it takes time to choose between a lumpectomy and mastectomy if you are a candidate. I've been reading this board for two months since my first biopsy and it does help -- much calmer now, but still really nervous. My heart goes out to you, because I know exactly how you are feeling.

KerLyn

I get it. I'm not a cryer I cried the ugly kind of cry every single day for weeks. I only told a handful of people, and I read through this website and tried to learn and absorb everything I could every step of the way. Your story will be yours alone, you will make all kinds of decisions and have all kinds of conversations you never ever dreamed you'd have. It IS scary. My doctor felt my lump during a routine physical on November 7th, and from there I had a mammogram, ultrasound, biopsy,met with the surgeon, MRI, and lumpectomy with sentinel node dissection on November 30. It's been fast moving, and I just started radiation yesterday. I cried again today talking to the wife of a man getting his treatment at the radiation center before me- it is still surreal. Let it out, get on this site, go out with your bestie and talk and repeat yourself 175885 times working through your options until you feel good about what you want to do once you have all the information. It helps.

DodgersGirl

Amf— so sorry you are going through this. Very understandable to be concerned.

My suggestion is to get a journal and write down your questions. Take the journal with you to take notes in and to remember questions you will have.

I kept my journal thru my first year of treatment. It’s amazing the things you hear and write down in a doc appointment but forget later on.

Once your med team knows which cancer you have, it will drive what options you have. You will be told is your tumor is hormone positive or not (ER + or - and PR + or -) followed by HER2 status (also + or -). Make sure you hear what they tell you about this.

Right now you have questions but no answers. When you have a plan in place, things get easier. For me, 2017 included 4 surgeries, chemo, and radiation. The time from diagnosis to a plan was the hardest.

Please know that the people here are so helpful and will share their knowledge, experiences, and tips. Ask anything.

Once you have a plan, check for boards that pertain to what treatment you are on. If you have surgery, look there; radiation- look for a group starting rads at the same time and read a group that started before you to get a feel for what’s next; etc.

again, so sorry you are here. Keep us posted on each step and we can be here for you

MDRR

amf

just echoing what the others have said and sending you strength. Definitely hardest while you are in limbo. Just try to surround yourself with the best medical team you can; a team that you trust and that you are comfortable with. You should be able to express fears and questions to them. We are all different and we all react physically (and emotionally) to care in different ways and that is okay. Just know that you will get lots of great input and support from this forum. Keep us posted. Once you start to move forward with a plan you are going to feel so much better. Until then we can all relate to feeling stuck and anxious!