Diagnosed today

Dawny74

on Friday, I had three biopsies done. Today, both right breast biopsies came back as invasive intermediate grade ductal carcinoma with a Nottingham grade of II. Not that I know what that means. There was a comment about things like “her” that would be further tested and in a follow up pathology report.

I am scared, sad, angry, shocked all at once. The anger is real. I’m october, there was a spot in each breast that the doctor wanted biopsied. When I went for the biopsies, one spot (on the right had disappeared), I told the doctor that I would trust whatever he decides, he decided not to do the biopsy, to watch it.

In November, I felt a prettty large lump and went to the doctor. She sent me for a mammogram and ultrasound. We all felt it, but they couldn’t find it on imaging.

Then a little over a week ago, I noticed redness around the Areola. Some dimpling, when the nipple hardens the Areola turns to a white/pale yellow color. The redness is smooth though, it feels like the other side.

Went to the doctor, they thought infection, but concerned that the lump was still there. Mammogram/ultrasound, this time they see two spots on the right, one spot on the left. Biopsied all three and the two on the right both came back as what I mentioned in the first paragraph.

If they’d have seen it in November or biopsied it in October maybe it would have been caught sooner. Now I’m worried that we waited too long. They didn’t do anything with the redness at all. No biopsy of it or the hardness under the nipple they said on imaging it just looked like inflammation - sigh.

So here I sit, scared that I have two different kinds of breast cancer. I see a surgeon and oncologist tomorrow. Surgeon in the morning, oncologist in the afternoon.

I’m supposed to fly out on Wednesday and come back Monday, to see my son who is heading to his first deployment. I hope they still let me go. I don’t know how fast they move, what they do. I’m lost

Runrcrb

go see your son. breast cancer can wait. while an emotional crisis, it's not often a medical crisis. if you can, ask a friend to join you for dr appointments to take notes. ask questions and write down what you hear. ask for reading materials - there is lots of material on breast cancer that will explain "her" without you having to get worked up reading everything on line. Don't rely on Dr Google.

Go see your son.

AliceBastable

It takes years for most cancers to grow, so the few months you've spent on this aren't going to make a difference.

Salamandra

Dawny74,

I'm sorry. The beginning is so hard.

I agree that you should go see your son. It will be a long and annoying (at best) journey. Spend the time with him before he deploys.

For what it's worth, cancer discovered from a lump without other symptoms elsewhere in the body is typically early stage and very treatable. That would mean that your life would get turned upside down for a while, but then settle back into a long and hopefully boring status quo.

The best thing you can do now is take care of yourself emotionally and physically as best you can during this enormously mentally trying time - whatever works for you. Another useful thing might be to identify a cancer center near you, either for a second opinion or in case you want to go straight there for treatment. Having a team of doctors you feel confidence in is so important and comforting.

Sending supportive thoughts!

msphil

sweetie I agree go see your son hang in there and stay Positive always have Hope take from a this yr 25 yr Survivor Praise God. Hope this gives you Inspiration on your journey. msphil idc stage2 0/3nodes 3mo chemo before and after Lmast. 7wks rads and 5yrs on Tamoxifen.

JosieO

Dawny,

Agree with all of the other posts here-go spend the time with your son.

The tissue from the biopsies will be further tested so the surgeon and oncologist will be able to plan for treatment.

“HER 2” is a specific growth factor that does (called “positive”) or does not (called “negative) promote the growth of cancer cells. Knowing this gives guidance to the treatment. The other commonly measured indicator is whether your cancer is estrogen positive or estrogen negative. Same reason-to guide treatment. This will be given to you in a pathology report, and your oncologist can and should explain this to you.

Lots of information will beccoming your way. Take notes, record your appointments if you can, or take someone with you. Ask as many questions as you need to. No need to rush anything.

This site is a fabulous resource, with many smart and caring people here to listen and help.

We got you.