Diagnosed this Monday....Mastectomy on Tuesday

StaciaG

1. Hi. I am a 45 mom/ wife and was diagnosed last Monday with a 3cm infiltrating Ductal carcinoma. Family history with three others diagnosed at 45. Opted for mastectomy the next day. Got back pathology today that margins are clear as well as all lymph nodes biopsied were negative. It has been a crazy week but I feel so blessed to be done with this first stage of the process. still in shock honestly about it all.

Faith1111

Wishing you a successful surgery. I'm glad you are having it so quickly, I was diagnosed on May 20th and didn't have surgery until June 26th. The wait was agonizing. I was going to have a double M with instant implant recon but the other doctors called my PS saying they thought it was over kill due to my 2.5 mm tumor. I ended up having lumpectomy and radiation. I wish I had the double M for peace of mind. But anyway, its a serious state of shock the first few weeks. It's surreal, you can't believe it's happening. I feel a little better now, but every few days worry creeps in. One day I feel really strong and confident that I will never get cancer again and then I read about a celebrity having a reoccurance and I think, "Oh, that's going to happen to me too.". Staying busy and being around people helps.

Moderators

Afinitor, sorry you have to be here, but welcome! We're glad to see that you decided to post out to the other members.

Here's a very helpful thread filled with tips and advice from members of our Community about all things surgery:

Shopping/Packing/To-do/Recovery Tips for before and after surgery

We hope this helps! Good luck with everything and keep us updated on how it all goes!

Best wishes,

From the Mods

msphil

hello sweetie I was 42 at diagnosis making wedding plans to 2nd and wonderful fiance now husband was with me every step of the way sorry you have to be here but you will get lots of love and support here. Hang in there msphil idc stage2 0/3 nodes 3mo chemo adriamycin cytoxin 5fu before and after Lmast we got married then 7wks rads and 5yrs on Tamoxifen then Honeymoon.

StaciaG

thank you for all responses. One of the wonderful surprises about having breast cancers are the endless strangers who want to help simply because they have been there and want to use their experience for good.

arizonaboundgal

Just popping in to remind you that you will get through this, StacyG! It's way tooooo much to take in. Hope that you're finding some comfort in the promising pathology report. Hang in there and hugs to you.

mom2bunky

Hugs stacia. Wishes for a quick recovery!

Luuvpink67

Hi Stasi

I just got diagnosed yesterday and the doc told me it might be 2 weeks before the cancer center evencalls me. How did you get in so quick? Are you in the USA? Or Canada?

StaciaG

Hey Luvvpink. I am so sorry you are going through all of this but I have no doubt you are going to do great. I am in the US and the timing of the surgery was truly by the grace of God. There was an opening the next day afte my prognosis/pathology appt. There really wasn’t anything more to it. I hope your date comes fast but in the meantime I bet you get ALOT more things done in preparation than I did.

StaciaG

thank you so much.

mac5

Faith111

If you are worried, please talk to your Oncologist and Surgeons AGAIN!

I know I’m not typical. Genetic Testing wasn’t indicated for me 8 years ago and my recurrence rate was thought to be around 6% at the time.

But 8 years later I’ve a “different type” in the other breast and muscle involvement. I’m angry at myself for not standing my ground and insisting on a Bilateral Mastectomy the first time.

Sometimes you have to be your own advocate.