Diagnosed todat

Nikko1963

So here I am. Got biopsy results today. IDC Grade 2. 11x10X6mm. One minute I'm terrified and the next Im ok. I have an appt. with a surgeon on Tuesday. Next step...telling the family.

This is yucky. On the other hand I have a terrific husband, a ton of support, a great doctor, and some financial security plus a lots of living to do. I also have the best dog ever. For those reasons, I'm very grateful.

Thanks for listening.

Nikko1963

Correction...diagnosed today. My brain is toast.

ceanna

Nikko, welcome to the BCO threads--a place no one ever wants to be but you will find information and support! You're in the hardest stretch right now. Diagnosis, but no plan yet in place. Your mind is probably spinning. Please know we went through it too and we are here to help. If you're going to a breast center, try to connect with a nurse navigator who can become your contact for questions. Otherwise, ask your questions here and we'll try to respond. A couple of suggestions--don't spend time on Google searching--too much information that may not pertain to your situation. Also, be slow in telling people. Some will want to share "their" stories or that of distant relative, which again, may or may not apply to your situation. Get all the information you need, develop a plan with the medical professionals, cry a little, worry a little, and we're here for you. You'll find comfort in a specific plan and move forward. All the best.

Nikko1963

Thank you.

AliceBastable

Nikko1963, I like your attitude. I went into it deliberately planning fun things between appointments, tests, and surgeries (had to have a re-excision plus an unrelated surgery). The medical stuff is kind of a blur three years out, but I remember the fun times. I highly recommend it as a way to keep the good mental balance you've already got.

Rah2464

Nikko sorry to hear of your diagnosis. Hearing that really messes with your head. I am very glad to hear you have a great hubby but even more excited to hear you have the world's best doggo to get you through this. You are in a very difficult time right now, knowing some information and having to wait to assess the rest of it. Try not to over prepare yourself - this disease can throw you a curve or two which can be even more stressful if you have laid out what you already think will happen. Wishing you a tolerable treatment and recovery

Jelson

Nikko1963 - Just a thought here, it is was helpful to me to wait until I had a treatment plan at least sketched out before telling family and friends because I anticipated they would have had so many questions that I couldn't answer yet, increasing the anxiety on everyone's part. Although so convenient, I would advise (from experience) telling family when gathered for a holiday ( in my case, Mother's Day) - what an idiotic mistake that was...on my part.

Take care!

Nikko1963

Thank you for all of your kind words and advice.

Today should be the day I get the dreaded hormone receptor report. I am pretty scared about it because, of course, I have read about it and my tumor is oval shaped so I think the worst. Anyway, I didn't sleep at all last night and the trying to bull my way through my protein breakfast this morning is a challenge. I do have an appointment with the surgeon on Tuesday. I am supposed to leave for a two-week trip out of the country on the 3rd. Part of the sleeplessness last night was worrying about whether we should cancel.

I'm going to reach out to my doctor today and see if maybe we should attempt to schedule an oncologist appt before the 3rd. I don't know - it's just all so overwhelming.

Interestingly your advice about telling family and friends was exactly what my husband said. A couple of people at work know because I am in an extremely small office and didn't work to muffle my voice when I talked to my doctor yesterday. My only fear is that somehow the news will spread and my boys would hear this from someone else other than me.

I am also getting way ahead of myself trying to figure out how to keep my business running and employees paid while I am going through this. I will figure it out but it's just one more thing to add to the pile.

At the end of the day, the treatment of cancer isn't what really scares me or even the fact that I have it. I just don't want Cancer to be that thing that takes me out. There are lots of danger in the world and you never know when your time is up. But, of all the damn things in the world, I don't want cancer to be that "thing".

One last note about dogs - I love them so much! At one point we had three. Now we only have one after one had cancer and the other just got tired (age 13). I know that another dog will add to the stress, but I really, really want a Lab. I'm getting a Lab. The timing sucks because we are renovating our house and will be moving this month. But I'm getting a Lab sooner rather than later. I have always wanted a Lab and my Nikko needs a friend.

SuQu31

Nikko,

Great attitude about the dog. What are you waiting for, right? There will always be a more convenient time, but if you want a Lab, it will be a great joy and comfort to you while you get through this.

About telling family, I also strongly advise waiting to tell people until you have more information about treatment. Right now, you have more questions than answers, and you definitely do NOT want to hear everyone else's stories. (I mean, you probably will never want to hear stories told third or fourth hand from people who don’t even know what they are talking about, but that is bound to happen). Once you know more about your cancer and treatment plan, the stories are easier to deal with, and you can answer some of your family’s questions. Breast cancer is so specific to the person. Even the location of the tumor can make a difference. As far as how many people you tell, that is up to you.

Definitely talk to your doctor before you cancel your trip! Alice gives the best advice about LIVING a in the midst of this. A trip may be just the thing you need instead of sitting around, waiting. And if your doctor suggests you start treatment right away, you can reschedule, and you will have the rescheduled trip to look forward to.

One final suggestion- take advantage of the knowledge and support of the fantastic women on this site who have been there and have great knowledge to share. You will be amazed at how smart and helpful everyone is!

Take care and keep us posted.

msphil

hello sweetie we re here for you we understand cause we ve been where you are. Just wanted to reach out and share my experienced to help and to Inspire you. I found my lump in shower all while preparing for our 2nd marriages. I prayed for this man and now this but he was fantastic helping get thru. Got 2nd opinion sand diagnosis idc stage2 0/3 nodes 3 mo chemo before and after Lmast then got married . Oh I had my cries off and on then decided to fight with Positive thoughts and lots of Hope. Then 7 wks rads and 5 yrs on tamoxifen. Praise God now a 27yr Survivor you can do it. Hang in there. msphil