If you have just been diagnosed....

Our family has just learned that our Mom has breast cancer. The biopsy results just cam in on Wed.. The Dr. that she has, had been giving her mammograms for the past 2 years and they have came back uncertain and finally they gave her an ultra sound and then scheduled an emergancy biopsy which she had sone on Mon.. I want to take my Mom for a second opinion and the Doctor is now telling her there is no time for that even though she won't speak to a surgeon until July 31. When will the staging be done and will an oncologist be involved. We lost my Dad to stomach cancer 3 years ago under the same Dr.s and surgeons care that is supposed to care for my Mom now! How can I convince her to seek a second opinon?

Jo, and everyone,

I haven't been on this site since  last week and wow! what a ride! I visited Johns Hopkins Avon Breast Cancer Center (Everyone is wonderful, including Dr. Lisa Jacobs, Kyle Terrel(CRNP) and Debbie Stewart (breast health Educator), and Suburban Hospital, where I had an MRI-guided biopsy Wednesday and will be having Lumpectomy with SLNBiopsy this coming Wednesday. Here I am one week after first meeting my surgeon and I already have had a far more positive outlook and response to my breast cancer than at any time since I was diagnosed in my hometown.  I was going to have to wait three weeks for the MRI biopsy, and Suburban got it done in 3 working days, results in 2 days and surgery scheduled for 3 more working days! This is more like it! I was thrilled to find that my other spot, which is 9mm and anterior (in front of) the large cancerous mass, is benign, which is why we're doing lumpectomy.  the lesson I've learned this week is, go to the best in your area, even if it means out of your "comfort zone". I'm having surgery in a hospital that is not my own (I've been a registered nurse here for 21 years and I'm  a pre- and post-op nurse!), with a surgeon I met a week ago, with an anesthesiologist I haven't met yet, but all this was recommended by many friends and collleagues as the best, and I feel so confident about the outcome because they do breast surgery and breast oncology and breast radiation ALL THE TIME. They're good at it, they've done it a lot and they are recommended to be the best. What a relief! It's been a roller-coaster ride this week, tears and fears(and more to come, I'm sure) but I feel like I took a huge step leaving my own hometown to find someone who is an expert in her field. Maybe tomorrow I'll be weepy again, or when I find out the results of the SLN Biopsy and the ER/PR/Her2neu staus, but right now I'm happier than I've been since July 7th.

Libby 

Pattie,

Thanks so much for writing. I'm so gald that you went to Dana Farber: I've heard many good things about them. The funny thing about mine is, no one can figure what size my larger mass is, just that it's "large" and invasive ductal with lobular characteristics". O.K. When my new doc, the good one, examined me she said "I can't feel it", and I said "Well, thank you for saying that because I've been checking my breasts since I was 19 (54 now) and I couldn't feel it either!" So I was like you before the second path report came back (and I called the office to make sure I had heard correctly), thinking, "O.K., mastectomy, lymph nodes, reconstruction, well, at least I can get a tummy tuck", but dreading the chemo big-time. 

Anyhow, you'll do great, I know it, and please let me know when you get scheduled. I'll be thinking about you and hoping for ER/PR positive, negative lymph nodes and just radiation! We can do it!

Libby 

Welcome all our new sisters, this whole ride is an "E" ticket, for sure.  But be comforted by the fact that 80 to 85% of us will recover completely and get our old lives back.

I am 9 & 1/2 years post treatment and doing fine, they say in breast cancer lingo that you are "Dancing With Ned", and NED is, "No Evidence of Disease".  The vast majority of us will be well.  There are thousands of us out here, we just don't mention it as much as other things, I am not sure why.  I met a lady at the dog park and she had BC in 1985 and told me she often forgets which side it was on.  My mom's best friend died at 92, 44 years post double mastectomy, she died of old age, living on her own and playing contract bridge.  When I told my bible study group I had BC, 3 ladies piped up.  I was astounded.  One was 22 years post treatment, one 17, and one 11.  And you can add 9 years to those numbers, since they are all still attending bible class, and me too.

I don't mean to make light of a very serious and very scary time in our lives.  And their are women who have much harder roads to walk than others.  So I do not mean to trivialize this in any way.  But just don't decide you are already dead, because you are not.

Gentle hugs, Shirlann 

Pattie,

How are you doing? Do you have a date for your surgery yet?  My thoughts are with you and I know you'll have just as easy a time as I had yesterday. My surgery was scheduled for 9:30. I got there at 7am and registered, put on a gown, got my IV in (first stick, no problem; remember to drink right up till midnight so you'll be well hydrated the next morning). Then I went to Radiology to have my wire localization and dye injection (so they can follow the tumor to the sentinal lymph node). The injection of the local anesthetic (usually lidocaine with a tiny needle) is the worst part of the whole day. The radiologist I had was good, but it still burned and stung, but only for a little bit. I had a total of 8 injections, first for the wire localizations, I had 3 wires to really pin down the dimensions of the tumor. And then 4 more for the injection of the dye. By then I was numb but a little shaky, because it hurt going in. I told myself if I cried then it would gunck up my throat for anesthesia, so the nurse told me a joke on the way back to Pre-op. My husband was waiting for me and we talked to the anesthesiologist and the surgeon, who were both very good. My hubby was getting a little teary so off he went to the waiting room and me off to OR. About an hour later I'm in Recovery. No pain. No drains. No nausea (Thank goodness). Two dressings, one in the axilla, one at about 2 o'clock. Nurse was great. My surgeon came up with a big grin on her face and said "Three negative nodes!" The best possible news (other than no cancer!)  Pathology results will be back Friday I hope. Then I'll know ER/PR, Her2neu status and can go see an oncologist for radiation plan and hormone therapy. I kept ice on my incision all day yesterday. I ate something first (Vanilla Wafers and tea-yum!) then took a pain pill and lounged around for the rest of the day. A supportive bra is a must. I haven't had much pain at all (1-2 on a scale of 10). But I'm careful about not using that arm (except for typing  and phone conversations!). I'll keep the ice bag handy for when I need a little numbing, and take my narcotic every six hours or so. Pattie, the thing is, there is so much hope for a good outcome, keep the faith, darlin' and get the best docs and trust in them to help you understand. I was afraid of all the information at first but now it has empowered me. I try to keep one step ahead of the next diagnosis so I can know which questions to ask. If you're asking the right questions, like if it's ER/PR +, then what hormone therapy will I be on?, the decisions are a hundred times easier. Yes, it's scary, but it's a whole new world of bc treatment, community support and resources. And talk about it. If your family and friends are scared to(and they are, just because they don't know what to say, not because they don't love you and worry about you), talk here and to other survivors and breast health people. Dana Farber probably has a counselor or educator who has been right where you are now. And now you have this forum and me! Let me know when you're scheduled and I'll be sending some powerful vibes your way!

Love,

Libby 

Dear Pattie,

Axilla is the armpit. That's where the lymph nodes come out of for biopsy. They send them to the pathology lab for a "frozen section" as soon as they remove it and the lab can get a result back fast so they know if they're cancer or not. If they are, they need to look at other nodes to see if they're cancer, too. That's why the consent form says "possible axillary node dissection". That means they hope not to take many lymph nodes out, but they will if they have to. They want to keep the cancer from spreading.  

I know you want your surgery sooner but the docs are most likely correct in that it will not get bigger. If you have trust in your docs, that is so important.

ER/PR is estrogen positive/progesterone positive. That means are the cancer cells are stimulated to grow by hormones, and that is considered a good thing, because they can be treated with hormone therapy. HER2neu is another test on the cells that is a predictor of future recurrence of the cancer. Now don't get scared (even tho' we already are!). The more information we have, the easier decisions are and the more treatment options there are! I recommend that you look on this site,  breastcancer.org, and read a little bit about the tests you've already had done and the ones just coming up. No more. Being prepared for each thing will help you to ask the right questions (and there is no such thing as a stupid question, O.K?) I try to think ahead just a little bit to the next test and result so I'll be prepared when I figure out what to do next. And don't forget, you are not alone in the decision-making process: your doctors, family, friends, other cancer survivors are there to help you.

Good thought about the journal! I've been jotting down everything that has occurred so far so I remember what I need to ask! I'm probably older than you  so I'm more forgetful!  I got just a normal supportive bra from the dept store, as long as you're not swinging around you'll be good!

Take your pain pills the first day home from surgery just as they have been ordered by the surgeon. That means every 4-6 hours. Have a little food in your stomach first, but take them all day the first day and then continue to take them the second and third days as you need them. That's why they're prescribed!!! You want to be able to move around and do a little without too much discomfort. I've found these last two days that the incisions just "pull" a little and I'm tired after being up for a while. I have a good friend who lent me a bunch of Masterpiece Theater videos so I'm enjoying those. Take it easy and you'll do very well. I'll have you in my thoughts on the 19th, which will be a lucky day for you for sure!

Hugs,

Libby 

Pattie,

Hope the pre-op visit went well. I have seen the "other" messages, so take a quick look.

I can't quite figure out how I went from node negative, clean margins radiation/hormone only to chemo/rads/hormones. I haven't definitely been put on chemo, but it was so simple before I heard about Onvotype DX. Now I'm all worried again. I've decided that not having all the information will not make me feel secure, so I won't be doing the TAILORx unless I feel really confident about the randomized option I get.

Libby 

Diagnosed on thursday, and today is Monday.  Stage 2, nottingham 6, 5 cm tumor.  That's what I know.  meeting with medical oncologist in a couple days.  where do i begin? 

Thanks Shirlann - a tape recorder!  excellent....i've started a journal for this ...whatever it is gonna be - and have noticed that when I write about what I'm experiencing, doing, thinking - my handwriting is almost illegible.  not usually the case and may be an unusual side effect of breast cancer.  I'll appreciate the company of this website whatever lies ahead. 

Chutney

I was diagnosed last month.Tomorrow i have the sentinel biopsy,and the next day i'll have a bilateral mastectomy.

I also took a tape recorder to the dr's with me,as well as my DH,DS,and DIL.

I started a journal from the beginning of this and also got myself a folder,my dr thought the folder was a great idea as he said he'll be giving me copies of all my reports etc.I did the same thing 3 mos ago when i had a total knee replacement.I use different colored folders,so i can tell at a glance which one to grab.I also use a steno pad to take notes as i read the boards.There is a lot to learn and my brain is mush most days so all these things are a must for me.

I also am glad i found these websites,someplace i hoped i'd never have to come,but so glad they are here for all who need them.

Kathi

Hi, swelling, discharge or color change are not usually breast cancer symptoms.  They can be, for sure, but most of us found our cancers either with mammograms or with self-exams or sometimes, husbands find them.  Cancer is very sneaky, often there are no symptoms at all in the beginning, just something is in the breast.

Not much will be known until the pathology report comes back, no one can say who has what under the tissue is under a microscope.  All else is speculation.  So it is good that her general health is okay, but that has nothing to do with breast cancer.

Sometimes an MRI or, Magnetic Resonance Imaging is done, and this is a good test to find out if the cancer is somewhere else in the body.

Otherwise, you will just have to wait for the pathology report.

Good luck to you and come and post anytime you want to.

Gentle hugs, Shirlann 

Lost, I am sorry to hear of your mother's dx of breast cancer. There is really no 'best' cancer to get all cancer dx can be scary. I was dx last year with DCIS which is an early form but contained in the ducts of the breast therefore not invasive and easier to treat which can make it the 'best' cancer to have. The feelings of being lost and afraid are normal especially when you don't know what is happening. My aunt was dx with ovarian cancer when I was 17 and I know just what you are feeling. Feel free to come here and ask questions. We will do our best to answer them.

Sheila

A lot depends on the type of cancer and what treatment options she takes (surgery, chemo, rads). The doctor or oncologist would be the one to ask about her specific diagnosis.

My mom was dx in 2001 with invasive lobular breast cancer (ILB), she had a single mast, underwent chemo treatments, and radiation and is doing well. I didn't ask what her chances of coming back but she did all she could to fight it the first time.

Sheila

Dear Shirlann

This is my mother's pathology report. Dr.says only radiation and harmone therapy is sufficient.

left breast lumpactomy an auxially clearence

invassive ductil carcinoma grade2, 2.4cm.

9 out of 18 lymph nodes show matastatic carcinoma with focal extra capsular spread.

Please send your opinion

I had routine mammogram 8/4. They saw something on left breast and sent me for diagnostic on 8/11 with sonogram. Dr. said it looks like DCIS and explained she sees something in milk duct. Back for biopsy 8/13. DCIS confirmed. Then breast MRI. Get appt with surgeon who talks about lumpectomy vs. mx but says we have to wait for MRI results. MRI which shows another tiny spot on left breast but closer to nipple. Back for another sonogram and biopsy. This comes back positive for DCIS too. Dr. who called with results says they are about 6 cm apart so lumpectomy will probably not be an option for me. I am a small B bra size so not really alot of breast to be cutting out. I of course am in shock. All tests on right breast are fine. I have never been in a hospital other then to have my kids. I take valium just to get my teeth cleaned at the dentist so thoughts of surgery and all that goes with a mx is really freaking me out. I have situational anxiety. anyway I am glad I found this board. So much information and so many awesome people.