time for me to tell my story

Dee,

So glad you found us. I am nearly 2 1/2 yrs.out and I MUST say, I would not have gotten this far without the help of our dear bc sisters here on this site.  As many sisters have said before me...you will get through this. There is life after a bc diagnosis. I didn't think so at first, but our sisters here showed me the way and they continue to do so. I started in the chat room and blossomed to the boards also. Your bc sisters will always be here for you, at anytime.

Try to rest and relax as much as you can.Enjoy your hubby and boys. Take the xanax as you need...gosh, I still do (best discovery!!lol).

Hugs and prayers,

Candie

I'm so sorry about your mom.  You are a strong, smart woman to be here online looking for support and information.  You cancer was detected early - that is so important.  Focus on learning all you can about your treatment options and less on the fear. There is a lot of information here and on other websites.  Take charge of your treatment.   

Yes, you need to eat and be in the best of shape - think about Rocky getting ready for the big bout with what's his name. 

It is normal to be upset - hey, it IS a big deal after all!  You don't have to be superwoman - and it sounds like you have a good supprt system.  Take time for yourself - do nice things for yourself - you've been through a lot and now is the time for pampering.  You can go back to being superwoman later :-) 

I know this might sound silly but breast cancer has had some positive impacts in my life.  I've learned what is really important and what isn't and I've taken so much better care of myself.  I exercise regularly, eat healthier, avoid negative people and situations and have made many other changes.

Please, if you haven't already, read up on how to avoid lymphedema.  There is a lot of good information here.  And, were is MY xanax????  I would love to have that to help me sleep through my hot flashes 

Take care.

Hi Dee - Just wanted to add my own good thoughts for you.  My diagnosis is almost the same as yours, and dx'd about same time. I'm starting my rads next week. I agree that first month after dx is the scariest time when you don't really know anything. Cancer was all I could think of day and night for weeks, even having cancer dreams....ugh.  Felt much better after lumpectomy and finding negative nodes, etc. and finally getting a treatment plan in place. Gives you a feeling of control. I love this site for giving me so much information and the stories are amazing.

Thank you long time survivors for sharing your wonderful stories and encouragement. Its makes me feel so much more hopeful knowing that some day down the road I can look back as this part of my life as ancient history.

Jane - loved the elephant sisters story.  I'll remember that.

Dee,

Make note of all those questions and ask your onch. today.  I saw rad. onch. every week during rads.  Med. onch. I saw every three weeks during chemo and then every three months.  He has bloodwork done before every visit.  I think after next onch. visit it will be every 6 months.  My treatment was 2 years ago. 

Good luck today, and hugs.

Sharon.

Dee - yes - In April I'll be 4 years out.  It gets easier and easier with each day.  Like many others here occasionally I'll have a weird pain and think I've got cancer .. it's the cancer-itis thing. I see my oncologist every 3 months ... and get clinical exams at that appt -   and yearly mammogram. I'm doing great and enjoying dancing with NED  (No Evidence of Disease). 

I'm glad you have your treatment plan decided on...  I truly felt much better once I'd made my decisions and just had to take each step of treatment. 

I had a transvaginal ultrasound ... but mine was more related to fibroid problems in my uterus.

We're here to help support you ...  just like our sisters were here to help us. These forums are such a tremendous resource ... 

Hugs,

Doreen 

I also need to tell my story. Why is that? I also have a wonderful, supportive husband, sister, children. But somethime I think they really cannot understand what I'm going thru, no matter how hard they try. My story: I initially had an enlarged axillary lymph node, and once removed was malignant, but undifferentiated cells. So I had the breast MRI, PET scan, U/S, and eventual core biopsy, which was positive for IDC. My breast tumor was < 0.5cm, and the node under my arm was 5cm.They initially did all of the other tests trying to find the primary site. When I had the core biopsy, it was a 2 1/2 hour procedure, because they were having trouble finding the possible tumor that was seen on the MRI. I am now 16 days post mastectomy, with one more node positive. I am supposed to see the Radiation Oncologist Monday and the Chemo Oncologist the following Monday. Can anyone tell me what usually happens on these first visits? Also, I am ER- which seems to be very uncommon. Anyone also ER- with knowledge about this - please fill me in. Thank-you to all you who are so brave and so positive. I hope to be there mentally soon also.

Debbie

Thank-you Dee. You seem so positive and are less than a week ahead of me diagnosis time. "Unknown" seems to be the story of the last few months, as my lump under my arm popped up it seems overnight. And that was the first week of August. It's like this big cloud of "unknowns'' for months. Am working on hanging in there. But it gets so hard being positive for everyone around me, when all I want to do is go in a corner and cry.

Thank-you for your hugs and encouragement,

Debbie