If you have just been diagnosed....

I was diagnosed with grade 1 IDC that is 1.3cm in my left breast on Nov. 15th 2008. I meet with the surgeon on Dec. 2nd. I have not seen the pathology report and wish that I had more info on it at this time. I have three daughters 23, 18, 8. I run my own construction business and do alot of heavy lifting and need to be on the job working. Due to the economy we lost our medical ins. last Nov. when business slowed down to a dead stop. We were just getting back on our feet when I found out about the cancer. My husband also works with me and is my right hand man! My 18 year old daughter is going to help us out but she is just learning the business. I'm worried about the cancer, my business and trying to pay for everything!!  And I'm scared, not about losing a boob but about the Whole picture.    Trying to hold it together until after I see the surgeon.

I just found out about 3 hours ago that my Mom has tested positive for cancer. It was my birthday yesterday and all I asked of God as to keep my Mom healthy... guess I didnt get that wish!! am so confused as to what all the stages mean. Her ultrasound showed massses and 2 inflammed lymph nodes!! What does that mean?? That it has spread and if it has,  does she have any hope to live??  I cant look ahead a year from now and not see my MOM!! I want her to see me get married and be proud of me when I succed in life and be there for me when I fail!! I need someone to talk to about it and she is scared to death so I cant talk to her. Please tell me there is hope for the worst case scenario!!  I am sounding very selfish right now. She has an MRI tomorrow but she has no insurance so what hope of good care can we expect if its really advanced?? I have tried to stay positive for her sake but I feel I am breaking down now.......

Thanx so much for the positive feedback- The worst part of this right now is the waiting... and waiting.. and waiting!! I just want to find out how bad it is and what we need to do to get her healthy!! I have been researching everything I can get  a hold of all night and my head is swimming but its all so confusing since I dont know what any of the stages, grades and terms mean. I'm so afraid that it has spread to other parts of her body and there wont be anything that can be done!! its so hard to believe there are so many people going through this and there is still no CURE!! How can that be?? Thank u for sharing your story and I wish you all the best when u go in on Thurs.

Bobbijolyn -- it is a shame that there is no absolute cure, but there are lots of treatments and lots and lots of success stories.    You can't trust everything you find on the internet, so take a deep breath and try to relax and wait and see what the doctors say.   

Robyn

Yes, we are all warriors in a battle that is very personal and very emotional. When I was first dx in mid Oct. I cried everytime the subject came up. I pushed everybody away and still keep most people at bay. I need all my emotional strength right now to do what I have to do. Surgery is scheduled 12/18th - bilateral mastectomies. Invasive ductal ca Rt breast and prophyactic mast lt breast as I cannot go thru this again! I'm also having tram flap reconstruction at the same time. I'm pretty scarred as I'll be under for about 8 hours and I'm high risk as I have asthma and diabetes too. But all in all I feel hopeful after talking to so many people on this site and others that have survived and thrived after breast cancer. I am a warrior and the fight has only begun!

Sue

dpstarr...  So sorry you and the other new posters have reason to be here, but you have found the most wonderful place for information and support.  I noted that you mentioned not having health insurance, and I wondered if this link might have some resources for you.  It's one that another member on this board created and has occasionally posted elsewhere within these pages:

http://bb67.wikispaces.com/

Good luck to all of you ~   Deanna 

I was just diagnosed Friday with Tubular cancer in the left breast and am having a lumpectomy this Friday.  I am scared because the test were not clear that it is only Tubular.  The doctor said they would be sure once they got it out.  I lost my mom 2 years ago to breast cancer so this is hard to go through.  I also have Multiple Schlerosis.  I don't know any one else with both and would love to hear from someone with both if anyone knows any body.  Thanks

I am 24 years old and I have been diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer.  I have been doing chemo (Paclitaxel).  My CA125 test have not been to positive lately.  My numbers were 3680 then they dropped to 1060 and are now back at 4020.  I am not sure if this medication is working properly for me and the more I talk to the doctors the more confused I get about all of it.  I have been for second opinions and they all tell me to stick with the Paclitaxel.  Being so young I am having a hard time accepting this fact and the fact that I probably will not have children.  I am confused and don't feel as if I have anyone to talk to.  Any advice out there?

my mum has just been told she has invacive ductal cancer and just had surgery yesterday and was told today that some of her nodes under arm were swollen and would like to know if that means that it has spead to the nodes? im very worried so if anyone could help it would be great.

Cookymkr, I read your post and am wondering what you have found out since then.  I have a similar situation where I have been concerned about a lump in my right breast since 2003.  I have had a mammo every single year since I turned 40 (I'm 57) now--three of them were diagnostic mammos where they used ultrasound after the mammo.  I have been told "it's nothing, don't worry.  Come back and see us next year for your mammo."  When I went this year for my mammo-another diagnostic since I had nipple retraction this time--they ordered a biopsy, which showed "infiltrating mammary carcinoma."  That's all I know since the pathology states only what I wrote above, and gives a description of the cells from the tissue sample.  Now I have to have another biopsy to get more info because my surgeon wants to do neoadjuvant therapy to shrink the tumor before he does a lumpectomy.  I saw all of my mammo and ultrasound films, and the cancer is the exact thing that I have been concerned about since 2003.  It went from "don't worry about it" to "you have breast cancer".  I also saw my radiology reports from my previous 2 diagnostic mammos which stated that "decision to biopsy should be made upon clinical exam."  If that was the case, why did they tell me it was nothing to worry about??  By the way, NO ONE ever mentioned the word "biopsy" to me until 11/28/08.

 I have advised every woman I know to request a copy of the actual radiology report that the imaging center/hospital produces and sends to the referring physician so that she can read it for herself.  If I had received a copy of the report instead of the computer-generated letter that says "You're fine.  Come back next year", you can believe that I would have had the lump removed years ago.

 Sorry to rant and rave, ( I have not made it past the "mad as hell that I have cancer" stage) but I was wondering what you found out and if you ever got an explanation of why you were told not to worry about the lump you found and why it suddenly turned out to be cancer.

qutypy ~ So sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but you've come to the right place for information and support.  First, everything you're describing is so normal.  At first, it all seems so overwhelming and surreal.  And then you find out that many treatment choices are up to you, and you don't yet have the information you need to make those decisions.  But you will learn it very quickly, and this site is an invaluable resource for that.  Also, the swinging back and forth from one option to another is totally normal; and you may continue to do that for awhile.  But eventually, someone will give you just the right kernel of information to help you know without a doubt what you want to do.

There are several threads on these boards where women have basically asked the same question you are -- lumpectomy vs. mastectomy or even bi-lateral mast.  If you look for them, you will see opinions from women who have done both.  The good news is that 99.9% seem to be very content with the choice they made.   

So, just know that what you are going through is totally normal, that you have found by far the best site for accurate information and support, and that you can come  here and ask any question or share any concern you need to!   Good luck, and I'll be thinking about you ~    Deanna 

Well, here I am looking at all your comments and want very much to do my own post.  I am a 57 year old nurse, and on my annual on the 16th of December, they noted a mass, and did a biopsy, and called me the next day.  Well, I have a very small area of invasive ductal adenocarcinoma, high grade, along with a larger area of DCIS.  I am planning a double mastectomy in January.  My biggest problem is that my husband's first wife died from breast cancer, but hers was the size of a bar of soap when found, and she had spine metastasis.  So, I KNOW this is different, but he just seems to be focused on what happened with her.  He has severe PTSD from Vietnam, which got much worse after she died, and I have just taken care of him ever since we got together, about 2 years after she died.  I am so frustrated, because no matter what, this seems to be about him.  I feel like I have to be UP and cannot cry because he falls apart.  I don't think I need diagnostic help as much as I need plain old support, because I cannot voice my fears here at home, so thank you for letting me journal here, as I cannot do it at home!  ml

nurseloo and kencmc ~  Just thought I'd welcome you both to the boards. It's much quieter tonight than it normally would be, but I'm sure you'll have a lot of input from other women once they have time to get back on the computer. 

nurseloo ~  You will find this a great place for support.  Also, while on this journey myself, I've learned that the social worker/psychologists who deal specifically with bc are absolutely wonderful, and I hope at some point you will get a chance to talk to one wherever you're being treated.  Your situation sounds complex, but no doubt one they've dealt with in the past, and can probably give you some strategies, as well as support.  They're also great at talking to spouses. Also, just FYI, while these boards are for the most part used only by women going through bc tx, they are not totally private.  You may just want to keep that in mind before saying anything you wouldn't want a neighbor or co-worker, for example, to possible stumble across while researching bc.

kencmc ~  If you look back through the topics in the "Diagnosed" section, you will find several other threads where women have asked for and gotten a lot of input on lumpectomy vs. mast. or bi-lat. mast.  There is no right or wrong answer.  It's just what's right for you and your peace of mind.  So, read all you can (the informational section of this site is very helpful), talk to others who have been through it, and don't feel rushed into deciding.  You may find yourself going back and forth between the options for a few weeks while you sort out your deepest feelings.  And be comforted to know that 99.9% of the women on this board, although they've all made different choices, are very satisfied with the choice they made.

Well, back to my family and Christmas eve.  Hope to chat more soon  ~    Deanna

Well... this looks like a good place for my first posting.  I was diagnosed on Friday, December 5 with invasive ductal carcinoma.  I went to my regular GP on that Monday, the surgeon on that Tuesday, and for an MRI on that Thursday.  Surgery with radiation (possibly a mammo site) was to be on Monday, December 29.

The MRI showed no other areas affected, BUT the tumor showed up to be quite a bit larger.  The oncologist (met with her on Christmas Eve) said this could be a wrong reading; however, I must now go thru a lot more tests before we can schedule the surgery.  BLAH!

Has anyone else's MRI shown the tumor to be larger initially than it turned out to be?

ALSO... Does anyone else feel like they are participating in Mardi Gras at this point without the benefit of the beads being thrown at you? 

Thank you so very, very much for your quick response!  It makes me feel better already... I'm beginning to gather that the waiting is (almost) the worst part. 

The original mammos/ultrasound showed the tumor to be about 2.6 cm and the MRI showed it to be 4.6 cm which is obviously a HUGE difference!

I look forward to posting and viewing in the coming days!