If you have just been diagnosed....

    I had a full day of tests yesterday. My first appt. was for a bone density. An iv was inserted into my arm. I had to come back in a hour .Had to drink a bottle of barium. For those of you who have never had to do this, good for you!. I gagged through it all. My husband didn't help any. I told him to try it and see how he felt! But I did it. Then I had to go in for the cat scan.. Had to lay there for half an hour. It wasn't bad. Then I had a break for an hour and a half. I was able to eat something. My last appt. was for the MRI. It wasn't bad, just very uncomfortable. I had to lay on my stomach for half an hour ( after I had just eaten) I just prayed I wouldn't get sick LOL. Anyways, the woman gave me a set of earplugs because this machine is very loud. It makes banging and knocking noises. My back started hurting, but I was not allowed to move, so to stay focused, I just counted all the beeping noises. That was alot of fun lol but that was the only thing bad about it. So you will be ok. just don't eat before your test!

Hi Rascal,

i was diagnosed the 19 of Dec. with DCIS, stage 1. I hated the biopsy thing. I wish someone had given me something to take the edge off..I still get sick thinking about that experience. I have an MRI tomorrow. I usually don't mind MRI's, but I don't like laying on my stomach, also hurts my back quite a bit. I have a simple bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction scheduled for the 22nd. of Jan., so I am relieved that at least I have a plan.....I have no family history so this really came as a big shock to me, but at least it was found early. Lets stay in touch...

Carla 

rascal-gal ~  I'm so sorry about your diagnosis, but you've come to a wonderful place for information and support.  Let me try to answer a few of your questions.  First, here is a link to a page within the informational section of this website that explains staging for bc:

http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/diagnosis/staging.jsp

In addition, there is a "grade" of 1 to 3, which refers to aggressiveness.

You said you are a bit worried about your left breast.  Normally, before you have surgery, your surgeon will order an MRI.  That will tell him and you if anything else is going on in either breast. 

You should be given total input into the kind of surgery you want.  After you have an MRI and you know the full extent of your dx, a lot of the decision depends on your future peace of mind.  Some women prefer to do a bi-lat mx immediately.  Others are comfortable going with a lumpectomy or a single mx.  The choice will always be yours, and there are several threads on these boards where women discuss their choices.

As far as being calm, I'm going to venture a guess in your case that some of it is maturity (you sound very level headed), but some of it is probably your natural defenses protecting you.  Don't be surprised if you have some emotional days ahead.  Some describe it as an emotional roller coaster -- one day you're feeling strong and just fine with the dx, and the next day you're having a meltdown.  It's all very normal.

Hope some of this helps a bit.  You've already figured out something very important, which is to cross each bridge when you come to it, and that should be a huge help to you now.  Please keep posting and let us know how you're doing and what other info' you need.    Deanna

Hi Rascal, Had my MRI this morning. Not as bad as I expected.I didn't notice the dye when they said it was time to start it. Entire MRI took about an hour. I decided to do the more aggresive approach because I don not do well with "what if's" I would always worry about what could be. I understand about the dogs. I have a great dane and will put him in the kennel for a few days while I am at the hospital. Too much for my kids,7..12..15 to remember to feed and walk believe it or not. I have always kenneled my dogs. I think it worse for us than them. They come home like they just left 5 minutes ago. Maybe you should talk to your kids. They are definitely old enough to understand, and most likely will rally around you. Support is so important. I don't like to ask anyone for help, but I feel like I should try it for a while..It's not so bad!! Let me know how everything goes..

Carla 

my sister has been diagnosed on Monday with stage II breast cancer. She is 45 years old. I don't know how to help her, she is leaving in Romania and I am leaving in Germany.

Since almost one year she is seeing several doctors to check what she may have. She had a mamografy done at the end of 2007 and the doctors told her that she has a chist and the biggest one is ~1 cm large. Last November, she was going to an oncolog, showing him the mamografy and he told her that she needs a surgery, which she had in December. He just touched her breast and made the diagnosis. After he took off the "shell "~ 2 cm, he found out that acctually is cancer and it seems that it was developed fast in her body. Today he told her that she has to go through another surgery, but again no other check, no X-ray, MRI or whatever test. When asking if she may need to go fur further investigation he just simply said: you can go wherever you want and thay can interpretate also the results. How he can be sure that the cancer is localised and what treatment she may need to pass over as the only results which he has is out of the shell which he took it off?

I am afraid that I will loose time if I will wait to find somebody in Germany to check and treat her and I am also afraid that the decision of this doctor is only based on very few tests and he may be wrong. (even if she insisted to have an x-ray to gain more confidence)... What I also understood is possible that if she is comming here in Germany, the doctors here will not have acces to the "shell" which was extracted in Romania? What to do?

Hi, raj417 ~  So sorry you're joining the club none of us ever wanted to be in, but you've come to the best place there is for information and support.  To answer your question, I could be wrong, but I don't believe there is any absolute correlation between the size of your lesion and if it has spread.  Obviously, the smaller the tumor, the less likely it has spread; but, like you, mine was too small to have shown up on last year's mammogram, yet had already made it to 1 node.   One of the path components to be aware of is "Grade," which will be 1, 2 or 3, and indicates aggressiveness.  But, until they have all the results from all of your various tests, it's hard to start guessing ahead about treatment recommendations.  I know the wait can be agonizing, but it's good you're aware not to count on anything until its in black & white in a path report. I'd gotten totally blindsided when my SN was called clear in the OR, yet the path showed it wasn't.

MaryEV ~  I was just looking back through a couple of pages here, and see I missed responding directly to you because I hadn't been on this particular thread for a few days after one of your first posts.  I see in other posts that you have surgery scheduled now, and I just wanted to send you my best and tell you I'm sorry I didn't see your post earlier.  Sometimes my DH gets frustrated with me being on here so much.  In fact, this morning, he wondered aloud if he needed to get tattoo'd with Control, Alt & Delete, to get some attention!  But, I so remember the blur and fear of being dx'd, and I just want to be here when I can to assure those of you just starting the journey that you will get through it.      Deanna

thanks for the quick reply...meeting radiologist tomorrow, but a little confused what will be accomplished there without having had the SNBiopsy...hoping he will have MRI results to add one more piece to the puzzle.  To clarify what you said about grade, I'm guessing I won't have this info until all tests are complete?? 

I was diagnosed on Jan. 9, 2009.  I've had less than 2 weeks to let all of "this" to soak in.  I still have moments that I feel like the doctors, my friends, and my family are talking about someone else.  It can't really be me, right? 

My lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy is scheduled for tomorrow morning, Tuesday, Jan 20, 2009. (3 days before my 38th birthday)  Up to now, I've handled my emotions OK, I guess, but I'm really starting to feel scared.  The fact that we still don't know if the cancer has spread anywhere outside of my breast, is the unknown that is really testing my faith.  After this surgery, I hope my doctors know enough that we can start moving forward and be done with the dignostic stuff. 

I discovered this site shortly after my diagnosis.  I've been wanting to write for several days, but I just wasn't confident enough to do it.  I appreciate the strength that this site has already given me and the strength and hope it will give me as I move on.

Hi,

I was diagnose yesterday with idc. Have 2 lumps which could not be felt on the other surface.

Did my mammogram 31st Dec 08. Had my Biopsy last Friday. Took my result yesterday.

One of the lump was ok , but the other shows DCIS. I am 44 and no family history. Married with no children. Did IUI and IVFs that failed, am wandering now if all the hormone pills and injections have contributed to my BC.

Doc says to do lumpectomy . They do not know yet at this point if my lymp node is affected till after my lumpectomy.

A 25 session radation is to be followed.

I was so lost and afraid and cried and cried yesterday. Today I felt calmer . I am still scared of the treatments and waiting for the next diagnose of my lymp node is worrying .

When i first got the news I felt my life has come to a stop. I just do not know what to expect next.

When I woke up this morning to the sight and smell of the flowers in my garden , I felt so much better.

I am thinking of seeking a 2nd / 3rd opinion. Do any of you ladies seek 2nd / 3rd opinion before moving on with the treatments?

~~ See 

Met w/rad onc today and this guy had the bedside manner of the grim reaper himself (I will be switching immediately).  Good news was that MRI is clear, nodes look good from what they can see on films, feel on exam. I believe formal Dx to this point is IDC, stage 1 (lacking info on nodes), Grade 3, ER-, PR- (which i gather is bad).  Rad onc is the first person yet to mention chemo - everyone else has said clean lumpectomy plus radiation is standard of care, so the mere mention of it has me over the edge.  I asked about the benefits of mastectomy over lumpectomy+radiation, he said there was no medical advantage to either - does this correlate with information you have seen/heard?  where should my panic meter be at this point - any idea?

hello - me too. do you live in the UK? That is exactly what my fx is.

Newly diagnosed (12-13-08).  Had mastectomy - sentinel lymph node biopsy 12-29-08.  Initial results negative.  After pathology, 1 positive for micrometasis.  Had lymph nodes removed 1-19-09.  2 positive, again micrometasis.  Chemo to start in 3-4 weeks after I heal.  Boy, am I hurting!  Today I have cried all day - why?  Is this really real?  I don't want this.  My mom passed away 6 months ago - I miss her.  I have a 17year old daughter and my husband who are very supportive.  My family (spread all over the US) is supportive too.  But, I just am not able to deal with this.

Hi, KathyAlex - I recently had a somewhat similar experience.  Please check out my post, "Micromets to Sentinel Node" which is under "Surgery - Before, During and After."  Several wonderful women were kind enough to forward website and information regarding micromets.  I am sending healing and positive thoughts your way - you have been through a lot lately, but it will get better, I promise you!  Please feel free to PM me if you have any other questions.

Take care,

Maria

Hello Childoffaith,

I am sorry to learn that you are now a member of our little (well, sadly, not so little) club.  You'll find lots of answers and support here from a great bunch of gals.  I will keep you in my prayers as you begin your journey with breast cancer.  I certainly understand your feelings of detachment and numbness.  I recall nights where I woke up trembling with fear in those very early post diagnosis days.  Don't be surprised if you feel overwhelmed by the speed with which things happen in the next several weeks.  It all becomes one big whirlwind!

I will pray for peace in this storm.

Hello to all, On Jan. 13th I had my second mammogram. I had one 5 months ago and they found what they called a calcification on my right breast. They said it was nothing but a follow-up mammo was done almost 2 weeks ago. I then had clusters of them 6 spots to be exact. Was then sent to a surgeon on the 20th then had a lumpectomy on thursday and a weird brown spot I have had under my right breast about the size of a nichol with a brown mole coming out of the middle of it had the whole spot removed also. I have had the brown spot for about 25 yrs thinking it was a birth mark and has been growing bigger the older I got. My doc. has seen it and said to take pictures and see if it changes and of course I have and it has changed. Anyway, I have my appt. tomorrow to find out the results from the surgeon. He has told my husband everything looked really good after the surgrey and he got everything. He was very positive it was nothing to worry about. So why am I worrying? He did not say anything to him about radiation or medication or nothing is that all good or what? I guess I will wait until tomorrow right. Will let everyone know what happens. By the way I am 46 yrs old and NO family history of BC.