DIAGNOSED TODAY

Dont worry too much You have A very common treatable B C. This is the worst stage..... diagnosis. It will get easier. Keep us posted.

Maureen, sorry you have to come here.  I am in the middle of my treatment too.  It is confusing and scary and you will find out that you are stronger than you ever imagined you would be.  Read this site and you will learn a lot.  Learn as much as you can - cancer feeds on fear and you fight fear with information.  Best of luck and hugs.

You are not alone ! You have a whole group of beautiful women here ( and some men) to be your support and friend. We understand your pain and fears... and everything in between!

Ta Ta Sisterhood,

Laura

Sorry for taking so long to respond but I have been on heavy meds for the past 3 or 4 days - I have lost count that I couldn't type at all let alone I was totally incoherrent and wouldn't have made any sense to anyone other than myself

There are so many wonderful women on this board that will be so supportive and help you out every step of the way.  Have you received a pathology report yet?  The information on the pathology report will assist us in helping you sort through your questions.  Don't hesitate to ask your doctor for a copy - there is no valid reason for him to not give you one.  I know some are hesitant because they don't think we will understand the terminology, etc and they want to explain it to you on their terms.  You shouldn't have to wait for your next appointment to get the pathology report.  I went straight to the mammogram center and got a copy of mine.  I was told the report would come out in 24 to 48 hours and I had it 48 hours laters.  Because of the report I was able to give the women here more information about my cancer and they were able to help me get through my anxiety attacks.

Also get some valium or xanax.  Believe me it will help you get through the process in a much more calm manner - just don't expect to remember everything the doctor tells you, write notes and better yet if you have a husband or friend, bring them along with you. 

Since I found out I had cancer I have lost all of my short term memory. I know it is stress related. I have to write everything down.  I can't remember from one day to the next what appointments I have, what time my horse riding lessons are, etc. (when I am physically able to ride).  I only remember to take my pain meds because I am hurting like hell from my SLN biopsy.  Not to scare you, it is not that bad it is that I have zero tolerance for pain and have been that way all of my life -other people get through it just fine, my body doesn't tolerate pain.

Hi Maureen,

I was diagnosed with infiltrating mammary carcinoma with ductal and lobular features which is the same diagnosis as yours.  Basically, your breast cancer is both ductal and lobular (I like to call it IDLC) which should not change your prognosis or treatment plan.  Most IDLC's are estrogen and progesterone positive which is a good prognostic factor and will mean you are a candidate for hormone therapy.  You are at the hardest part of your journey when you don't know exactly what you are dealing with.  Once you have a treatment plan in place, you will hopefully feel better.  I know you are scared but hang in there and remember we are all here for you.  I was diagnosed over 3 years ago and I am just fine.  Take Care,

Liz 

Hi Maureen,

I am sorry you have to be here, but this is the best place to be if you are in this rotten situation!

You are at the scariest part of the process.  The not knowing is the WORST! 

Hormone therapy is a pill you take every day for like five years after your initial treatment is done.  When I say initial treatment I mean surgery, and radiation or chemo if you need it. 

The bc I was diagnosed with was found at my first mamogram and I have no history in my family either.  There is no question this sucks!  One thing  you should know.  People are going to gang up on you and say be positive about a million times a day.  I just want you to know that its ok to be upset, scared and cry your heart out.  I know I actually felt like I was letting people down when I had bad days!

Get some nerve pills to help you get through.  Good luck sweetie, we are all here for  you!

Love

Robyn 

No problem sweetie we have all been where you are now and its hell.  I have lorazepam others can get vallium or xanax.  It really does help.  I don't know how I would have gotten through the whole test and wait nightmare without them. 

I know you are trying to be positive.  My husband would really get mad at me when I would be down at first like some how if I wasn't Polly Positive every minute of the day I was willing myself to death.  My husband is a wonderful man and he only would get mad because of how helpless HE felt through all this.  I noticed that my family has often done the same thing.  Now that the surgery is over and I am going through chemo and we are all pretty confident that I will be ok, they have forgotten about me.  WHich is great in some ways, but when they call and I am having a bad chemo day they will just say "oh well you can get through it"  which can make me CRAZY at times!!!!

Just know that you are handeling it the best you can and it is imposible to be positive all the time.  Don't put the additional pressure of trying to put on a front of being brave!   You are already a warrior woman!  Feel free to pm me if you ever want to talk.

Love

Robyn

Hi Maureen

I was in your shoes only a short time ago.  My surgery was on the 13th of Jan. and I was beyond anxious.  I asked the doc for something to help me sleep and it really helped a lot.  I am now 5 weeks out from surgery, feeling pretty good and now waiting to meet with the docs about my treatment plan.  The worst part of this journey, as some of our sisters told me, is the waiting and they are right.  This forum is a great place to come for questions,rants and raves, and whatever else is going on. Please let us know how you are doing after surgery.  Hope things go well.

((((((Hugs)))))))

Kim

Maureen, you're going to do fine!  But get a prescription for Xanex!  It'll help calm you down and we really need a boost right after diagnosis.  I sure did!  It's become my new best friend!  I had my mastectomy Jan 16th and don't need it as much as I did before surgery.

I had my first chemo Thurs and it went very well--be sure to have a port put in for chemo.  Before I lose my hair I had a 'wig party yesterday.  Any excuse for a party!  You should too!  Take some friends into the wig shop and have a ball, trying on different styles and colors.  It was fun and can hardly wait to get the one I ordered.  I'd like to get a 2nd one that's kind of wild.  I'm 60, but I guess I still have my wild streak.