diag @ 37 had bilat masect and just got path back

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nanadada
nanadada Member Posts: 76
edited June 2014 in Young With Breast Cancer

I was diag sept 09 had bilaterla masectomy 10/12. On Thursday i just got new about my pathology report that was devastating! At the beginning of this journey, my surgeon never told me i didnt need chemo but felt confident. My Path report: stage 1 with 7 nodes removed and the 3rd one testing positive, my tumor was 1.6 mm in size! how can this happen? my tumor was soo small and the first 2 nodes neg, how did the 3rd one get infected? Has someone here experienced this? I have to do chemo, im scared of the chemo! What side effects have some of you exp with the chemo and how did you cope. i have 2 kids, 11 and 6 and my 11 yr old is feeling IT already. im still real sore from the surgery and have to go back mon 10/26 for full bone scan and catscan. any info will be helpful

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  • lexislove
    lexislove Member Posts: 2,645
    edited October 2009

    Hi there.

    Sorry you had to be here, but the ladies on the board are wonderful!

    I was diagnosed at 30, I have been right where you are. Its scary...very scary. But once there is a plan with your oncologist things get better. Trust me.

    Chemo is no walk in the park but it is doable....lots of woman do it, you will get through it.

    As for the tiny tumor and 1 node positive? there are no rules with breast cancer. Why did I have a huge tumor,8cm, and no nodes? Just concentrate on doing all available and necessary treatment so that you can be around for your kiddies. My daughter was almost 2 when I was diagnosed, and she will be 4 on Friday.

    Come here for support!!!

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  • Lauren3
    Lauren3 Member Posts: 289
    edited October 2009

    Sorry about your diagnosis but I agree with Lexi, this board has been super helpful to me and I only wish I started frequenting it sooner into my journey.

    I was diagnosed at 32 when my son was 21 months.  I just finished up chemo and am getting ready to begin radiation in a few weeks.  It's all scary and none of it is pleasant but looking back the hardest part was probably all the waiting and not knowing early on.  Like Lexi said, once there's a plan in place it gets easier.  At least for me, knowing what I was up against settled me down quite a bit. 

    Hugs to you and your kiddos


    (and happy almost birthday Lexi's daughter!)

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  • nanadada
    nanadada Member Posts: 76
    edited October 2009

    I know with breast cancer there is NO specific direction, I just really thought that my tumor was soo small there was no way it would affect the nodes. I was wrong! Chemo does scare me , i'm not going to lie but i will find my way. did any of you have to go through the bone scan and the catscan and have to go back for more removal of nodes? Also does the chemo make you sick right away or does it happen days later? i wanted to know so i can schedule my days

    Thanks again

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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited October 2009

    I'm in same boat, surg really thought nodes would be neg, with 1.4, and was possibly pos.

    I wish these surgeons would be careful about expectations, after big op not a good time for let down.

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  • lexislove
    lexislove Member Posts: 2,645
    edited October 2009

    everyone handles the side effects of chemo different. There are woman who work through chemo and others,like myself, that were sick.

    For ME, I would do my chemo infusion and then the next day I would feel crappy. It would last maybe 3-5 days. Different chemo drugs have different side effects, you will get all that info from your oncs nurse.

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  • Lauren3
    Lauren3 Member Posts: 289
    edited October 2009

    My CAT and bonescans didn't show anything in the nodes and my surgeon seemed fairly confident the nodes were clear, yet I had 4 positive nodes.  So frustrating, I know.  The good news for me was that the tumor was 1/3 the size we originally thought.  Strange, but I was glad to hear it anyway.

    For me, I started to feel bad from chemo right away, but not too bad until about 2 days later once I had gotten my Nulasta shot (and the steriods wore off).  Only a couple of really bad days but I tried to have help with my son for about a week after Tx.  But, I made it through!!!  Also, for me, each chemo was a little different.  The first was the worst and the second was the easiest.  #3-6 were all somewhere in between.

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  • lovinmomma
    lovinmomma Member Posts: 1,879
    edited October 2009

    I am sorry. I got diagnosed at age 41 and I had chemo right away. I had kids your kids ages at that time and they did good. I did my chemo while they were at school and was back before they got home. You can do it. We are hear for you!

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  • cellardoor
    cellardoor Member Posts: 50
    edited October 2009

    There really isn't anything I can say that hasn't been said already. But I wanted to let you know that these boards have helped me greatly! I found that speaking to a few women here and other forums helped allay my fears of having cancer at 25. The other great resource for me was http://www.youngsurvival.org/ where they have plenty of young women going through what you are right now.

    Finding a medical team I was comfortable with was key to making my chemo bearable. My oncologist and oncology nurses helped put my side effect fears to ease and gave me whatever I needed to make the treatment easier. 

    I wish you the best through your treatments. Plenty of hugs your way!

    Katsy 

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  • GrinAndBearIt
    GrinAndBearIt Member Posts: 33
    edited October 2009

    Most of the women that I had chemo with kept their jobs, continued to work and did very well. I was different. All the rare things that could go wrong, did go wrong for me. My sister did fine on her chemo, I did not.

    But here is the secret. No matter what happenes with your chemo, you and your doctor can and will handle it. You may have minor side effects, you may have a couple or big ones. The thing is the new medicines etc., are going to get your thought this. Of course you are scared, I think we were all scared. You are going to make it. Also, that third node might have to be tested again. Ask them to test it again. Ask them to send it out to another lab. Just to be sure.

    I had no stomach upset at all. I lost my hair on day 14, that was the hard part for me. It's all back now and much fuller and thicker.

    Make sure you drink lots and lots of water. Your doc will tell you about that. My major problems were low white cell counts and big fat red blood cells. I had bone and foot pain, that was controlled by pain medication. 

    You are going to get through this...The cancer will be gone, the chemo will pass, you will get strong again and you are going to be ok. 

    You will learn about Vitamin D3 too!

    Once you meet with your oncologist, you will have a better picture of what is going on. I felt a lot of comfort after I met with her. She was great and saved my life.

    One last thing to think about. The volunteer in my hospital had a 2.5 cm tumor, 13 positive nodes and she is alive 22 years later. 

    I'm praying for you.

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  • riverview817
    riverview817 Member Posts: 30
    edited October 2009

    Just got my surgery scheuduled today, Friday, November 13th.... Good thing I have a sense of humor Wink

    I'm still waiting to hear about my FISH results, but I'm early stage cancer at this point.  I too get a little nervous about the path report after surgery because that really declares it...no more guessing.  I'm actually looking forward to it.  I hope you find some peace in having answers now you can get the right treatment.  That is how I'm starting to feel about this whole process...the more answers the better I feel...no matter the news.  I think as women we are natural "schedulers" and "taskers", so once I know what needs to get done I can tackle it.  I know you will tackle this too.  Best of luck and blessing to you :)

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  • rebetata
    rebetata Member Posts: 539
    edited October 2009

      Hi I am having surgery NOV.9 What is your FISH report? I am still new to all these abbreviations.

    Rebecca 

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  • cheers247
    cheers247 Member Posts: 270
    edited November 2009

    Hi nanadada,

    I had 5 mos of chemo, and 6 different kinds before my surgery.  Side effects depend on what kind of chemo you are going to have, and not everyone has the side effects.  Many chemo's cause nausea, low blood counts, and hair loss, etc., but each person has them to a different degree and at different times.  I think I had all of them, it was no fun, I have not worked since my diagnosis in April.  Lots of women work through treatment, I hope you can.  Much love to you!! Jessica

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  • Nordy
    Nordy Member Posts: 2,106
    edited November 2009
    I was diagnosed at 37 with a 3 month old baby. I did 12 rounds of taxol and 4 rounds of AC. Chemo is doable - not fun, but doable. My docs were right on top of nausea, but luckily, I did not have much of it. My best advise is to drink a ton of water (this was already given somewhere above), to eat what you can when you can (chemo is no time to diet - but try to eat nutritious foods if possible), and to try to do some kind of exercise most days of the week. They have done studies that show that women that stay active during chemo tend to have fewer side effects. I think this may be one reason why I didn't feel extremely crappy - not great, but just not overwhelmingly sh*tty. I tried to walk at least once a day - chemo infusion days were out, the day after was usually a very short one, then they would progress from there. You can do this. Neupogen shots were actually more uncomfortable than the chemo because they make your bones throb, but even those were manageable. Losing your hair sucks too... because before then, people don't really know that you are sick... I felt like once that happened everyone knew... but it is one other thing that shall pass. You will do just fine.
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  • nanadada
    nanadada Member Posts: 76
    edited November 2009

    thanks soo much, the encouragement really helps!

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  • georgiabirdgirl
    georgiabirdgirl Member Posts: 143
    edited December 2009

    Hey Nordy,

    It looks like I will have a similar chemo treatment to you.  I'm doing 4 AC treatments then 4 T treatments.  I'm keeing my fingers crossed for minimal symptoms too, because I have a 6 year old and a 3 year old.  I'm definitely going to drink water and make sure I get outside for a walk as much as possible.  Did you get the neulasta shot everytime?

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  • deannaprettyinpink-013008
    deannaprettyinpink-013008 Member Posts: 3
    edited December 2009

    Not sure if you are on facebook but if you are take a look at a new group just formed for mothers with breast cancer at

    http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=133866&id=127567573701&saved#/group.php?gid=230593901177

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  • deannaprettyinpink-013008
    deannaprettyinpink-013008 Member Posts: 3
    edited December 2009

    Hello not sure if you are on facebook or not but come and join a group please for mothers battling/defeating breast cancer!!!

    http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=133866&id=127567573701&saved#/group.php?gid=230593901177

    Deanna

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