If you have just been diagnosed....

Aloha--first post, as well.  I am 41 and also scared.  I was just diagnosed with breast cancer on the 22nd of December--"moderate to poor" which is a "middle grade".  I wont know more about stage/grade until my PET scan.  I had a mass removed last week that I found on Nov 30th.  Dec 2nd it was 2.5 cm, the following week 3 cm, and on the 14th when they removed it, 3.6 cm.  Lots of extra tissue came with it.  I am surprised my righty and lefty still look the same size (read very small breasts).  My only options are mastectomy with or without reconstruction.  As an adoptee, family history is limited.  Reading your post, I now wonder if I should be asking if a double is not something to consider--I had another mass (non-malignant) removed 2.5 years ago from the other breast.  

Sounds like you have a very busy life right now--my stepson's Sr year was a blur, but a great one.  I've already been told down time varies greatly, depending on overall health, weight, diet, support system and your personal 'fighter gene.' I would not wish this on anyone and don't even know you, but hearing another woman my age was diagnosed 24 hours before me and is facing all the same stuff is so comforting.  Thank you, Cimiche.

Just diagnosed on Christmas Eve. Stage 1. Don't know much of anything except they are 1.4cm and 9mm. Waiting for other news about biospsy and have to make appointment with surgeon on Monday. Too long of a weekend. Too much time to think. Good luck with everyone.

Good evening, ladies.  So very sorry to see three new i.d.'s here since I last checked this thread, and all of you diagnosed so close to Christmas.  Boy, what a way to spoil a holiday!

cimiche ~ As far as what to expect, the best advice I heard was a woman who said her surgeon said to plan for a year of treatment.  In some cases it goes considerably quicker, but for those who have surgery, chemo & rads, plus time to recover and get your strength back, figuring a year isn't unrealistic.  Not that you'll feel crappy the whole year, but the focus definitely changes from being the caregiver to needing TLC ourselves, which is quite an adjustment for most of us.

Also, as far as Diep surgery, I highly recommend it, but please be sure that the surgeon you're considering has extensive experience @ Diep surgery.  I can tell you first hand that you need not only a plastic surgeon but one who is also a vascular surgeon with lots of experience doing this type of reconstruction.  Don't be shy about querying a surgeon about his/her credentials, and also asking to see photos of their work.  If the surgeon you're seeing is experienced, chances are he already works with a breast surgeon you can also interview.     

Good luck to all of you with your pending appointments.  Please let us know how they go...  Deanna

Hey jloverwhelmed, What happens next depends on what your diagnosis(dx) is. What kind,what stage,what grade, er- or +, pr- or +, etc. Depending on all that will set your course of treatment. Do you know any of these things? Some are a lot easier to deal with than others. Thinking good thoughts for you. Leisa

jloverwhelmed, That's one of the easier ones to have (not that any are easy). I myself have IBC ( I know it says IDC in my tag line), but after I talked to my dr. yesterday they changed their minds AGAIN. First it was IBC then it was IDC/Inflamitory,fast growing. I wish they would make up their minds. I guess for them, they consider it the same. So now it's back to IBC. I had to have chemo first (12 weeks). Last one was New Years Eve, or so I thought. They told me yesterday that I will be taking another kind of chemo before surgery. Surgery was originally scheduled for January, now it will be pushed back to April. I trust my dr. completely. Everything they have done has made me better so what ever they want, I'm game for. Good luck to you & I hope you get as good ateam as I have. God Bless and be strong, You Will Get Through This.     Leisa

ariesrottie,

don't let your mind go crazy, I was really worried about time out of work and how debilitating this would be but have talked to  a few survivors since and now have peace .  there is a list on the home page of questions that i found helpful,  get copy of path report.also have appt on Mon for surgeon will keep you in my prayers.  we will get through this ..... the fear of the unknown is the worse.. then you just start fighting and you will win . keep us posted    

Hello ootee, I'm not sure any of us are brave...you just learn to deal...and quickly. You will too. Take someone with you. Before hand, any questions you think of, write down in a small notebook. Carry it with you. Anytime you think of something, write it down. That way when you get there you'll remember what you wanted to ask. Thousands of questions pop into your head...then when you get to the appointment you forget...I know I did. I learned real fast to rely on my notebook. Every week I had new questions. Not so much now. Still every now and then. Good luck...God bless....thinking good thoughts your way.    Leisa

leisaparis and Deanna, Thank you for the reply.  I don't know about you but I don't feel like telling everyone I know I have breast cancer so this place is great for me.  I feel as if I'm in the twilight zone now. I've only told my three best friends and my daughter outside my husband.  I put off telling my daughter and my friends until after christmas because I felt I would be spreading a downer on their holiday.  I got the results of the needle core biopsy on the 22nd of Dec.  (Merry Christmas).  Thanks for the notebook idea because I think I'll be a deer in the headlights in the surgeons consult.  Both of you seem so knowledable about the stages and grades and that ER,PR thing.  All I know about my core biopsy pathology report (which I did get from my primary care doc) says Infiltrating mammary carcinoma-ductal type.  Total Nottingham grade 1.  That is in the 10-11 o'clock area.In the 4-5o'clock area is sclerosing papillomatous with moyepithelial proliferation component.  Recommend complete exicision.  I think (hope) they will do an MRI before they start whacking away on me, not that I want more bad news but you just want to know the whole picture.  That seems to be a hurdle in itself.  Like on leisaparis where they can't agree on what you have.  I guess only God looks after us. The other thing.  When I got on here, I was STUNNED to see how many of you are so young and have small children.  My heart aches for you. At least I'm older(67).  Just retired  in Dec. 08.  I have a confession.  I always felt I was bulletproof because there has never been ANY breast cancer in my family.  And up to now was very cavalier about my health.  I smoked up until about 7 years ago and ate whatever I felt like, had a sedentary job (off. mgr. for oral surgeon) for 20 years.  Not once in those 20 years did I ever call in sick. Not even a head cold. I have stayed slender(not because I worked at it), my parents both lived close to their  90's, never being sickly, so this is why this is so surreal to me.  In fact I've been downright cocky about how healthy I am(WAS).  It is the classic, it will never happen to me mindset.  I'm sooo sorry to go on and on but I was going to explode if I couldn't get it out.  I've  pretty much clammed up at home not wanting to discuss it with anybody. Hello, denial.  Thanks for letting me bend your ears.  All of you, are so upbeat and thoughtful and strong and kind.  I pray for good outcomes for all of you, especially the troupers who are still working outside the home and have children.  I can't even imagine.  Love to all, Kathy

Hi Barbara, I'm from San Antonio, TX.  I noticed you are from Arlington.  Is this your first post?  Mine was yesterday.  Everyone on here is amazing You said you already had your biopsy.  Was it by a radiologist in a needle core biopsy or by your surgeon or have you had more than one.  Why do you have to have so many meetings with the surgeon. Not trying to be nosey but I'm trying to see what is going to happen.  I've only had the mammo, ultrasound, then another ultrasound guided core needle biopsy, with markers placed for the surgeon. I have my first visit with the surgeon Wed. 01-06-10.  I am totally dreading all of this. Can you tell me step by step what you've had done and in what order? Do you know what grade or stage you are at and what the diagnosis is such as DCIS-IDC. I wish the best for you and the rest of you as well. Kathy

Barbara, when you live in texas, your a neighbor no matter what town you in, right.  Looks, like we are kind of in the same place in our "journey".  You know you are on a path but you don't know where it's going. Try to stay strong.  It is HARD to go around like everything is normal.  Sometimes you feel you are going further down the rabbit hole and we haven't even started yet according to some of these posts.  Let us know what your docs tell you and how you are doing.  You can let it all out here.  God speed. Kathy

I appreciate you all being here, good place to come and express feeling everyone  understands, hoping for answers tomorrow

Met with the BS today and got the path report. Infiltration ductal carcinoma (Invasive) Stage 1 grade 2. Suggesting that I have a Mastectomy instead of lumpectomy because there are 3 spots in the left breast. The right breast is clean. My feeling are right now that I would do both side so that I don't have to repeat this year after year. Any suggestion out there on having a double mastectomy, even thought the right breast is free and clear for now. I am so confused. I will go for a second opinion., but the outcome will still be the same. If anyone can help with this I would appreciate it. They said I need to met with a PS to talk about reconstruction. I think that maybe God intended me to be heavy the last few years because he knew what I have to endure...

ariesrottie,

I'm so very sorry that you have to join our group...  but this is a great place to come for information and support. 

I had a bilateral mastectomy, and there was only bc in the left breast.  But, my breasts were very small anyway, and the surgeon took quite a bit out when he did the biopsy, even though the bc was <1cm...      I also did not want to worry about getting bc in the other breast...  and when I had the reconstruction, my surgeon suggested that it would be easier for symmetry... 

But... this is YOUR decision.  I know that my family thought I was crazy for having such aggressive treatment, but it was MY choice...

Good luck to you...  I'll be thinking of you.  You are in my prayers, dear.  Please post here regularly to let me know how you are doing.

HUGS
Harley

I had appointment w/surgeon yesterday too.  Says he needs to get MRI first and will call after clearing with my insurance co. Oh wow, that could be awhile.  Sounds like hurry up and wait to me.  Says he do lumpectomy and radiation if nothing in lympnodes.  I'm like you, get it over and out!!! kathy

God bless you for showing your love and support for your wife.  Take a deep breath and know that there are many people on these boards who will offer you information and support. xo