scared w/6+ cm mass... is there anyone else?

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nhmommy
nhmommy Member Posts: 2
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

Hi there, 

 I am 34 years old, and just dx last month with right breast DCIS and IDC.  Grade 3...ER/PR- and HER2+ (at least for the DCIS receptors...they said they did not have enough tissue to do the receptor on the IDC and I was hopeful that meant that the IDC was SO TINY and they got it all out with the Mammotome...

 I was send for a bilat breast MRI with has revealed a "clumped" mass 6.7x6cm and a "spatter effect" of microcalcs (?dcis)  and ONE enlarged lymph node in my right level 1 axillary.  Chest xray was clear...blood work was normal...and no nodes are palpable...  Oh, and a healthy left breast.

So, they sent me for that lymph node to be biopsied and it came back...1/4 core samples POSITIVE....oh God...that automatically stages me at II, for now... 

 I am so scared...I have 2 young children, 8 and 5...I am scheduled for a bilateral mastectomy in a week and then depending on the pathology I will begin my chemo in early March most likely....

Although I am completely confident in my doctors and I know people have beaten this...but I need to hear some more healthy outcomes...I find so much comfort in hearing from people in similar situations...if you are out there please post..

Thank you and please post even if you just have some tips for me : )

 Sending you all positive cyber thoughts!

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  • gfbaker
    gfbaker Member Posts: 173
    edited January 2010

    So sorry you had to join us here. My situation had some similar points. My tumor was small, 1.7 cm but was in a lymph node, so I was staged IIa. I was able to do a lumpectomy but had unclean margins so 2 surgeries needed. My kids were 2 1/2 and 10 months and that was probably the hardest part of it all. What you are going to have to tell your kids is different than mine, but I can tell you that I was able to make it through 4 AC, 4 taxol and 7 1/2 weeks rads while being a stay at home mom.

    What I did to make it easier was to schedule my chemo on Thursdays, as my worst SEs were right away. I hired a nanny to watch the kids on Friday while I slept, then DH took over for the weekend. I could drag around the house on Monday, and was back to myself Tuesday. What I'm trying to say here is that you will need some help, but if you can get it timed well, it hopefully won't interfere too much with raising kids. There are some groups out there who will come clean your house for free while your in treatment, I think it is called Cleaning For A Cause. I also went to Dream Dinners and loaded up my freezer with good meals that required little more than turning on an oven.

    Good luck with your surgery and let us know how you are doing.

    Gayle

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  • Bugs
    Bugs Member Posts: 1,719
    edited January 2010

     nhmommy,

    I'm sorry you have to go through this crap.  All I can say is take one thing/one step at a time.  Right now it probably feels like all you are getting is bad news.  It will get better!  My tumor was 8.5cm with 3 positive nodes.  I'm a few weeks away from 4 years out.  When I was diagnosed, my son was 8.  I am a single Mom...so that added a bit of stress.   My son is now 12 and I plan on being around to rock my grandbabies...which he BETTER not give me for at least 10 years!!

    Chemo is hard, but do-able.  You can do this...just take it one step at a time. PM me if you have questions. :)

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  • lexislove
    lexislove Member Posts: 2,645
    edited January 2010

    Hi! I was diagnosed at 30 with a barley there 2 yrs old.....

    My tumor was 8cm!

    Huge. You can see my stats below. I did chemo,mastectomy,rads and Herceptin. Im now on antihormones.

    I was diagnosed over 2yrs ago, and so far so good. My life is back, and I feel good.

    If you need to ask questions or talk you can PM me anythime....

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  • Carmelle
    Carmelle Member Posts: 388
    edited January 2010

    I was 38 with two babes in diapers and that was 7 years ago. many many do well. We are all in the same boat and we are all individuals not statistics. I do remember the fear of that intial path though so hugs to you. Just put your head down and get through treatment. xo Michelle

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  • lexislove
    lexislove Member Posts: 2,645
    edited January 2010

    nhmommy,

    I remember something my onc said to me...he said, " Its not neccesarily the Size of the tumor, its what we find at surgery." Path report findings...

     He then told me he has seen tiny tumors that have been scary and big ones that are just fat and lazy. We asume Big = Bad. Its not necessarily the case.....

     Also, Herceptin is your big...BIG..gun.

    Just focus on treatment and finishing. Take care of yourself and ask for help if you need it!

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  • TenderIsOurMight
    TenderIsOurMight Member Posts: 4,493
    edited January 2010

    Hi nhmommy,

    Sorry to read of your recent diagnosis. I recall well being told mine when my children were 7 and 8, and the chill which went up my spine. I'm nearing nine years out now. I had a positive lymph node too.

     You write you'll have your mastectomy next week and then start chemo In early March. I'm just wondering if they might push your chemotherapy up, since it's so good at destroying micrometastasis in nodes and distant places. Seems like I would want that asap, given the positive node. 

    Incisional healing from a mastectomy varies, but my oncologist went ahead within two weeks and kept at it for six months (all because of the node). Then I choose to have radiation, a step which is controversial in stage ii, but I wanted to further sterilize my chest wall and the nodal basin which was positive.

    I delayed a prophylactic mastectomy to years after the first to quicken the pace to chemo. Reconstruction was done after too.

    Wishing you good wishes as you approach surgery. Check out the threads on preparing for surgery (what to bring, what to discard, how to lower risk of hospital acquired infection etc) using the search feature should you desire.

    Best,

    Tender

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  • ReRun
    ReRun Member Posts: 9
    edited January 2010

    Ok, here goes.  I am not a young mother.  I am a soon to be 55 yr old first time soon to be grandmother.  I was diagnosed with IDC in late December.  After tests the breast specialist wanted to perform a mastectomy next week.  I went for a second opinion to MD Andersen.  The surgeon consulted with the oncologist, which is something the first doctor did not do before scheduling me for a mast, and they both said the first doctor was "dead wrong"!  My tumor is 7x4.  So far tests are negative for metastasis.  New doctor has scheduled me for cat of my chest and bone scan.  Also having a port put in next week.  Some nodes "feel" inflamed.  Doctor said chemo first would target the cells in my body and at the same time shrink the tumor so a breast saving surgery might be possible rather than a mast.  He promised that I could be cured and that I would not only live to see my grandchild grow up but that I would live to see her get married.  Like you, I am petrified at the sheer size of this thing.  Would love to hear back from you all, Sharon.

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  • LINDAGARSIDE
    LINDAGARSIDE Member Posts: 345
    edited January 2010

    Hi ReRun,  I am also a grandma with 6 grandchildren (form 15 to 2 years old) and was also diagnosed in late December.  Like you, I plan on dancing at all of my grandchildren's weddings.  I have IDC and have had a lumpectomy.  I'm waiting for the results and if everything is ok, I'll not seek a MX.  If things are not ok, I really would prefer a MX.  I somehow do not like my right breast anymore.  Even my husband is angry with it.  LOL.  We both feel it has let us down and we are not partial to keeping it in the family anymore. 

    We go to the surgeon on Monday for an appointment to review the pathology report and have the terri strips (stitches) removed.  My right breast will know her destiny by Monday noon.  Stay tuned.

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  • nhmommy
    nhmommy Member Posts: 2
    edited January 2010

    Thank you, Ladies.  I really find a lot of comfort in reading your stories and seeing you on the other side.  I am really scared....sometimes it doesn't feel real....and I am really getting impatient waiting for surgery...1/28/10...

    I don't know if I mentioned this...they do not know my receptor status on the IDC component...only the DCIS which is HER2 + ER/PR- ...they did send the node tissue off for receptors... 

    Thank you all agian, and I might take you up on the PMs : )...

    Sending you all some more positive energy...especially ReRun and LIndaG...

      

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  • Joviangeldeb
    Joviangeldeb Member Posts: 213
    edited January 2010

    Hi, Nhmommy,

    I was 44 when first diagnosed.  I had a 6.5cm mass in my left breast with local mets in 1 of 3 nodes. (per pathology report, tumor in lymph node and into surrounding fatty tissue)  Went thru mastectomy, chemo and now on Tamoxifen.  I'm currently 20 months out of chemo and so far, no signs of cancer. 

    I wish you the best.

    Take care,

    Deb

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  • MelG
    MelG Member Posts: 23
    edited January 2010

    Hi nhmommy,

    I had just turned 41 in July 2003 when diagnosed with a 7.5cm mass, one positive node.   I was terrified, but now, nearly seven years later with no further problems, it almost feels like it happened to someone else.   My daughter was 5 years old at the time, I am a single mum and used to lie in bed at night planning my funeral and worrying about what would happen to my little girl.   She's now 12.

    The fear gradually lessoned as I moved through treatment and met and talked to others who had been in a similar situation and have come out the other side and are now living their lives cancer-free.  That was what helped me the most when I was wigging out with fear - talking to others and being reassured about the very real possibility of long-term survival.   After all, let's face it, it's death we fear when we receive this diagnosis.  My Onc told me "death is the least likely outcome".   I clung to her words.

    I too was scared by the sheer size of my tumour as it seemed that *everyone else* had much smaller ones.   When I found this website, I saw many positive stories about women who had large tumours and are doing great years later.  

    You have a tough journey ahead of you.   I wish you all the very best.  

    Mel G   x

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  • JanDun1
    JanDun1 Member Posts: 52
    edited January 2010

    Hey Nhmommy,

    Please know that what you are going through right now is the very worst part. The shock, disbelief, the grief. It is a grieving process to be sure. I remember wanting to crawl out of my skin somehow.

    My tumor was also 6+ cm. I had three pos nodes. 4 rounds of a/c, 4 rounds taxol, Bi-lat mastectomy and 6 weeks of radiation. I am now on Tamoxifen. Definately no picnic but I got through it and so will you. Cancer showed me how tough I could be, the love for my children brought me through it all. Now it has been 18 months since my diagnosis and am scheduled for bilater diep reconstruction Feb 2nd. None of us know what the outcome will be with all of this but look at how many of us are here! Look at all the posts! We all have different stories and there are so so many of us. But we are all still alive and making our way the best that we can. Have faith and good luck with everything. Just make sure you have a good team of doctors.

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