Just diagnosed and scared.

Hi Angi.

I'm sorry you're having to join this group but happy to tell you that you'll find a lot of support and information from these very informative and caring women. I'm sorry I don't have any specific advice for you, but can definitely empathize about the waiting...isn't it just the worst? I'm assuming your results are from a biopsy...will you be having surgery soon?

Anyway, just wanted to welcome you and wish you well on this crappy, but hopefully temporary, journey.

Hi Angi,

Yes, you are right, the pending line means they are testing your cells.  ER+ means your tumor grows in response to estrogen, PR+ means it grows in response to progesterone, and HER2+ means you have a particularly aggressive kind that grows due to a specific cell protein but which responds very well to herceptin.  

You can have any combination of these, or all + or all -.  All -  is called "triple negative"

Given that your tumor is 2 cm, grade 3 and you are only 37, I'd be surprised if you didn't have chemo but then again, it's hard for anybody to say this early.  I know you want to know it all right away - I remember those days.    

You'll read a lot here that waiting is the worse, and it is.  Treatment is a piece of cake compared to wondering what is going to happen.

Tumor size, by the way, is an estimate.  They can't really know for sure until surgery. Mine was off and I had two more areas of invasion that didn't show up on any of the tests. They did know I had multifocal cancer though, so lumpectomy was never an option for me.

If you are ER+ and HER2- and they recommend chemo anyway, you can ask for the Oncotype DX test (if they don't do it automatically) which will give you an idea of your odds of recurrance and how much chemo will help you.

It's a given if you are HER2+ you'll be recommended for chemo. 

Keep us updated.  I know it's a really difficult time for you right now but try to believe me when I saw this is the worst part.  Once you get your treatment plan, you'll feel better.

Hi Angi...welcome aboard.  I live just up from you...Vancouver Island...in British Columbia.  This isn't a great way to be introduced but, "Howdy neighbour"

I was diagnosed in late December and like you, have IDC.  I am older than you (58).  I don't know yet if I am going to require chemo but know for sure I will need radiation.

I encourage you to listen to what all your sisters here at the breast site say as they really do have a wealth of information.  Do get copies of all your reports and start to 'drive your own bus'.

My sister (who is a nurse) had some excellent advice.  She says, "Don't worry about anything until you have something to worry about".  I was starting to plan my funeral as soon as I was diagnosed...even picking out the music.  LOL.  As it turns out...I now realize I have every chance of dancing to music at my grandchildren's wedding.

Try not to get discouraged...take one day and one thing at a time and look for how you can fight this thing.  I love the signature one of our sisters uses: "Never Surrender". 

Keep in touch with everyone and let them know how you are doing....we're all here for you.  God bless.

Make sure they run an oncotype test on your cancer... if you get a low score on that you will not need chemo.   Wishing you peace and health.   Tami

Angi - this is all very scary but the people on this board are an amazing resource as you can already see :>  They have helped me tons.  You can live a good life despite breast cancer...hang in there.  

Angi - Just  two quick anecdotes to encourage you.  I finished chemo in July and am doing great, but I'm 52, my kids are grown, my experience isn't exactly applicable to your situation.
BUT - a neighbor was diagnosed a few months after me. She is around 40 (I think) and is a stay at home mom, kids around 12 and 10.  I met with her and went over all the info I had learned about chemo and handed off my scarves and hats to her.  I've been checking in to see how she is doing.

So after her first chemo, I saw her out shopping. Then I heard she was out at the kids' swim meet. Then she emailed me after her 2nd chemo to say she was doing fine and was going to start back playing tennis in her ladies' league again!  It REALLY isn't as brutal as the old stories/movies make it out to be. Please stay encouraged. You may have some difficult days, but they pass and then you're able to live fully again.  You can do this!

In sisterhood and support - 

Amy

Angi, I was diagnosed with bc in October of last year and know exactly how you're feeling! I wanted answers "now" and felt things were moving too slow regarding next steps. Looking back, I now understand that my doctors needed to know what was going on with me before they recommended treatment plans and the oncology team need to be on the same page. My plan included chemo but fortunately, I was able to speak with a friend of my sister's who is a 7 year bc survivor (NED) and she told me that she "sailed" through chemo. That's all I needed to hear because I was praying for the same thing! And guess what...I am!!  People can't believe I'm going through treatment and the nurses and doctors are somewhat astounded with my phenomenal response. I sandwiched my chemo - 4 cycles of AC then lumpectomy surgery, followed by 12 more cycles of chemo, then radiation. When I had the surgery, my tumor was gone and no cancer was found in the lymph nodes they removed. God does hear and answers prayers!! You will do well no matter what treatment is decided on!

Hi Angi

I had been diagnosed with invasive ductal Carcinoma (Stage 2A/grade 3/PR &SR+/HER-).First of all don't be afraid , there are so many treatment available.I am finishing my six months of chemo next week , you can do it. I was scare to death, I am 45 years old and I had to work all through my chemo and I did(only a few days after AC chemo, I couldn't work). Every morning when I GET UP , I KEEP TELLING MYSELF I WILL BEAT THIS MONSTER , YOU CAN DO IT TOO GIRLFRIEND.Hanging there.Best wishes.

                                                           Shb

Hi Angi - I was diagnosed 2 years ago at age 40 and my two boys were ages 12 and 8 at the time.  I had to do 4 rounds of chemo since I had lymph vessel invasion.  I was treated at Dana Farber in Boston and their they have a social worker that we met with as a family and they gave the kids some books that were for their age about having a parent with cancer, etc.  Sometimes the kids might not want to talk with you about it and might feel more comfortable talking to a social worker or someone else.  When you find out you have cancer, you want it removed as soon as possible, but as I was told, not much is going to happen over a month or so.  I was diagnosed on 1/31/08 and did not have my surgery until March and my Chemo did not start until the last week of April.  It takes time for them to run all of the tests and scans, etc.

Stay Strong and come back often with any questions you have.  No question is a silly question.

Take care and keep us updated.

Karen

HI Iam Julie iam 47 yrs old and i was diagnosed on the 19th march after finding a lump/thickening in my left breast i thought i had pulled a muscle swimming but started to get burning and pain mid -cycle in my breast andother than the was sent along for mammogramme and biopsy which revealed i had idc and 4cm tumour although no nodes were palpable and nothing other than the tumour showed up abnormal on the scans i was offered a wide excision lumpectomy with radiation afterwards .i have just undergone surgery on the 30th march but had to have a total clearance of nodes as they were swollen and suspicious i was devastaed by this news as i didnt think it had spread that far and although really positive at first this really felt like yet another brick in the face i have to go and get results  and pathology report on friday(8TH APRIL) and feel just as scared as  waiting for 1st lot of results i have been told that it is strongly ER+ and it was a grade 2 but could be upgraded to 3 depending on node results.iam doing fine after surgery and although dont know treatment plan for definate ihave a gut instinct that this will be definately chemo and or radiotherapy and i know tamoxifen 5yrs after and although i am petrified of the tx i know i have to do whatever they say to give me the best chance .I have already been stronger than i thought i could ever be because at first i didnt know how i was even going to tell my husband and my daughter and mam and dad who are 80yr and didnt want to give them all this worry and turn their world upside down ( after all iam still their baby) but they have all been amazing and strong and i have a beautiful amazing family.They are my rocks ,and all you ladies and men out their with bc are all very brave ,strong beautiful people .anyone tell me how long chemo lasts and how often tx given and any tips and advice to get through this.love and prayers to all xx Julie

I was 65 when diagnosed with IDC , last year i went thru two lumpectomies, 4 rounds of taxotere and cytoxan, 6 weeks of whole breast radiation.  Looking back, I did just fine.  And I want you to know that i had heart disease, kidney disease, asthma, diabetes type 2 before treatment.  Recently I passed all my  follow up scans with flying colors, my tumor marker test was fine.  My mammograms are negative and the onc has me on the six month check up schedule now.  Thru the tunnel !  I was node negative but chose chemo due to the grade three path report.  I am ready to do battle again if necessary.  I have an aunt that survived two breast cancers twenty years apart and lived to be 88!  She had her first cancer at age 40, her second at age 60, and died of kidney failure at 88.  You be strong.  I've met survivors that are real warriors and i learned from them.  This site is a goldmine!

 I am advising you to discuss with your doctor what your treatment options are, but do not rest your decision on fear of the treatment.  The radiation for me was rough, I had a larger breast which required longer periods of time and larger fields of radiation.  The chemo was not pleasant, many down days, but never any nausea or death bed feeling.  Lost my hair, no big deal to me.  Got it back curlier and grey.  I think  your children will be the best motivation you have for making the best fight you can to conquer your disease.  Fight it, you can win.