Joining the club...

I agree with Julie; it's scary to find out, but you're taking the bull by the horns and have a positive attitude... you'll be fine! You're right, the fact that it was caught early and DCIS is non-invasive really does make a world of difference. Anyway, welcome to the boards... this is a great community of many amazing women!

I'm 29 yrs old, 10 weeks pregnant and just like you I thought that having a healthy life, no smoking, no drinking, no over weight and regular exercise would keep me away form such thing. But unfortunately it didn't, I forgot a very important part on all this my family history. Even tho no one on my mother's side had cancer, there's two cases of BC on my dad's side (his sisters) and one of ovary cancer with my 23yrs old cousin.
Had a lumpectomy about a month ago, and lymph nodes were clean.  I've been diagnosed with DCIS, cancer grade I not agressive but the tumor had not clear margins, and because of my pregnancy it grew so much (from 6mm at the moment of the mammo to 2.4mm when removed) Radio is not an option  for me, neither a re-excision lumpectomy because of my age and because my husband and I want to keep the baby. So there I will go thru surgery again in ten days, this time will be a mastectomy Chemo will come later, after baby's delivery.
I'm trying to find all the strenght in me, I'm really scared but also hopefull that going thru this surgery will help me to be healthy and be here the next 5, 10, 15 and more years with my baby, my husband and family.

Good luck, Kate, with your plan of attack. My profile is similar to yours in that I have no family history, never took birth control or any hormone meds, and breast fed our children, but I'm in my 40s (youngish, I guess). I really do not know why this happened to anyone of us, wish we knew, because then we'd "stop" doing it.

When micro-calcifications were found during my routine, second ever mammogram, I, too, was told that it was highly unlikely it was cancer -- something like < 20% chance.

The funny thing about statistics is that the only one that matters is your own.

I did have genetic testing and an MRI before developing my plan of attack, BS just thought these were good ideas and my head was spinning too fast to disagree with him. Thankfully (!!!) both came back fine, and I proceeded with the lumpectomy and rads option (rather than mastectomy, or had genetics said I had BRCA1 or 2, then it'd likely have been a bi-mast and later ovaries).

 BS thought it would be unlikely that my lump. pathology would be anything but DCIS, but I'd already dismissed statistics ever since first hearing that I had DCIS. So, yup, shocked but accepting when final pathology showed 1.75 mm of IDC, too.  That required 2nd general surgery later in the month to check sentinel node(s). Thankfully (!) the 3 removed showed no cancer.

Take the time to educate yourself, and keep telling yourself that it will get easier once you have the plan. Now that I'm a few months past active treatments (rads ended in April and I opted out of tamoxifen), I'm happy and moving forward, as you will, too. The mental part of this process was truly worse than the physical, and there are days when my mind wanders back to the fear and I have to consciously snap out of it. The women on these boards have been a godsend, so please do vent and ask questions and remember that you are not alone and you didn't do anything wrong.

Hi Kate

I am also new here. Just diagnosed after a routine mammo. I was called back for what appeared to be calfications.  Upon second view, radiologist gave me two options...wait 6 months and come back to check for changes, or have a stereo biopsy. I chose the biopsy.  Just today it was confirmed...DCIS.  Estrogen positive. I haven't seen the entire report but will meet with surgeon on Tuesday. I have an MRI tomorrow.

I pretty much could have written your intro-I have 4 kids also.  I don't homeschool but I can relate 100% to everything you wrote...down to the ticking time bombs statement.    I am glad I found this site; I am going to learn a lot from the great ladies here.

 As I figure out more about my own destiny I will share.   I hate to say that I am glad there are others in this situation but it does make me feel like I am not alone at this difficult time.

I am sorry you are experiencing the same issue as me, but I think we will be able to get through this with the support of family and the advice on this board.

God bless,

Margaret

Hello everyone.  My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer on May 7, two days before Mother's Day.  The BS called me with the news since English is not her primary language and I interpret for her at all her doctor appointments.  I kept the news from her until Monday morning so that at least she will have a good Mother's Day.  She and my father owned a small business and worked 12-hour days seven days a week for over twenty years.  They were retired just last year... 

To make matters worse, they also take care of my 39 year-old brother who has paranoid schizophrenia.  We kept the news from him since we did not know how he will react.  It may make my parents' lives even more stressful.  My mother breezed through her lumpectomy and expected only to need radiation.  We were all very happy that the bc was caught early.  However, from her medical oncologist's appointment last week, we learned that she will need chemo.  She had an Onco type score of 56!  Needless to say, we were devastated.  My mother has been staying positive ever since April when she first had the abnormal mamo.  For the first time in my life, I heard her say she was scared.

I don't yet have a question for the community.  Just a rant, I suppose.  We've been keeping her diagnosis from everybody.  Not even my husband knows that my mother was diagnosed with bc.  My mother will start her chemo next week.  I don't know how we should break the news to my brother and worry what his reaction will be....

DX-- 5/7/2010, IDC, 0.9 cm, 0/2 nodes, grade 3, ER+ PR- HER2-, Stage 1b, Onco type 56

TX-- TC x 4, every 3 weeks, 33 rounds of radiation, Tamoxifen 5 years.

[Edit] [Delete]

Katherine...I'm so sorry you have had to joion our club.....However, this is a wonderful place to some for support and real information.....We're all in your corner.

 I just read that you have tested negative for the BC gene, but that your other breast may have a problem.....So sorry to hear this.  Be sure to keep us posted.....

 God Bless,

Sandy