If you have just been diagnosed....

Oh VVP and Dee - this is a absolute worst time for anyone who has had a biopsy of a diagnosis of BC. The waiting is excruciating. You can, however, use this time to arm yourself with information and information is power. You need to take some power back from the BC (or the potential BC). This "just diagnosed" forum is a wealth of information. If you scroll back you will find threads on "questions to ask your surgeon/oncologist/radiation oncologist".

Dee I can relate to you sitting there stewing until Wednesday. My ex-family doctor called me on a Friday at 3:30 and told me "you have cancer". When I asked her how bad, what kind she said "I'm not an oncologist' You need to call an oncologist." then she referred me to one. So try to get in to see one on a Friday at 3:45...right. So I had all weekend to wrap my head around having breast cancer but knowing nothing.

I am sure you can understand why she is my EX-doctor.

Just review the boards and write down questions for the doctors then ask them and don't take "I don't know" for an answer.

My prayers are with you both.

Deanna Thank u so much for giving me realistic response...Those hugs definitely makes us feel warm and cared...My younger sister also is BC survivor for 4+ yrs now...Father died of caner...

I am pleasantly surprised by the amt of information and support on this site...right now I want my appt moved ealiar so I can know more...

Barbara thank you...I wish and pray for alll...RIght now dont even know what to say, feel...Trying my best to stay positive and courageous...Personal family & friend's support is and will be there...Besides God is with me and my faith...Thanks and Hugs right back to all...

Much love

VVP

I am new here. I am still learning all the terms and abbreviations and still don't know what alot of it means. I found a lump in my right breast and went to the surgeon for a biopsy on June 17th. On June 29th I went back to the doctor and he told me I had breast cancer but that it was very treatable. He said treatment would likely consist of surgery (either lumpectomy or mastectomy) and then radiation therapy everyday for 6 weeks. I don't know any of the specifics yet. Tomorrow morning I go in for lab work, a mammogram and ct scan on my head. Then the following morning I go back for ct scans on my abdomen and chest. I am fortunate to have a large network of family and friends for support. I am here looking for advice and information on what I might expect each step of the way. Oh and I am 57 years old, married 37 years with 2 grown children and 8 grandchildren.

Cathy,

It was good to read your post. I would love to compare notes with you. I am a little apprehensive about the tests, only because the lump I feel in my breast seems so large to me. If it is limited to my breast then I think I can handle it. I just don't want to find out there is any elsewhere.

Deb

BarbaraA, thank you for your kind words...i feel like I am on autopilot at the moment.  Prayer is all I have right now.

Keeping the Faith:

Was hoping to see a reply from you today.  I know it is so scary, but having each other to share with and support and educate is wonderful.  Dlb823 ty again for the hugs and kind words. I have noticed how you are there for us all. I've always been told that I am a nurturing kind of person and for me that is helpful to me also.  Supporting someone going through the same feelings I'm feeling and fears I fear can only help me and the other gals (I hope). I can only tell you Deb we all have that fear that it may go elsewhere.  Try your best to keep positive till all the results are in and remember so many have beat this terrible thing.  I hope you will too!  Again gl with you tests. Talk to you soon.

Cathy

DLB823:

Yes, my surgeon said I will have a drain for approximately a week.  The lesion is very small, but very deep within the breast tissue.

I'm ready for this to be done!  It seems like it has dragged on forever, but it's only been six weeks since I had the mammogram.

Thanks to everyone for the welcome. 

Cathy, It's great to hear from you again. Today I had my bloodwork, mammo and ct head scan. The lady who did my mammo let me see the pictures on her monitor. She said she usually doesn't do that, but since I already know the dx, she would. The spot has grown quite a bit since the mammo last year. She estimated it is the size of a golf ball. I have no idea what that would be in cm or whatever. Had a little trouble getting the spot mammos of it due to it being close to the chest wall, it took several attempts to get all the borders in, but we finally did. The ct scan went pretty well, except that I guess I have small veins, I guess and she had a little trouble getting the IV in. Finally got a paramedic out of the ER and after a couple of attempts he got it in. She said she will get someone lined up ahead of time for tomorrow.

I try to wait for hubby to be gone or outside doing chores before I get on here. I just don't want to cause him any more worry than he already has.

Please keep me updated on your progress. I will try to get back on tomorrow afternoon or evening with reports of my latest ct scans. Not that I will have much to report. I am sure I won't really know anything more until I hear from the surgeon again. Thanks so much for your support.

Deb

I just wanted to thank everybody for your understanding and support.  I have gathered so much useful information from this sight.  Back to the doctor tomorrow for more questions and answers, and to hear his recommendations, next steps, etc.  I have been writing down questions in a notebook.

I guess I'm concerned about how certain they are of breast cancer even without having done a biopsy.  Is that alone a "bad sign" I wonder to myself?  I saw my pictures, and even an untrained eye like mine can see the obvious area and how different it is from my last mammogram (which, unfortunately, was in 2006).  The fact that the region is not completely uniform and black is what (I guess) is of the biggest concern; and there is a bit of thickening of the skin, and a second, smaller suspicious area.  So unnerving, but I am trying to be brave.

You are all my newfound heroes.  I will stay updated on your progress and hope that I can be as supportive of you as you have been of me.

Hi Rose- I dont know if your bc is agressive or slow growing, if its slow growing then waiting the 6 weeks you will be fine, they say that bc is usually growing for a few years before it is detected or found. and even then 6 weeks you will be ok, but yes, that sounds like a long time to wait, can you call your insurance yourself and get the ball rolling on this, that may help. Thats great you are going to a support group, i have friends that go as well, and they say it helps them alot. Did you know that if you call the American cancer society they wil help you too, they have a Look good feel good class that is i think once a month and they give you free makeup and wigs, hats, bras, prosthesis, i see you are not doing chemo, but you can go and get the make up and meet other woman there too, Its great, i went and got some great wigs, hats bras, all for free, this might be of some info for the other new woman on this site as well. I will say a prayer for you and hope you get your ins to go thru quickly, (((((((hugs)))))))

Debbie

I think, this is the right place to get information. Thanks for the link resources shared. Thy are really worth reading and informative as a begginer. I am looking forward to make more friends here and get more information.

Thanks

Rose ~ Since you already have a bc dx, I would hope that your insurance company would approve your MRI ASAP.  However, I would do as Debbie suggests and call them to voice your concern for a quick approval -- just so that it doesn't sit on someone's desk any longer than necessary.  I would also be just a bit of a squeeky wheel with whichever doctor's office is getting that approval for you.  There's nothing wrong with checking in weekly to ask for a status update, again just so that it doesn't sit around any longer than necessary because someone is on vacation, etc.

Jwatrlily ~  How did the appointment with the surgeon yesterday go? 

parkwoodcottage ~  Good luck tomorrow!   What  time is your surgery?  Please let us know so that we can pray for you especially during the time you're there.  Oh, and if you haven't already, you may want to check out the July 2010 surgeries thread (in Surgery Forum; Forum Index above), where you'll find support from others going through the same thing this month

Thinking of you all... praying for brilliant surgeons, clear scans and B9 biopsies...   Deanna

Hi All,

I met with the breast coordinator for to educate myself, and now I will be getting a second opinion on what treatment will be best for me.  5 out of 3 biopsys were positive for cancer,  they were 3 diff names of ductal carcinoma in-situ, basically all in the milk glands.  no lymph node damage, I started to write a journal and will be re-dedicating my life to God, the one true healer, the god of the second chance! to keep me strong thru this and stronger in faith.

Dee ~ It seems funny to say I'm so happy that your biopsy turned out to be DCIS, but that's a new reality we all experience with bc -- celebrating what other times would not be particularly great news, but that we realize could have been much worse.  I'm guessing the reason your surgeon is recommending a mastectomy is the size of the area, and the possibility that a spec of invasive bc could be hiding somewhere in the DCIS, which is a rather common finding upon final pathology.  Did he mention that to you?  As far as immediate reconstruction, yes, it can be done that way.  I had DIEP (from tummy tissue) reconstruction when I had my mast.  There are several types of reconstruction but not every plastic surgeon offers them all.  Do some reading about the different procedures beforehand, so that you will be prepared to ask questions about what is important to you, and not be led to do what the plastic surgeon may suggest based on his expertise or personal preference.

Hope ~ It's great that you are meeting with an oncologist for another opinion.  But I just want to clarify that an opinion from another type of specialist (like a medical oncologist) re. surgery isn't technically a second opinion.  For that, you would need to go to another surgeon -- preferably a breast (as opposed to general) surgeon.  You and everyone else will quickly find out that there are few absolutes in treating breast cancer, and that many times you will get different opinions on what to do from different doctors.  It doesn't mean one opinion is right and one is wrong -- just that you often have more of a choice than any one doctor may give you, so it's always a good idea to get a second opinion, if only to expand your knowledge and thought process re. your decision.  When I was told after my lumpectomy that I needed a mast, my original surgeon told me when I asked about reconstruction that it would be best to take care of the bc and I could worry about recon. later.  When I pressed her for the name of a PS, I got "answers" that revolved more around which insurance I had than my needs or well-being.  Thankfully, I got a second opinion at UCLA, one of the few places in the country where they do state of the art DIEP reconstruction.  If I hadn't sought out a second opinion, I might still have reconstruction in my future.  So don't ever settle for what a first surgeon or plastic surgeon tells you unless you are absolutely positive he/she is the very best you can find and you are thrilled with everything about their credentials and the way they interact with you.  JMHO based on my own experience ~   Deanna 

Cathy ~ That's a great question.  Why don't you post it as a new topic, maybe in the Waiting For Test Results section (click on Forum Index, above)?  It sounds like a question others who have experience with diabetes but won't see your question within this particular thread might have helpful input on for you.    Deanna