new to all of this

mareruss4 · August 2010

Hi ,

I was told in July 2010 that i had IDC grade 2 that my both genes where positive waiting on the H2r to come back. The plan was to go in and remove both breast and start reconstruction because grand mother had breast cancer and i in the past had 3 lumps remove never positive thank god. I went regular for the check this time there was no lump my tissued had change in size that how they found the cancer. I had surgry august 9th and was surprise when i woke up and still had one breast still there. when testing my lympth nodes they where positive so they removed all my lympth nodes and put in my port for chemo and put off reconstruction. I got back to Dr. next week to get final pathology report and to get a onacologist. I guess thats when you find out what stage your in. Just confused on everything dont know what to expect or what i should ask hate feeling dumb. They say I have to watch my arm now because i have no lymth nodes now. It does drive me nuts because I get burning sensation in it know. Any help would be appricaitated. My mom last year at this time was diagniose with pancrease cancer that has went to her liver and she still surving and im a fighter just like her.

rreynolds1 · August 2010

I'm so sorry for what you are going through and the waiting is the most difficult part. Grade 2 is not the most aggressive type of cancer. It is intermediate. They stage the cancer based on size of the tumor, lymph node involvement and whether or not the cancer has spread to other sites in the body. Don't know how they will stage your's because it sounds like you have not actual tumor. In my case, they did a CAT scan, bone scan and an MRI before telling me what stage my cancer was. The waiting was terrible but it is important to know what they are dealing with.

No matter what the stage of your cancer, there are many treatments available. Try to take one step at a time. Hugs.

Roseann

SpunkyGirl · August 2010

Mare,

I think I've found that the best way to deal with everything you are going through is to take it one day at a time. Some days it may feel a little overwhelming, it's a journey no one wants to take, but you can do it. You will find many incredibly supportive people along the journey, and you will also have some that will tell you gloom and doom or incredibly insensitive stuff (ignore those people). Come here for support, and we can help, because we've been there too.

I do have one recommendation on preventing lymphedema from occurring, since you don't have any lymph nodes. Make an appointment with an LE therapist and get fitted for a compression sleeve and glove. If you do have any problems with your arm (heaviness or achiness), he/she can teach you how to deal with it. It sounds like the burning sensation you have now in your arm is probably post-surgical and is normal. I also had a lot of numbness under my arm for months. It feels pretty normal these days (most of the time).

WE are here for you!

Hugs
Bobbie

diana50 · August 2010

you have found a great place to learn more about your cancer...what to expect...this website has great information on it. for me, i wanted to understand my disease...and treatments...etc. i am sorry you have to deal with this but it is something that many many women.,.,(and men) have had to deal with ,.....go through...and get to the other side. post questions and people will respond.

the beginning of all of this is very overwhelming....they are gathering information and with that information and decide how they want to treat your cancer. the most important part of treatment IS surgery..,.taking the tumor out and lymph nodes if they have cancer in them. surgery lowers the "tumor burden" on your body; after the surgery..the chemo ...rads...and additional treatment depending on pathology of cnacer is used to basically "clean" and "get rid of" any leftover cancer cells in your body.

ask questions; have someone go with you to oncologist....take a little notebook with questions so you can write down info. there are books out there on breast cancer..but actually this webiste is loaded with good information

take it one day at a time. rest and take care of yourself. hang in there hugs

diana

mareruss4 · August 2010

Thanks for your information it helps alot. I know its gonna be a journey full of up and downs, One of the hardest things is not being able to have my mom with me she lives in another state and since last year been do her own battle with pancrease cancer. Thank God im like my mother because we our fighters. But I have a wonderful husband and 4 great kids with me at home to help me out.

Marion

jenn3 · August 2010

Marion - I am so sorry that you had to find your way here, but the women here are wonderful, full of support and information. I know that it is all so very new and it seems overwhelming. Like Diane said - take it one day at a time. Try not to focus on the negative and take notes and an extra set of ears (another person) to the doctor appts. I know that all I heard in the early days was "you have cancer", blah, blah, blah, stage 3, blah, blah, blah, chem, blah, radiation, blah. Those extra ears and note pads come in handy.

When I was initially dx'd I wanted to know everything I could and practially typed my path report into google looking for answers. I was also focused on the number (stage) and my percentage outcome. I found that not focusing on the number(stage) or pathology report really helped me mentally. Once I walked away from those two things I was able to learn more about the chemo, what I could do do help myself and family.

Good luck and know that we're here holding your hands (in cyber space).

AnacortesGirl · August 2010

I'm sorry you are joining the club but glad you found us.

It's is sooo overwhelming! Like the others have said - one day at a time. You don't have to rush into a treatment plan with IDC so you have time to get a second opinion. I found that talking to a second onc gave me confidence that I was doing the right treatment plan. And your relationship with your onc is long term so you want to be sure you pick out someone who will work for you. Oncs are used to patients getting second opinions so don't be bashful.

At your follow up visit with the surgeon ask for a script to go see a physical therapist. Not only do they help with the lymph node removal and preventing lymphedema, my PT has done a great job keeping my shoulder and scar tissue flexible. My mom only had a lumpectomy but the scar developed webbing which caused the skin to stick to her rib cage. Once she got to a PT it was painful to get it loosened up. Would have been better if she had started physical therapy right after surgery.

new to all of this

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