Any September 2010 Diagnosis?

Hi Sunflower-

I was diagnosed the day after you.  So far I've had mammo/2US/MRI with dye/core biopsy.  I get my genetic testing back on Friday and a course of treatment will be set in motion.  I found my lump Sept 2nd, and boy has it been a LONG 6 weeks!!

Hi Sunflower and DivaJMusic - I am several weeks ahead of you, having been diagnosed on Aug 3.  I had the US and two core biopsies prior to lumpectomy on Aug 26.  I have written somewhere on this site that I was really surprised at how easily the lumpectomy went. I am definitely not a tough cookie who deals well with pain, so it was a very pleasant discovery. I had spent a lot (too much) time reading about people's experiences on all different sites and got myself quite worked up and anxious - I forgot to remember that there were just as many positive stories as there were bad.  I had three wire localizations prior to surgery and was most anxious about this but as it turned out, this was not a problem at all.  I had a lot of tissue removed - 4.5cm x 5.5 cm x 2cm deep.  I had no drains.  I took only one painkiller the night of surgery, moved to advil for a day or two and that was it.  In terms of function i the days following, I made meals, I went out, I just didn't drive or go alone as I wanted my husband to "block" my right side - that was my worry, that someone would bump me.

It was a few days before I had final confirmation, but even after surgery, my BS was able to say he was very confident that we had good surgical results.  Prior to surgery, we had believed it would be radiation and aromitase.  The one glitch was that my tumor size prior to surgery was predicted to be less than 1cm, but the pathology report showed some lobular features (this means some little legs) were discovered, bringing me to 1.5cm.  It changed the situation from no chemo to maybe chemo.

I had four medical oncologist opinions because when you are "intermediate" in everything, the decision really becomes yours and yours alone.  I had a "you really need to", a "I wouldn't have my wife do it" and two 50/50's. Finally, I requested an Oncotype dx - that helped me decide as oce again, I was intermediate. Once I made the decision, I had to choose between two regimens and went for the longer one that is a bit milder and MAY offer the opportunity to keep my hair.

I started chemo last week with more anxiety than I thought possible.  I read here over and overpeople say that it is "doable" and I can't think of a better word.  It is doable.  I am learning the "tricks" to get through it - wish I had gotten more fiber, for example

I will be happy to answer any questions you may have on here on by private message.

It is a long road, but I am so happy to have a road.

Neither of you mentioned your current staging....let me know how I can help.

JanetinVirginia - we are the same.  There was some dispute as to whether I was grade 1 or 2, so they went with the higher grade. Has your oncotype been ordered?  When I found out that added two weeks to the mix, I put in a request to my breast surgeon before I ever saw the oncologist.  I also am post-menopausal.  Locally, we dont get to see the ocologist until after the surgery, a practice I feel delays getting information.  It doesn't delay treatment though, as you have to wait for healing.

With my chemo this Monday, I have been a little zapped and nauseous and that has given me a lot of time to ponder the last two months.  A blur is right and yet I resent the downtime I now have during chemo recovery.  I have to remember that chemo is my friend and co-warrior.

Re the oncotype - had it not scored a 23 (15% recurrance), I don't think I would have opted for chemo as the risk vs benefit ratio was not that high before the score came in.

As for being nervous about the onc appointment, without exception, all FOUR that I spoke with were amazing people, docs like you don't see in any other area of medicine - you can feel their care and compassion.  

Take care!

Diane

Sunflower- Best wishes tomorrow, I am sure you will also be pleasantly surprised.  I did forget to suggest one thing and you may not have time today.  I really needed a good sports bra, no underwire and hooking in the front if possible, soft and cotton or jersey.  Wish I had remembered sooner. 

Let us know how you are doing!

Sunflower - rest & take care of yourself - great news on nodes!!

Had my follow-up this week, got my steri strips off mastec. incision.  No way they would have fallen off in the shower!   Was tested for BRCA 1 &2 (takes 2 weeks for results).  And went to first onc.  She doesn't recommend oncotype because 'unlikely' I would score high.  That bothered me all night - how can I know for sure unless they do the test!!  It's 'unlikely' I would have gotten BC - but I did.  And it's 'unlikely' I will test positive on the genetics but took the test anyway.  So I'm going to proactive & get 2nd opinion.  There are so few tests available - I don't want to leave any stone unturned and be sorry later that I missed something.

Hi everyone, I am 43 yrs old and also newly diagnosed. Sept 15th. A blur it has most definitely been. My diagnosis is ...IDC, Stage 1, 1.4cm, 0/3 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-.

I decided to go with Bi-lat masectomy. Just wanted it ALL out of me. I talked with a nurse the day after my diagnosis who said she just sees too many people come back with recurrances when they keep their breasts. She also had BC, 3 yrs ago, and decided to do the same. So, that just sort of sealed it for me. Its a very personal decision though, and I completely understand others who chose differently, but that was the way I knew I needed to go.

I had my surgery (never had surgery or been in the hospital for anything other then having my two children so I was very nervous!)  on Oct 4th with TE placed the day of surgery. My PS was able to put about 200cc's in each. I had very clear margins so the surgeon was able to spare alot of my skin. These things are SO uncomfortable  though. Can't wait to be out of them.

I go back to my Onco on Monday. I will find out about the results of the BRAC gene test at that time. (my paternal grandmother had one breast removed at 54 for BC and my mother did as well at 57-hers was a rare case of BC cells found in her lymph node but upon removing the breast, no cancer was found. She was apparently only 1 of 34 in the US at the time with that -17 yrs ago)

I already know I will have to do the anti hormones but have gone back in forth over the whole Chemo thing. From what my Onco told me at first visit, now that I have my diagnosis, I fall into the "on the fence" of whether I'll need it. She will most likely do the Oncotype test also though. I have the feeling that I would rather do all that I can NOW. So, if left up to me will probably opt to have it.

So nice to be able to "talk" to others going through the same thing as me and understand what I'm going through....at the very same time!  

Sounds like I am similar to some of you here on this post.  I am 48 and was diag with IDC the end of sept.  Had a left breast lumpectomy.  My tumor was 1.6cmX.0.9cm, grade 1, stage1. I am ER+and PR+ Her-, nodes clear and surgical margin clear.  I for sure will need radiation but when my Radiation onco called to give me all of my path reports he said I am borderline in needing chemo so he has ordered a oncotype dx.  I should have the results by the end of this week and the waiting is killing me.  I had myself convinced that when I got the hormone receptor test that all I was going to need is radiation and that may still be the case and it may not.  Is anyone else out there waiting or just gotten news on the oncotype dx test.  I have been trying to read up on it and it seems like a very good test to have and will really give me good % of recurrance.  I am healing pretty well from the surgery, I tried the sports bra as some suggested but it really iritated by lymph node incension so reg bra had to do.  I think the worst part right now is all the waiting, if I just had clear answers about my treatment I think I would be doing much better.  Also I was starting to have hot flashes 9 months ago and started taking a herbal rememby which the Dr's have told me to quit taking.  So the hot flashes and sleepless nights have returned and I am not dealing with lack of sleep very well either. What have others done about the slack of sleep when going through menapause? Would love to hear suggestions.

Oh and my range of motion is pretty good. SNB arm is worse (right). My left underarm feels completely back to normal (was numb). My right, SNB arm, feels weird. Numb and thick if that makes sense but hurts to touch it. I actually try to avoid touching it because it feels painfully prickly. Very strange sensation to be numb but prickly...and I don't like it. Hope it gets better with time. Oh another strange thing I noticed.....I am sweating (wetness) under my left arm but the right arm (SNB) is dry mostly.

Going from "health nut" natural girl, don't ever have need to ever take any over counter or prescript meds of any kind (and don't like to), never had a surgery to having surgeries and all kinds of meds and things is tough.

Hi Sunflower, yes I chose a double because of my BRCA status.  Being diagnosed this early I feel like I'm a fool to not do it this way.  Now what is it, like a 3% chance of recurrence instead of 60-80%?  It just seemed like a no-brainer.

I am however really freaking out today.  I got word that the hysterectomy portion of my surgery has to be changed from a laproscopic surgery to an open because of a fibroid tumor the size of a newborns head I have in my uterus.  I am SO geeked out over this I don't know what to do.  I am not one for pain and man oh man I know this is going to hurt.  "/  

Thanks sunflower, it's a week from Tuesday.  Nov 9th. 

ok, here we go

Not a forum I ever wanted to be a part of but am sure glad to find some wonderful ladies to walk down this road with. 

9-13 mamo

9-14 met with primary dr.

9-16 met with surgeon (happy bday to me LOL)

 9-17 needle biopsy

9-22 dx

9-27 met w/chemo dr

9-28 muga scan (heart)

10-4 r mast., 17 nodes removed, 13 cancerous

10-12 1st drain removed

10-15 2nd drain removed

10-26 PET "suspicious"spot on lower spine

10-28 bone scan, waiting for results

I am 52, never had a mamo, only had it to get the discount for my health insurance, haha! God really does work in mysterious ways. Primary knew it was tumor, called it spiculated, sent me to one of the best breast surgeon's in my area. Opted for mastectomy because I just didn't want to do radiation which was definite if I went with the lumpectomy. Surgeon thought it'd be fine since the tumor was so small, surprise! 17 nodes removed 13 cancerous. Would have had to have a mast. anyway since so many nodes were affected, had the sentinal node biopsy done during surgery, port put in then too. (ER+/PR+, HER@+).

 I have healed up wonderfully, went yesterday to get fitted for a boob and mast bra (most ins. will pay for this so keep that in mind if you don't know already) My breast surgeon was GREAT, my only issue with her was using old stats in saying I only have a 50/50 chance of making it 5 years. Remember, most stats are 10 years old, before hereceptin. Told me to "get my house in order, make my will" etc. My response was everyone should do that even without bc. I was a financial planner for 10 years!

Was scheduled for chemo the 28th but had to push it back until results from the bone scan. Praying it's nothing.... will have Taxotere, carboplatin, and herceptin for 6 sessions every 3 weeks, herceptin for a year, anti hormone for 5 years. I am in an area, sad to say, with a LOT of cancer so we have some of the greatest doctors anywhere. 

Anyone else up for any of these drugs? I also will have radiation, won't be till March or April.

If you get down, check out the forum "you might be a breast cancer patient if..." great to get you laughing again, and also the 5 year survivor forum is very encouraging. 

Someone here said  "way too many choices" and I know what you mean!