Just Diagnosed Today

Hi,

Welcome to the club nobody wants to join.  You have a lot to learn, but you'll get there and we'll help you.

You may have ductal carcinoma in situ, which is considered a pre-cancerous condition but still has to be treated.  However, you would not need to do chemo with that so if your doctor said chemo, that you likely don't have that.

You may have invasive ductal carcinoma, ,which is the most common form of breast cancer. You may or may not have to do chemo - even at your age.  There is a test you can take called the oncotype DX that will give you more information about how much benefit you would get from chemo.  That test is only for smaller, ER+ cancers.  If you are HER2+, you will definitely need chemo if your cancer is truly 1.3 cm.

From the time I was dx'd to the time I had my mx was 2 months.  However, I had "cancer soup" in my breast and we were trying to figure out how to save it.  I had two MRIs, as well as other tests until the multifocal nature of my cancers were revealed.

Please research - a mastectomy might very well be the treatment you decide on.  However, the disease free survival and recurrance rates are identical for lumpectomy as it is for mastectomy.  It is not more aggressive to take your breast off - they can never get all the tissue and you will read many stories of women having cancer return in their scars.  In fact, if you have a lumpectomy, you will have radiation, whichis also aggressive.  The common reaction is to "get it out of me!" but there are a lot of downsides to a mastectomy that you might not know about.

For example:  if you have implant reconstruction, you will have surgery every ten years as they have to be replaced.  After mastectomy, your entire chest and half your back will be numb - you will not feel any hugs or sexual feelings there.  

I'm not telling you to choose either way but I've seen lots of posts by women who chose mastectomy who didn't know those things so I want to warn you.

Sometimes though, people with multifocal, multicentric cancers have no choice but to have a mastectomy.  That's what happened to me.  I didn't want one but the cancer was too widespread.  So, prepare yourself.  

Aside from that, you can get through this.   It will be a long year, and many parts of it will be great.  Chemo isn't as you are imagining and even missing a breast has not upset me like I thought it would.  

I wish you all the best.  Lots of people are here to give you support and help you through treatment.  You are at the hardest part - not knowing what the details are and wondering.  You'll feel better when you have a treatment plan.

Big {{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}.   If you want to PM me, feel free.  

Hi! I am so sorry you have to deal with this. I was told in july that I have ductal breat cancer. I decided to have a mastectomy. I am 30 years old and my tumor was 1.5 cm. The reason I chose a mastectomy was cuz I didn't want to worry about dealing with breast cancer again even though there is some breast tissue left (honestly if the doc would have let me I would have had both removed). But I also felt better about my decision when right before surgery the radiologist told me that he sees a lot of woman chose a lumpectomy and even after surgery and chemo they are constantly worried about that breast. The surgery was not that bad. I was sorer for a couple of days but after about one week I felt pretty good. I was more tired and had to take it easy and rest more but pain wise felt fine. I started chemo the beginning of sept. This part has been a little more difficult. Again the biggest thing I have had to deal with is being tired. There are a few shocks with chemo. The biggest for me was losing my hair. In the whole scope of things I know this is minor and I thought I had myself convinced but it was still hard. Just remember to stay positive. It its hard at times but having a positive attitude helps. And on those days you are mad and want to scream then scream you'll feel better .(Please also note I am not trying to convince you to have a masectomy just giving you my thoughts on it). Anyways, I should be done with chemo in January and have my first reconstructive surgery in January and my second in Feb and should be go to go come March. I hope this helps and good luck. If you have any other questions just let me know. I know I wish during this I had someone to talk to who was going thru the samething. Take care

It's so tough in the beginning and I am sorry you are having to go through this. I was dx on Jul 21 2010, had MRI of both breasts, mammo of other breast, CT scan, bone scan, lymph node survey, blood work, and because of the results of the bone scan I needed a PET scan. It all happened so fast and I am glad it went fast. I had a bmx no recon on Aug 30 2010 so it was quick. I have learned from other ladies here that reconstruction draws out the recovery so I am glad I didn't get immediate reconstruction. But I am going to look into cleaning up the dog ears and the scars.

If you need chemo then you probably have the invastive cancer. I am surprised to hear they did not tell you what you had. After the results of my biopsies I was told I had IDC. So I got all the data quickly.

You'll get through this. It is scary in the beginning, I know. It is shocking. But over time it gets easier. Hang in there. Keep us apprised of your progress.

Mindy xxx

Hi,  I'm new here today.  I am Stage 1 (1.2cm), Grade 1, strongly ER/PR+,  HER2- (no angiolymphatic invasion according to my surgical pathology and SNB on each side were negative).  I will get my Oncotype info the day after tomorrow (scary stuff).  I had bilateral mastectomies 2-1/2 weeks ago with immediate placement of tissue expanders.  I have a little different experience with mastectomies than mentioned in other posts, but I guess everybody is different.  While I have no sensations where my nipples were, I have sensation all the way around the outer parts of both breasts, and my back isn't numb.  I can feel hugs.  (I chose BMX because I knew I would worry constantly if I didn't treat both breasts.)  No radiation for me, but we'll see what the Oncotype says regarding chemo.  I know Arimidex is in my future,  

Hi tsundermann,

I do feel a sense of relief after surgery, but I have to agree the waiting is AWFUL!!  And it seems like we do one thing, then wait, then do one more thing and wait again. UGH!  But I feel better as I get each piece of information.   I feel like once I have my Oncotype report on Wednesday, I will finally have all the pieces to make a decision on further treatment. I had the same problem with sleep that you mentioned, even after trying an over-the-counter sleep aid.  I finally asked my MD for something to help and was given Xanax.  It is a mild anti-anxiety drug that made me sleepy as well as calmer, but I do have to use it carefully because it can be habit-forming.  I think you could discuss the sleep issue with your physician.  No one wants to have you facing more testing and surgery, not to mention major life decisions, feeling dragged out and exhausted.  Cancer can be overwhelming, but each bit of information makes me feel less out of control.  I hope you will find the same to be true.  Hang in there, and let me know how you're doing.

So sorry you have to go through this. I was just diagnosed with a second breast cancer. But with my first, I was called back after amammo for a biopsy and they called the next day with diagnosis. I called a surgeon that day and saw him the next day. I had surgery the following week. About a monthater after I was healed, he made an apt. for me with the medical oncologist. I had six months of chemo and after that the onc's office referred me to the radiation omc. and I had radiation. after that my medical onc. put me on tamoxifen.

This time around it is a bit different because I already have my doctors so I saw each of them even before my surgery. The most important thing is to find docs that you are comfortable with and that you trust. I am very lucky as I have amazing, caring brilliant docs. And I didnt go looking for them or get second opinions, I was just lucky.

Ask around in your area and go to more than one if you need to until you feel its a good match. Good luck, keep us posted:)