2011 Sisters

Hi there! I was also just diagnosed and I'm scheduled for a double mastectomy on the 9th. I had a biopsy done on my left breast which showed high-grade DCIS, but it's very large (9cm) and I have such a strong family history that I decided to have the double mastectomy and hopefully be done with it. I'm trying to stay positive, but it's hard not knowing what the final pathology will show. I'm afraid that it's going to show invasive cancer because the DCIS is high-grade and I'm Her2 positive. I'm scared of having to have chemo, but I'll do it if it means not having the cancer show up again somewhere else. As for the reconstruction, I just keep telling myself that I'll hopefully wind up with a nice-sized pair of perky boobies!

Good Morning, I'm Kymn 41 years old I was diagnosed on the jan 10 and have already had a lumpectomy on the 25th. It all went so fast my head is spinning. I am waiting to hear back if there is node involvment I will find out on tuesday. My docotor didnt even talk to me about a masectomy. From what I understand its under 2cm so all that was needed was a lumpectomy but I am feeling very nervous especially after reading so many of the ladies stories on this board how other tumours were found after more testing. I had a mamogram right before Christmas and then the did an ultrasound on my right breast and then a biopsy on the right breast. I had had that particular lump biopsied before about 7 years ago and it had turned up binine (sp?) so I really wasnt all that worried about it. I didnt even bring my hubby in with me when I went to get my results.Wow was I shocked!!! So now I am thinking well I have lumpy breasts to begin with what if all the other ones end up turning cancerous too? They didnt even do an ultrasound on the left breast and the city I live in is not set up for Breast MRI's. So with the advice of some of the ladies on this board I am going to insist they send me to a city that is so I can have a MRI done on both before we proceed any further. I havent even met my oncologist and have already had surgery is that normal? I too am so confused and just feel like I am going through the motions and thats it. I hate not having control of my emotions and never knowing when and where I am going to cry (crying in public is so embarrasing) I am scared to death of Chemo.

I am sorry all of you are in this group but I do look forward to getting to know you all and supporting each other down this confusing path. It is nice to have people who "get it " and will understand when our emotions flip flop all over the map.

Hi all!  Sorry we had to meet this way.  I was dx 1/6/11 (four days after I turned 36-no family history) and will have my lump tomorrow 1/31/11. My mass is 1.6cm.   I chose genetic testing first so if it were positive I would've had a mast.  I also had an mri friday to make sure there is nothing lurking in the other breast since I have dense tissue.  My surgeon's words were that if I hadn't found the lump and they knew where to look the mammo probably wouldn't have found it. Anyway, it's a very scary time right now for all of us but we can get through it.  I know that because of being er/pr/her positive, even though my mass is small, that chemo is in my future.  It is definitely an emotional rollercoaster, as I have been all over the place the last couple of weeks.  The waiting is definitely the hardest part.  Everyone says once you get a treatment plan in place, things start moving a little faster.......we'll see.

 Kymm-I haven't met my onc yet, although I know who she is.  My breast surgeon is my point of care at this time.  I had originally planned on getting a second opinion, but he was so thorough-one first visit spent almost 2 hours reviewing everything.  I was very comfortable with him going forward.  However, if you have questions, certainly get a 2nd.  You want to feel as comforrtable as possible with your doc.

1surviving-I see that you are from KY, I am too.  What part of the state are you in?  I am in Somerset in southern Ky but am having all my treatment in Lexington.

I will be keeping all you ladies (and your families) in my prayers!

Hello everybody, also very sorry to be meeting you under these circumstances.  I'm Carolyn. I was diagnosed with IDC in mid December and had a lumpectomy on 12/30.  No lymph node involvement and the tumor was 2.2 cm.  I'm waiting for results from the Oncotype DX and genetic test to see whether or not I need chemo.  Chemo sounds pretty awful to me, but I'll just wait and see what the numbers say.

 I also have macular degeneration.  It's pretty unusual to have macular degeneration as severe as mine at my age - 53 - but that was my inheritance from my dad's side (breast cancer is from my mom).  I have been looking high and low on the 'net to see how the BC might affect the macular degeneration, but haven't come up with anything conclusive.  My oncologist said he didn't know but would be researching it.  

 The breast cancer I've just been looking at as a pain in the butt, something unpleasant to get through.  Finding out about the macular degeneration and losing some of the vision in one eye was much more devastating to me.  Struggling with the idea that my body can/is failing me, I've already been through that.  Also breast cancer is curable but MD is not at this point.  

Sending good wishes to all of you struggling with this.  I'll leave you with a quote from my favorite singer, John Mellencamp:  "Life is short, even in its longest days".  

I'm finding it all really surreal. Got the diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma in my right breast on 1/25 or so & was VERY proactive. Fought to get my BS & PS & insurance company to work together as they are out of network & won that small victory. Got MRI & CT scans and all is clear which was a HUGE relief.  Decided to go for the double with immediate reconstuction (expanders). Hoping the nodes are good & I can just put it behind me. Surgery is scheduled for 2/7. It has sucked but at the same time I have met some pretty great people & I'm really trying to focus on the positive.....ie new rack!!

Hello all. I was diagnosed on 1/11/11. Stage IIa, 2.3cm, ER/PR+. Had a mastectomy on 1/25/11. Due to have my drain tube removed tomorrow, kind of scared about that. Haven't gotten my Onco. app yet but hope to hear soon on that one.

1. good evening ladies, well good news bad news i guess. good news they say there isnt any node involvement although in the report it says Lymphatic channel invasion by tumour is strongly suspected so i dont know what that means. Bad news all the margins were not clear so that means i have to go for more surgery. surgeon is saying another lumpectomy but i am just not sure what is best it makes me nervous that they took out so much and a margin wasnt clear. i am waiting to get my MRI done before i make any decisions though unfortunetly i have to be referred to Calgary as they dont do them here in Lethbridge . my IDC was 1.8cm and apprently i also have DCIS at least 1.5cm I dont understand how it is I can have both?
2. So i am feeling even more confused than before. guess I just have to wait for all the other results and the MRI and then take it from there.so happy i have all of you to bounce things off of during this time of waiting.
3. Kymn

Good morning ladies, thought this Friday would never come, need some time at home to not have to put on a smily face and show the world how strong I am . Just want to sit home in my Jammies and contemplate the next year of my life. I cant wait to recieve all info and just get on with it now. I requested the MRI and it turns out its not so easy to just get one in a timely fashion here in Canada.At least through the hospitals might have to consider going to a private clinic and paying for it which really frustrates me as I am going to need to be saving some money for any work I need to miss during chemo treatments. I dont even know how many days are needed inbetween treatments before I am strong enough to work. Guess I will just have to wait and see hey. Had a rough night last night, my DH was out with a friend kids were in bed sleeping  so noone around to be strong for so had a bit of a break down, full sobs you know the ugly cry lol well hopefully I got it out for a few days and can just have some quiet emotions for awhile.

Hope you all have a great weekend and do something special for yourselves

love and light from Canada

Hi all, hope your having some good moments this weekend I know they cant all be but we certainly need to enjoy them when we come and be thankful for them.

Melcapp that is really scary that the tumour appeared so fast, maybe its because your a grade 3 i am too and apparently grade 3 cancer grows quicker and is more aggressive than 1 or 2. Welcome to the sisterhood,so sorry you are aboard with us but it definetly helps to have women here who " get it " . I too feel very young Im only 41 and cant believe I am dealing with this but i have the scare on my breast to remind now daily that yes I am dealing with this. the chemo scares the hell out of me too. I dont want to look sick you know its easier to act like all is normal out there in the world when you dont look sick. I am not looking forward to the stares of people wondering whats wrong with me

Kickon2it I absolutley feel all those emotions you described. They change so quickly and without notice I feel so out of control with my emotions I hate it. When do you have your lumpectomy? My next surgery is scheduled for the 18th of this month they want to get it done right away as my cancer is a grade 3

Pasmithx2 welcome to the site glad you found it It has really helped me to learn and have somewhere to Vent without holding back what I am really feeling. I'm sorry you have had to go through so much already. I am so nervous that after this second lumpectomy the margins arent going to be clear again and i will have to have a masectomy also. You must have been so discouraged sending you a big hug {{{HUG}}}. Did you have a bilateral? I think if it comes down to it and my  margins arent clear again then I will, I think, god I am so confused.Where are you going for you holiday? I think that is a great idea to take it. I hope you have a wonderful time and just soak up every experience. I cant wait to have all my results in and have a plan in place it is so hard wondering exactly what is going to  happen to me.

Does everyone who has chemo have to get a port? where do they put it? does it hurt? how long after do you feel sick? did anyone work through it?

Hi fuzzy I just responded you on another thread thank you for the info. I am sorry your feeling nervous. Ii know I will be too before I meet my oncoligist too. I meet him on the 17th so i still have a bit of time to pretend I am not going to have to do this. I hope your able to relax the rest of this weekend, maybe watch a comedy they take my mind off of all that is going on.

love and light from canada

Hi Ladies

I was hoping I could chime in a bit

I was diagnosed in June (at 41) with what they thought was only idc I opted for a bilateral masect with immediate recon..huge surgery!!!.. When I woke up I thought " what did I do" BUT when my pathology came back it showed not only idc but ILC too and more pre-cancerous cells... so follow your gut and never look back!  The at surgery sentinel node test was neg. but the pathology showed a micri metastatic piece in one node, well that meant either radiation or axilallary node diss... went for the axiallary node dissection which was all clear! My oncotyes were low so that was good gave me achoice of chemo but said the benefits didnt outweigh the risks in this case, had another revisional surgery in nov and one more sched in april and taking tamoxifen

Whatever you decide I wish you all the very bst and know that we can make it on this journey!!!!

Tink

Hi All. I had fybroadema removed last august which was not a big deal, but at the same time, the surgeon saw something suspicious and took it out...cancer IDC, 3.75mm. Then, I went for a Sentinal Node, and result came back negative. I was very happy, althought they were going to give me radiation, I though that was it.  Well, my next mammogram at the end of December showed something in the other breast. So they sent me for a MRI. This one came back with cancer in both breast, and probably multifocal cancer in both....I already had a biopsy on the right side and cancer was confirm. This was my good breast....I am going for the biopsy on left side tomorrow. Either way, after talking with my family doctor, radiologist/oncologist and my surgeon, I decided to go for a mastectomy on both side. Probably before the end of Feb or early in March as they have to have the plastic surgeon at the same time. I am a bit scare, however, I am trying to stay very positive....