Yet another newbie

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madpeacock
madpeacock Member Posts: 369
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

Hi everyone, 

Just introducing myself to the group as unfortunately I am a new member. Diagnosed Wednesday with IDC on the left. Still waiting on ER/PR and HER2 results and staging. I am scheduled for a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy on Sept. 8. I have an mri this coming Monday to make sure nothing else is "lurking" around in there. Assuming all is clear, then we will proceed with the lumpectomy and radiation for sure, with chemo unknown untl the rest of the results are in. 

I'm 48 years old - almost 49! - and have a 12-yo daughter and a wonderful husband for 27 years. I live in the 'burbs of Atlanta and work from home doing medical transcription, which helps tremendously to understand all of this new terminology they are throwing at us!

Big hellos to everyone and wish we were meeting under different circumstances.

Joanna 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2011

    Hi Joanna,

    Sending you some big hugs! This is a great place to ask questions, vent  and there is a wonderful group of women here to help you along the way.

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  • mommichelle
    mommichelle Member Posts: 191
    edited August 2011

    Hi Joanna,

    Nice to meet, wish it was under different circumstances.  I am 37 with a 4 year old daughter and a 6 year old son.  Diagnosed last June so I am through mastectomy and chemo.  It is so scary at the beginning.  Hang in there.  The waiting for results is truely one of the hardest parts.  That and making decisions about treatment.  Once a plan is in place, you will feel better and more in control!  There are so many wonderful ladies and men, and so much great information.

    Hugs,

    Michelle

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  • Bren-2007
    Bren-2007 Member Posts: 6,241
    edited August 2011

    Welcome Joanna .. I am so sorry you have to join us.  You will find lots of support here and a soft place to land.  The beginning is always the worst when you have to wait for treatment and get your pathology results.

    Wishing you the best,

    Bren

    PS .. I'm a medical transcriptionist too, and found it was great to work from home while going through treatment.  It made it so easy to work around appts and radiation treatments!

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  • Bren-2007
    Bren-2007 Member Posts: 6,241
    edited August 2011

    Joanna .. just checking on you today to see how your doing.  Will be thinking about you on Monday when you have your MRI ... hoping for good results.

    hugs,
    Bren

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2012

    Welcome, to the club no one wants to join, or welcome you to!  BUT, I always say the WORST was the first few days, after diagnosis.  Shock is not the right word, haven't yet found the one to describe walking around with no bottom under my feet.

    If it applies, make sure your surgeon orders the Oncotype DX test.  By Genomic Health in CA.  You can google it for details,  Analyzes the tumor, and helps determine if chemotherapy will help in your specific case.

    All good wishes - somehow, it gets easier once the treatment starts, and you have full knowledge of what your'e dealing with.

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  • catbill
    catbill Member Posts: 326
    edited August 2011

    Hi Joanna,

    Hoping for a good report for you on Monday.  There's a lot of waiting at the beginning and it can be so FRUSTRATING.  Hang in there and take one day at a time.  It gets easier once there's a treatment plan in place.  My best advice is keep copies of everything.

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  • madpeacock
    madpeacock Member Posts: 369
    edited August 2011

    Thanks everyone. Busy day today doing errands so not much time to just think. Still a little sore and very bruised from the biopsy - only one week ago today - so not really looking forward to lying on my stomach for the MRI Monday, but oh well - we do what we must. 

    @Bren - Just added a new doctor to my transcription service, so keeping plenty busy with that, as I am sure you know! My specialty is pediatric neurosurgery...used to transcribe oncology, ironically enough. 

    @sunflowers - Actually my surgeon is already talking about doing that. She keeps saying, "We don't order all of these tests for every patient..." - including the MRI - so I guess I'm special. Makes me wonder what she is expecting to find at surgery.  

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