Newly Diagnosed IDC - What to ask?

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shelbyh
shelbyh Member Posts: 2
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

Hi!  I received confirmation of my diagnosis this past Saturday.  I'm 38 years old with no family history and three children.  MRI scheduled for tomorrow and appointment with physician this upcoming Tuesday.

My question is: Based upon your experience, what are things that I need to make certain I ask my doctor (other than staging, treatment plans, ER, PR, HER2)?  Are there things that you wished you had asked initially, but didn't?

Thanks : )

Shelby

www.tatasfornow.blogspot.com

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

    I would encourage you to watch the videos at Dr. Susan Love's Army of Women website at

    http://blog.armyofwomen.org/2011/07/breast-cancer-101-with-dr-susan-love/

    The information is excellent and helps you to understand the process and to make difficult decisions.

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  • deenah
    deenah Member Posts: 178
    edited August 2011

    I'm sorry about your diagnosis. I read your blog, and could have written what you just went through a year and a half ago. It is so scary, I know.



    First thing I would suggest is that you get a high resolution PET/CT with contrast. This will help determine whether or not the cancer has spread. You need that info before making any treatment decisions. Hopefully it will show it is localized. Some surgeon's want to do surgery first, but, if you don't do a PET/CT before surgery, and it has spread, you would be delayed in starting systemic treatment until you recover from surgery. Anyway, I am sure you are overwhelmed. Feel free to PM me if you have questions. I have been through the wringer with doctors, and have seriously thought about becoming a patient advocate to help newly diagnosed cancer patients navigate the medical system. You just need to have all of the info before making any major decisions about treatment. Hang in there! You will get through this and come out stronger in the end!

    Deena

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  • madpeacock
    madpeacock Member Posts: 369
    edited August 2011

    Hi Shelby!

    I'm about 3 days ahead of you with the same diagnosis and not too far up the road from you! Still waiting on some of my details and have a big appointment Monday to review MRI and make final surgery plans. Thank you for throwing your question out there for the veterans to see and hopefully share their thoughts with us. Have read part of your blog so far and I could have just stuck my name on there and have it read the same. Hug your kids (as I do mine) and we'll get through this. 

    Joanna 

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