newly diagnosed. What's next?

Are you doing a uni mx or bilat mx, and what is the estimated size of your tumor?  Do you plan on reconstruction at the same time as the mx?  If so you need a plastic surgeon consult, as both docs work together in the OR if that is what you are choosing.  I believe that the would do your sentinel node biopsy simultaneously with your mx.  The remaining info from your biopsy sample will dictate the remainder of your treatment.

Feel free to pm or email me if you'd like

Sorry to hear your Dx.  This is a long journey and you will soon receive a lot of information (which at this point you will have no idea what it means or what to do).  Start off by breathing and writing down not only your questions but what doctors tell you.  This way it will give you an opportunity to digest after you leave their office.  

This is a great site to ask your questions or to vent (oh yes there will come a  time where you will just want to vent).

You don't have to really decide anything right this minute so make sure you get all the info so you can make the right decision for you.  I went with BMX and recon and it was the right choice for me.

Hugs and prays 

lucky penny - Confidence is one of your most valuable weapons - try to remain so as long as possible. My doctor told me to get a little angry too. For clarification, tumor markers are not related to ER/PR, Her status.  Tumor markers are a blood test that essentially measures inflammation and other indicators that therefore indicate the possibility of cancer in your system. They are not considered exceedingly reliable because a sinus infection or fibroids or many other things can cause tumor markers to rise. The ER/PR/Her status was part of your pathology following biopsy.  Typically, once you get the pathology report, you know stage, grade, and hormone status (ER/PR, etc.).  You might call and ask about that.  These things sometimes change post lumpectomy or mastectomy.  There are very good links on this site explaining your path report which I suggest only because that info may actually be there.

While we all have our moments, along with thousands of others, I remain fairly confident about my future.

Please let us know any way we can help.

I got the same diagnosis today. Surgery appointment isn't for 2 weeks. Hard to wait that long.

I had a BMX in December. I think part of the success of any treatment is your confidence that the treatment will work for you. I never felt comfortable with the idea of a lumpectomy. I read all of the recurrence stats and know that choosing a BMX doesn't really give me any better odds, but deep down I just knew the BMX was the right choice for me. I'm finishing up my reconstruction, and though there have been a few rough spots, I am very happy with the results.

Hi LuckyPenny,

I wish you all the best.  I, too chose bi-lateral mastectomies because I was grade 3 and I knew that I didn't want to ever have to worry about breast cancer again.  However, I am not naive, I know there is still a possibility of it returning in the future.  I just finished chemo 3 weeks ago and will start rads next week.  Having a mastectomy or not is a very personal decision, and I always said that I would have them removed if I ever got BC.  Again, I wish you the very best.

Min

Another reason I chose the bmx was because my BS told me I would not require chemo or radiation.  However, nothing is really for sure until after the surgery.  After the surgery, they sent the tumors to a facility in California for further testing to get an oncotype number.  My number came back at 29, which says I had a greater chance of recurrence within 5 years. Hence the chemo.  Then I found out I had to do rads because the cleanest margin was .2mm and it was up against the chest wall. 

I was advised not to meet with an oncologist until after the surgery, but honestly, I wish I would have met her before the surgery, because I wasn't mentally prepared for the chemo. 

Take care,

Min

Hi,

 I have a follow up question to my last post for recommendations of BS & PS in the NYC Long Island area.  Am I also supposed to be looking for a MO???  I am so new to this and have no guidance at all.  I got the dx yesterday from the radiologist and will be interviewing the first BS tomorrow.  Please help.

I am 39 y.o. and dx with IDC and LCIS in left breast with micro-cal in right.  BMX scheduled for Oct 7th with reconstruction with TE.  I have excepted the fact that I am going to lose my breasts.  I would rather lose them than to ALWAYS have in the back of my mind "is the BC back".  Fortunately, I have an amazing dream team (BS, PS, and Onco).  Met with my onco a few weeks ago and he said it looks like they caught my BC as early as early can get.  And my course of treatment may just be Tamoxifene.  I am praying for that.  But as you know things can change after surgery.  MRI showed normal lymph nodes and pathology report shows grade 1.  Anyway, I have done so much research since my diagnosis...my head is swimming with info.  I am praying for each and every one of you.

Nell - honestly, I started chemo because of fear and I stopped chemo halfway through because of fear and lack of confidence in it's value for me, personally.    Once I started, I can't say it was not doable, because it was, but I had time to look further and have more conversations.  I had four opinions - absolutely do, absolutely do not do, 50/50, 60/40.  One onc shared info about lumenal A, low ki-67 ER/PR, Her2- tumors that are non-invasive.  I checked NCCN and followed their guidelines which you only really see if you read the teeny tiny fine print.  So that is why I did, and then why I didn't.

AWESOME NEWS TODAY...BS called today with final pathology report...the cancer cells that were found in my lymph node was microscopic.  Whew...!!!!!  That so made my day.  So on to completeing breast reconstruction and Tamoxifene!!!!

Nell 2109  -  My MO ordered the Oncotype test on me on our first visit.....before I had surgery.  My score came as 25.....which is intermediate risk.  Becuase of that score, because of my family history and because of my age, we started neo-adjuvant chemotherapy the next week, even though I am considered lymph node negative via scans.  My tumors measure about 2 cm. 

wildrumara:  Neither my MO or BS requested a Oncotype test.  Not exactly sure why not.  I have an appointment with my MO next and follow up.