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jampus
jampus Member Posts: 25
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

Hi everyone. I guess I get to join your group, unwillingly I am sorry to say :) Yep, have just been diagnosed with invasive mammary carcinoma, grade 2, and 2.5 cm which makes me stage 2 also, correct? I don't yet have back any other info and am scheduled for an MRI next week and surgery on the 28th. I've gotta say I am having a hard time being as strong as everyone keeps telling me I am, but I know in this day and age, with so many//all of you survivng as a positive peer group, that it is not the death sentence that it used to be. Not really sure of what else to say yet, I guess I need to wait for all the results to know the big picture. Just thought I would stop in and say hi.

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  • Faith316
    Faith316 Member Posts: 2,431
    edited November 2011

    Hi jampus and welcome.  Sorry you have to  join us, but you'll be glad to have this support system provided by the women on this forum.  Receiving a cancer diagnosis is really scary expecially at first, but once you have a treatment plan in place, you'll find that it is doable and not near as hard as you first imagine.  Keep us posted as you find out what treatments you'll be having.

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  • jampus
    jampus Member Posts: 25
    edited November 2011

    Thank you Faith 316 for the welcome. I am still only at day 2 , is that possible?, feels like an eternity ago.....since my dx. My first biopsy came back benign, so I had some time to hope there, but it seems the 1st biopsy must have missed the lump, the 2nd was done as U.S guided and so the picture changes. My biggest problem at the moment is the need to weep out of the blue, and as I go back to work on Monday this could be a problem :( I will get it under control but I am counting on you all for advice.  

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  • mommichelle
    mommichelle Member Posts: 191
    edited November 2011

    Jampus,

    Faith is right.  This is the scariest part of the journey.  Once you start collecting all your test results, it will get easier.  Hang in there.  Also make sure you are satisfied with your doctors and it is always good to get a second opinion.  Take someone along or a note pad to make sure you get all you information correct.  Once you have a game plan of how to kick your cancer's butt to the curb...attack it!  I went through it June 2010, did mastectomy, chemo and I actually find that I have had a few days where I haven't thought about cancer at all.  Things will get better!  There are so many wonderful people on the boards with a lot of good info.  Know that you are not alone!

    Best wishes and big hugs,

    Michelle

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  • WaveWhisperer
    WaveWhisperer Member Posts: 898
    edited November 2011

    Jampus, welcome to the best support group in the world. I'm a newbie, too, having been diagnosed 4 weeks ago and having had surgery 2 weeks ago. I can tell you that those first weeks, before surgery, are the worst, when the diagnosis is hitting you like a dark tornado and you just sit waiting for something positive to happen to get rid of this cancer. I remember the first 2 weeks, I could not sleep at night without waking up every few hours and thinking, "I HAVE CANCER!" I would cry whenever I was by myself.  I'm still waiting results of some tests to determine whether I have to have chemo, but I can tell you I'm now sleeping through the night and can go for hours during the day without thinking about this. I force myself to have "cancer days" and "non-cancer days," when I force myself not to think about it. Worrying doesn't help. What does help is knowing there are so many women here going through exactly what you're going through -- or who have been through it, days, weeks, months and years before.

    If you need to do something, start making a list of questions you want to ask your breast surgeon after the surgery and then after he or she receives the pathology report. 

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  • laurieloomis
    laurieloomis Member Posts: 43
    edited November 2011

    Hi Jampus

    How are you holding up? Any further news on test results?  I was due to have the port put in next Tues. and start chemo on Dec 8th, but I need to get through the liver tests first.  Scheduled for the liver biopsy on Mon. then wait and see what's up with that.  The waiting is the hardest part!

    The emotions are still up and down, but it's Thanksgiving and I have so much to be thankful for!  Wishing you a Happy Turkey Day and hugs.

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  • jampus
    jampus Member Posts: 25
    edited December 2011

    Hi Laurieloomis,

    I am doing well, thank-you. I had a lumpectomy on the 28th and except for some armpit discomfort am getting over surgery well. So far all the test results have come back positive (meaning good). They removed 5 nodes, all of which were clean, as were the margins, so no more surgery needed, thank goodness. I don't do too well with anesthesia :)  The only surprise was the size of the tumour. The US had suggested 2.5cm, the MRI put it closer to 2.1cm, the actual was 3.8cm. I see the oncologist tomorrow to decide on the next course of treatment. The surgeon is saying to expect chemo, just from the size, even though everything else looked good. ER+/PR+ HER2 - stage 2a, grade 2, 0/5 nodes.

    I hope this note finds you on an "up" day :) Hang in there....Have you had surgery yet? or are you going straight to chemo? Is it normal to do all the liver tests or do you have an underlying problem? I am not looking forward to chemo, but will do what is needed.

     Funnily enough though, I no longer feel depressed about this. It seems so straightforward nowadays. All the tests came back as good as they could be, so theoretically I am now cancer free, and am left wondering what all the fuss was about. I also am wondering if I am still in total denial? I don't know how to feel anymore. When you tell someone you have BC they respond with, "so? I know lots of women that have had it and they are all doing well", so it sort of makes you feel guilty for being so bummed out about the diagnosis, as though you are making a mountain out of a molehill. I don't know...but like you, and probably everyone else on this page, I'm ready to get on and get this all over with. The waiting is definately the hard part.

    Best wishes to you, hope your Thanksgiving was a good one, that your biopsy comes back clean, and you have as much of a positive chemo experience as possible.

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  • msphil
    msphil Member Posts: 1,536
    edited December 2011

    Dear sweetie, we are here for you and we know the pin and worry of the diagnosis, we have all been there, go on sweetie and have your cry and whenever you need to get it out But then I want you to have HOPE and become Positive and say to yourself "I will kick this thing in the BUTT, I will Survive this",I cried and then I went on to fight the good fight, with my faith in my heart I did it, I am now a 17 yr Survivor and I can tell you I had a fight, I was making wedding plan when diagnosed, I had 3 months, of chemo before the total radical mastectomy, with reconstruction, but my body rejected it and it was removed, and thenwe were married, and I had a few weeks off, then I went on to have the radiation treatment, and then 5 yrs on Tamoxifen,  God Bless You and You will be in my prayers, (Praise God).msphil  (idc, stage 2, 3 nodes involved,  

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  • laurieloomis
    laurieloomis Member Posts: 43
    edited December 2011

    Hi Jampus..it's been a while since I've been on the site.  The liver tests showed some autoimmune disorder unrelated to the cancer, PHEW!  So I've been taking meds to clean that up.  I have the port put in next Mon then chemo to start right after Christmas.  I'm feeling positve about the whole thing now(or at least most days, still have my down days but not as often)  We're trying to buy a house so that's keeping my mind occupied with happy future plans.

    I'm so glad your tests came out so well!!  You're going to do great, hang in there!

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  • Racy
    Racy Member Posts: 2,651
    edited December 2011

    Good luck with your treatments, laurieloomis and jampus.

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  • jampus
    jampus Member Posts: 25
    edited December 2011

    Thanks Racy

    Laurieloomis, sounds like we will be starting chemo at the same time. My onc said that as it was so big there really was no way to get out of chemo, she didn't even order the oncotype saying she would expect it to come back high anyway.Which concoction are you having? I am getting T/C, but no port. Also have to have the neulasta, heard that isn't too nice either.

    I have to eat my words from the earlier post though, as I realise I am definately NOT okay with this. It must have been denial talking Laughing Right now I just feel sorry for myself...

    Take care 

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  • laurieloomis
    laurieloomis Member Posts: 43
    edited December 2011

    Thanks Racy...I noticed you were diagnosed a year ago, how are you doing now? Any insight on the year ahead for us just starting out?  Hope all is well.

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  • laurieloomis
    laurieloomis Member Posts: 43
    edited December 2011

    Hi jampus...it's alright to feel sorry for yourself, I know I do at times.  I meet with my onc next week to figure out which meds, he's thinking adriamycin & cytoxin. Damn!  What is neulasta? I'm new to all this.  Take care

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  • Elizabeth1889
    Elizabeth1889 Member Posts: 1,036
    edited December 2011

    Neulasta is an injection taken 24 hours after chemo to help your body release white blood cells quickly.  It keeps your WBC's from tanking after chemo.  You may experience bone pain after the shot.  A lot of us found that taking claritin the day of the shot and for a few days afterward helped.  Ask your MO what you should do.  Good luck with everything.

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  • laurieloomis
    laurieloomis Member Posts: 43
    edited December 2011

    Thank you Elizabeth...I'll ask my MO about it...I really appreciate all the info and support!

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  • jampus
    jampus Member Posts: 25
    edited December 2011

    thanks elizabeth1889, I knew I had read something about the claritin but couldn't remember which thread it was on. I wonder how the claritin works? I have allergies but don't usually take claritin as I have high blood pressure but I think I will definately ask my onc about it.

    I wonder if you need the port for the adriamycin. I haven't read too much on that one as I won't be getting it, but I see you are ER/PR -, maybe that is why.

    Likewise for me, the support and info are needed and much appreciated. The family tries to be supportive, and they are, but there is only so far they can go. It is just so hard to come to terms with all this when you don't even feel ill. Frown 4 months ago when I found this lump I was on my way to Australia to visit family, how ordinary life seemed then.

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  • rachelvk
    rachelvk Member Posts: 1,411
    edited December 2011

    jampus - I'm glad to see you'e been finding support on this board, and that you have your surgery behind you. Good news on the results.

    If you're interested, there are some threads for women getting/starting chemo in December - both a general thread, and then for those specifically on taxatere/cytoxin. Feel free to check them out for info on side effects and more support.

    Wishing you the best. 

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  • laurieloomis
    laurieloomis Member Posts: 43
    edited December 2011

    Hi rachelvk...where can I find the threads about starting chemo in Dec?  I have my port put in tomorrow and start treatment right after christmas.  How are you doing with your chemo? Take care

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