If you have just been diagnosed....

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  • CatKiki
    CatKiki Member Posts: 2
    edited January 2013

    Maureen, they planning for a partial mastectomy since I have a discharge from my nipple. They are going to take all that area, maybe more if the lymph nodes are involved. I have a good surgical team who are very experienced in this area. My treatments will be at one of the largest cancer centers on the west coast. I am thankful for that since they take Medi-cal which is paying for my treatments and surgeries. I just want this THING out of my body.

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  • Maureen1
    Maureen1 Member Posts: 614
    edited January 2013

    CatKiki...so glad you have a surgical team that is experienced and makes you feel comfortable, that is so important. I feel that way about my surgeons too. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers over the next couple weeks as your surgery gets closer...hang in there, they will get it out soon!!

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  • ernurse17
    ernurse17 Member Posts: 1
    edited February 2013

    I'm new to this site.  Just found out this past Friday, I have DCIS.  I've already seen the surgeon.  He's got my biopsy, patho and mammogram films.  He's very optimistic and told me I'll be jumping through hoops for a while, but will come out just fine in the end. I'm just scared.  I have a 17yo daughter.  Her father committed suicide 2 yrs ago.  She and I are very close and the thought of her being alone just scares me senseless.  The surgeon put all this into a better perspective for me and encouraged me to keep taking those deep breaths... it'll all work out.  Looking forward to getting to know those who've been there, done that.  Right now, I've been told its Stage 0 with high cells. He's saying lumpectomy and then radiation will probably be my course.  His office has contacted oncologist and I'm waiting to hear back for appt. date.  I'm so happy I found this site!!!

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  • mamasixtaz
    mamasixtaz Member Posts: 319
    edited February 2013

    ernurse17-sorry to hear the dx but glad you are here..  Life is so unfair, I think you have had enough to go through.  I know as well as my dh had a stroke 7 yrs ago is disabled and on dialysis which we do at home.  Then I get my biopsy results IDC!  Having lumpectomy and radiation as well to start.  Lumpectomy scheduled in 2 days.  The worry and anticipation is the worst.  When you get a surgery date jump into the feb surgery thread.  I assume you are a nurse, so am I.  It makes it good and bad as we know too much.  It is all a head game as you wait. Try to keep positive thoughts as you progress through this journey.

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  • Maureen1
    Maureen1 Member Posts: 614
    edited February 2013

    (((ernurse17))) - so sorry you've been blindsided by this diagnosis - we know how you feel...and the fear for your young daughter's future in the wake of the loss of her father makes this even more difficult...Sounds like you got it early and have a plan to fight it, that's good news! However...I am a nurse too and I know how my mind races, some days... thinking of the patients I've cared for and seeing all the worse case scenarios instead of the hope and all the survivors...thank goodness you will find those folks here to keep you on course and share their wisdom and advice. Hang in there, (((hugs))) Maureen

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  • april485
    april485 Member Posts: 3,257
    edited February 2013

    (((Hugs))) To all of you who are recently diagnosed, I am new too. This is scary stuff but I feel better now that I have a tx plan. We are going to be ok! Keep the faith!!

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  • LouD
    LouD Member Posts: 1
    edited February 2013

    Hello Ladies.  I am the spouse of a woman, my darling wife who I love more than air, who was diagnosed last week with BC.  I lost my sister to BC almost 3 years ago.  She was an amazing woman and I know that it was only because she was diagnosed to late that she lost the fight.  My wife was diagnosed with DCIS with Comedo Necrosis.  Stage 0, Intermidiate @.7mm.  She has a number of risk factors, her mother had it and every Mamogram she has had in last 5 years has shown calcifications and fiberous cysts/masses.  I hope its okay with all of you for me to look in and comment from time to time.

    Us guys need to know how to best support our better halves through all this.

    Thank You

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  • akw942
    akw942 Member Posts: 1
    edited April 2013

    Hi, I have a good friend who was just diagnosed but she still knows very little. She found a lump and had a fine and core needle biopsy done.  The fine needs showed ductal carcinoma.  The core needle showed no atypical cells, no lesion.  We are confused.  If the fine showed malignancy, wouldn't the core?  No other info was provided as to size, type, stage, etc...

    Wondering what, if anything, a breast surgeon can tell us due to such minimal biopsy findings.  Is it likely she'll be told to get another biopsy?  Possible that it was a false positive?  Have done quite a bit of research and her appt is upcoming to see what the next step is.  Also wondering if it's best to get a second biopsy just to be sure of the results.

    Thanks.

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  • Hope64
    Hope64 Member Posts: 1
    edited June 2013

    Just diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma and having a mastectomy on the 20th. Feeling very overwhelmed with all the uncertainty. Won't know about what treatment I'll need until after surgery. Doctor said I have to wait for reconstruction. Does anyone know how long the wait usually is?

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  • Maureen1
    Maureen1 Member Posts: 614
    edited June 2013

    (((Hope64))) so sorry for your news...yes, you are in a time with so many questions and so few answers and a time of waiting, the waiting is the worst, I felt better when I had the pathology and had a treatment plan...it is normal to feel uncertainty and fear, we know how you feel, we've been there too...Each person is different so what happened in my case will be different than what they plan for you but the timeline for reconstruction will depend on what the rest of your treatment plan is and the treatment plan will depend on what the pathology is. I had a lumpectomy to start so we could get the pathology and treatment plan set up, then after chemo I had a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. You can have reconstruction at the time of mastectomy but my doctor wouldn't proceed with reconstruction until she knew if I needed radiation, so that's why I had the lumpectomy and axillary node dissection first. They waited a month after the lumpectomy to let me heal before they started chemo and then waited a couple months after the last dose of chemo to do the mastectomy and reconstruction - they didn't want the chemo to interfere with healing. Good luck with your surgery...I hope you get good news on the pathology and have a treatment plan soon...(((Hugs))) Maureen

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  • bsthomp1
    bsthomp1 Member Posts: 3
    edited June 2013

    I was diagnosed two weeks ago with Noninvasive (Carcinoma in Siti) Stage 0. Each breast was biopsied. When I sat with the doctor while reviewing the results I was asked to have yet another biopsy that same day in the left breast near the already cancer site. And had ultrasound on the right breast of which the radiologist said looked fine. Of course my options are lumpectomy and radiation treatments and also a mastectomy should I choose. I have read a lot about all options and the success rate with the lumpectomy considering I am at stage 0. But these are my concerns and why I am having a hard time deciding on what procedure to have.

    Breast cancer is in the family (grandmother), If several areas already looked suspicious, what are the odds that I would yet again find myself getting more biopsies and a mastectomy down the road??? If that's the case....I almost want to choose the mastectomy and not live in fear for each mammogram that will follow.

    Has anyone experienced this, choose one way and ended up with the later? Any comments?

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  • BayouBabe
    BayouBabe Member Posts: 2,221
    edited June 2013

    You said your grandmother had breast cancer. Have you considered genetic testing before making any further decisions?

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  • bsthomp1
    bsthomp1 Member Posts: 3
    edited June 2013

    No I have not, would you think the doctor would advise due to the history?

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  • lahela
    lahela Member Posts: 515
    edited July 2013

    Just got my biospy result this morning, ER/PR+ IDC. Just one tumor though, which is pretty good for my family (mum, sis and aunt all had 5 - 8), so caught nice and early (yay MRI!). BS and oncologist next week, then... well, I guess all will become clearer.

    But for now? I actually feel relieved. No more waiting, hoping, stressing. It feels kind of weird!

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  • goldenbetty
    goldenbetty Member Posts: 3
    edited July 2013

    I have invasive ductal ca, neg nodes, stage 1. Had first round of Taxol/Herceptin last Wednesday. Doing pretty good. 12 weeks of these two drugs, 1x a wk, then four sessions of ACH every 3 weeks, then surgery (lumpectomy) around Christmas, then hormone for 5 years. I was dx on june 12th. Glad to be on the road to recovery. I am very anxious about the second round of the other drugs called adriamycin and the "C" drug, name escapes me. Very bad side effects from what I have read. Any advice about those and how to prepare?

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  • grammaB
    grammaB Member Posts: 1,172
    edited July 2013

    Hi,

    I was just diagnosed this past monday (7/8/13).  I  had a mamo mid June and a call back 3 days later.  Then about a 2 week wait for the stereotatic biopsy on 7/3/13.  Because of the holiday I didn't get my results until this Monday. So dx is DCIS-MI, or DCIS with microinvasion, right breast. Apparently just a few cells have come through the duct wall. Grade is 1, the Breast Care Consultant said I am on the fence between Stage 0 and Stage 1. Estrogen and Progesterone are both positive. I have seen the surgeon already and surgery is scheduled for August 13.  What I don't quite understand is that further down the page on the path report ist says: DCIS, high-grade, cribriform type with comedo necrosis and associated microcalcifications."  At this point my head is swimming and I think I am still in shock!

    A bit about me.  I'm 64 yrs old and live in Montana.  My mother passed from bc so I always had this possibility in the back of my mind.  What was never on my radar though was Diabetes!  I was dx'd Type 2 2/2/12, total shock!  But I dove in and learned everything I could and today my blood sugar and A1c are on the low end of normal!! I plan the attack on this cancer!!  Because of my family history, I am leaning more towards a mastectomy rather than the lumpectomy and radiation.  I'd had a previous biopsy on the same breast, almost the same spot, but that came back benign.  Another reason for the mastectomy.

    So I am really new to all this, I would appreciate any comments from people that have gone the mastectomy route and the lumpectomy route pros and cons.  Thanks in advance.

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  • dragomirova
    dragomirova Member Posts: 69
    edited July 2013

    Hi,

    I was diagnosed back in May.  Had a lumpectomy June 12th, clear margins, node negative, highly ER/PR+.  Was doing OK, but now still awaiting BRCA and Oncotype test results after 3 weeks!  Has anyone had this happen- delayed test results? 

    My best to all

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  • PeggySull
    PeggySull Member Posts: 686
    edited July 2013

    GrammaB,



    I had high grade tumors--3(1-3, meaning 3 is high). I was negative for ER/PR receptors. Because of where my tumors were, I had to have a right breast mastectomy. After careful thought I decided to get a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction (implants). A friend of mine did the same and when her path report came back they had found DCIS in the healthy breast.



    This is the extreme decision but I like my implants (miss having sexual sensation in my breasts though). For the peace of mind it was worth it for me. Plus, I didn't have to go through radiation. I am 62.



    This is such a personal choice and I admire those who have chosen other options.



    Let us know what you decide and keep posting!



    Hugs,

    Peggy

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  • lalesoho
    lalesoho Member Posts: 1
    edited July 2013

    I was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 BC..and I'm not really sure...how I feel..I guess I have a little depression... I have no energy...I'm so tired...but on the flip side...I don't want to be a big "cry baby". I tell myself this is not such a big deal..but what do I do next...I have started hormone therapy for four months and then a lumpectomy and several lymph nodes...I'm not really sure about my oncologist. She seems so apathetic about the situation. I think sometimes I'm being too sensitive. Please someone help me out of this hole. Just need some advice. Not sure what to do about my FMLA for my surgery.. since I've exhausted my time. Do I go on disability? Or wait to get fired? Could someone offer a little advice to clear the fog. Thanks!

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  • peanutsmom13
    peanutsmom13 Member Posts: 7
    edited July 2013

    Hi everyone. Diagnosed 6/11/13. Triple Negative Stage 1a BC. Having lumpectomy & lymph node dissection with possible removal this Fri late afternoon (7/26) Scared s***less. Then I get to go on the RV vacation we've  been planning since March  --  Yellowstone NP & Zion NP & Kern (CA) River. Been told radiation is in my future probably Sept.Followed by chemo when recovered from radiation. I'm up one moment and down the next. Sudden thoughts of this is really serious s**t & I start to cry. Then I'll light up a cigarette [yeah haven't quit yet  :(   but cutting back ] anyway I'll light one up & telll myself everything will be okay. Aaaah who am I kidding? It's not going to be ok. The more I've been reading up on TN I feell like my oncologist whom I've seen only twice so far hasn't really given me the whole story/picture. Please give good thoughts out for me tomorrow at 3pm PDT. Power of group thoughts is proven to help.  Thanks everyone.

    DREAM BIG

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  • ChristyD
    ChristyD Member Posts: 4
    edited July 2013

    Well, I originally said "whatever will be, will be".  Well, it is.  DCIS and invasive ductal carcinoma grade II in my right breast.  I have my MRI Monday and will see two breast surgeons Aug. 5 to decide which one I want.  I spoke with the breast cancer navigator yesterday (wonderful, fabulous resource!) and we discussed the possible options.  I'm not big breasted and I'm somewhat concerned that a lumpectomy that attempts to get enough tissue around two clusters of calcifications will leave my breast pretty deformed.  So, I'm thinking a right mastectomy with insertion of a skin expander (sentinel node biopsy will determine whether I need chemo or not) and then later the implant to my right breast and a mammoplasty on the left to make them match for size.  I'm curious if anyone has done this, thoughts about that plan, etc.  Thanks in advance.

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  • ScubaSue
    ScubaSue Member Posts: 2
    edited July 2013

    I'm new to the "club". On 7/16/13 I was diagnosed with IDC, clinical stage 1, grade 2, ER+/PR+, and Her2neu +. Lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy is scheduled for 8/15/13. Likely course of treatment is the entire shit storm. After surgery, I'll probably get chemo, radiation, Herceptin and Tamoxifen.

    I'm only 41 years old. I've never smoked, kept a healthy weight and have no family breast cancer history. Still stunned at the diagnosis as I "thought it would never happen to me".

    From the research I've done it looks like the Her2neu positive result is not a very good thing. Who knew that a "positive" would really be a "negative"? Plus, being relatively young is apparently working against me.

    Sigh. My mom died of adrenocortical cancer seven years ago, so I don't have her to lean on. My lovely, perfect father is a godsend, but he's actually more emotional than I am. Sometimes I feel like this diagnosis has been harder on him than it has on me. I'm not married, no kids, no boyfriend.

    Other than working out my emotions, I do have some questions that hopefully someone can answer. I like to be over-prepared, so I'm gathering the items I may need now, before surgery. My questions are:

    How uncomfortable will I be after the lumpectomy and lymph node removal?

    Will it be difficult to raise my arms?

    Should I get loose and soft button downs as I've seen suggested?

    Should I get "baby wipes" for sponge baths?

    Should I get any special shirts for the drains?

    Will sleeping in my own bed be comfortable or would I be better in a recliner or hospital bed?

    I have read some suggestions for post-surgery comfort, but it seemed as most of the women had mastectomy and reconstruction which obviously would be much more painful.

    Although I'm bummed to be in the "club", I'm so happy for the support I've seen you give each other on this site.

    Thanks in advance.

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  • naiviv
    naiviv Member Posts: 535
    edited July 2013

    Hi,

    I don't have your answers, I was dx on 7/5.. I'm also no history in family of any cancer, don't smoke but I am 52, I had 3 kids starting at 31 and div. Not in menopause at all.

    Our dx are similar and I'll keep you posted as I go through them. One thing I have learned is we all respond differently... It's time to get your support system in place in the event you will need them.

    I wish you the best on this road that chose us...

    Vivian

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  • HILARIOUS
    HILARIOUS Member Posts: 5
    edited August 2013

    HELLO EVERYONE.

    MY name is Hilarie and I was recently diagnosed with Stage II Invasive Ductal Carcinoma

    Breast Cancer. I am trying to ge strong, yet I am still very much afraid of the Mastectomy

    which is to come on September 24th 2013. i already had a Breast Biopsy and that lasted

    for 2 and a  half hours. It was very uncomfortable and somewhat painful. I live in NY and

    my doctors all work at 

    Colombia Presbyterian Hospital. 

    Write me back and tell me that I am not losing my mind. I Am scared to death of the 

    surgery to come.

    Any advice, or sharing of the Mastectomy experienc would be extremely helpful.

    Thank you. HILARIE

    Hila

    Hil

    Hil

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  • HILARIOUS
    HILARIOUS Member Posts: 5
    edited August 2013

    DEAR HOPE:

    Just hang in there!!!!! That is all you can do.

    Pray, Pray, Pray every moment of the day.

    Keep your faith and hope; and all will work out

    for you.

    I was diagosed with Breast Cancer several wks. ago

    and I still have so many questions. 

    Be brave and Pray.

    Hugs, Hilarie

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  • encyclias
    encyclias Member Posts: 302
    edited August 2013

    Sue, I'll try to answer your questions as best I can, remembering everyone is different.  A lot depends on the size of the lump they are taking out.

    Pain is a subjective thing; I only needed a couple Tylenols the day after, and then was fine without.

    For the first week or so, I had to remember not to use my right arm to reach up to high shelves; felt the incision in my armpit pulling and switched to my left arm instead.

    I wore regular clothes.

    My surgeon told me to remove the gauze and bandages and to start showering the next day after the surgery, just leaving the steri-strips on until they fell off by themselves.

    Most lumpectomies don't require drains.

    My own bed was fine even with my snoring SO and three cats in it.

    Sue, hope you have nice easy relatively pain-free surgery.

    Gentle hugs in advance,

    Carol

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  • SewStrong
    SewStrong Member Posts: 399
    edited August 2013

    Sue, I had a lumpectomy on July 12, 2013 and was suprised at how little pain I had. I did not have drains, which was a pleasant surprise. As Carol said, reaching up the first week or two isn't good, but I had to continually stretch my arm up over my head to keep it from getting stiff. I was told to raise the arm above the level of my heart  on a pillow for 15 minutes about 4 times a day. I didn't get around to doing it that much and had to go in twice to have fluid drained from the sentinel node incision. It did not hurt and did not have to be numbed because I am already numb under my arm from the nerves being cut. That really isn't painful, just a little getting used to. I cut the toe out of a very stretchy white sock and slid it up on my are to my armpit, That helped the sensation until it got better. My arm rubbing against my side was uncomfortable, but the sock alleviated it just fine. With a long sleeve shirt, I didn't need the sock. I am now awaiting chemo and radiation. I go in next week to get it all going. Hope this helped. Sharon

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  • PeggySull
    PeggySull Member Posts: 686
    edited August 2013

    Bsthomp1, They do these genetic tests based on both family history and your age. I don't know what the age cut off is, but I was 61and insurance wouldn't approve it.



    Hang in there. Getting a treatment plan will help you feel better. This in between stage is very hard emotionally.

    Hugs,

    Peggy

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  • mudfly13
    mudfly13 Member Posts: 9
    edited August 2013

    Hi,

    just found this beautiful site. I had dianostic mammogram and ultrasound yesterday. I have a mass in my right breast and the radiologist is certan it is BC. I am reading all you writing. I am terrified and have lost so many family members to cancer. I have not toldl my adult children yet and want to wait unitl I have the biopsy and a plan. Radiologist said likely chemo first to shrink tumor. Any words to help me not panic? You are all in my thoughts as well.

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  • placid44
    placid44 Member Posts: 497
    edited August 2013

    Mudfly,



    I'm so sorry. I would just say: the first week is the worst of all, you'll probably feel a bit better once you have docs and treatment plan, and the treatments have improved over the past years. Even for triple negative, which I have and does not have "targeted" treatments such as anti-hormonals, the chemos are "third generation" and responses have improved.



    Feel free to "private message" (PM) me anytime. I'm coming up on one year and did chemo, bilateral mastectomy, and radiation.





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