invasive ductal carcinoma.....what now?

J6202 ..I just notice that you had surgery in |August ....I remember that I was not happy either after surgery ..everything looked messed up .....and so tight ..like my breast had been traumatized ..During rads and during the healing time after things started to loosen up and my breast went back to its jiggley self. The retracted scar even loosened up a little .....so hang in there ...it will look better in a few months .

Not wanting to speak for naiviv, but I believe she meant that looking at 10 and 20 year survival statistics there was no difference between lumpectomy and mastectomy for survival rates - not that 10-20 years was the survival rate.

There are some plastic surgeons who do one-step direct to implant reconstruction, some who do tissue expander placement at the time of mastectomy with silicone or saline implants after expansion is complete, and some who do autologous flap surgery, which is using your own body tissue to rebuild breasts - taking it from tummy, hips, thighs or buttocks. It is important to fully research these options and decide what type of reconstruction you would prefer. Not all plastic surgeons do all types of reconstruction, and it is also important to understand the risks involved in all of the various types.

beesie - it is that "great minds" thing, right?

Anniee,

Do you know what your receptors are? ER, pr, her2. I am triple negative. If you are as well, I may be able to answer a few questions.

I am 45 years old, IDC, diagnosed August 2012 and did ACT chemo, BMX, and radiation.

THat kind of comment pisses me off too but then lots of things do these days. I think when we are given a life threatening diagnosis it is a lot to process

I just told my grown children my diagnosis. In many ways they were were imagining the worst even though the diagnosis was reasonably good, considering that it was caught early enough and hopefully will be relatively easily to treat. I stayed pretty upbeat and postive because I know that my reaction would be a signal for their reaction, so even though I am scared, and still don't know or understand all the details, I felt that I needed to almost minimize it so they should not freak out.

my dilemma is who to tell and how While it isn't a secret, I would like to be able to tell some of my close friends without having them freak out either.

I am not a regular on facebook to start with, so that may not be the best option.

I feel it takes so much energy making everyone else not feel like this is a death sentence that I almost just don't want to go there. It seems so surreal even to me that I find myself zoning out just to not do too much thinking.

the word cancer itself just has such an enourmous negative impact that thinking about it seems exhausting even to me.

And now that my PCP has refused to talk to me till I see the surgeon, (not sure what that is about - need to find another PCP)I am left with the questions and no one to really explain things to me. Thankfully there are good places like this to go that I can at least read other peoples experience, and search for what the test results mean so that when I see the surgeion I will know some of the questions as well as understand the answers

lack of information is often scarier than just knowing the facts. If you aren't getting information, maybe you can call your PCP to set an appointment to talk. Also call ( or have your doctor call) the lab and ask what and when the other results and tests are coming - if they will tell you - and try to get them to tell you when they will send them to you or your doctor.

everyone suggested at least 2 opinions and my health insurance - not the best or worst plan - pays for unlimited consultations within network.

My radiologist suggested an MRI but the surgeons want to see me first - though I cannot imagine why an MRI should be a problem, so I will insist on getting one after they see me. If both surgeons say the same thing, I will pick the one that I feel best about in my gut - hopefully I will find one that I feel confident in. If i get a differing opinion or I am uncomfortable with the doctor, I will find a 3rd and then re evaluate.

the one thing I have learned from this and other personal medical history, (my husband dies of cancer at 44), is that you are your best advocate.

ask questions, read as much as you can (with the understanding tht much or most may not apply), ask for your records and understand what they are telling you. some doctors are better at giving detailed information than others. My PCP sent my report to me with no phone call to help me understand it, and said she would not talk to me until after the surgeon did. Thankfully the radiologist was a friend and he answered many of my questions. I am changing PCP. I need to feel there is someone that knows more than me that is willing to give me a few minutes when such an important development in a persons life just appears.

let me know - I know for me the waiting seemed forever and it wasn't even that long. I was fortunate that the radiologist was a friend and he pushed for me. You push for yourself if you have to. It is your legal right

I was not told anything except that I had cancer. I accidentally read something on this forum about "triple negative' and looked at my report and saw that I had 3 negative areas and figured out that I had it. I then googled it. I feel for the people who don't have this forum as a resource. I would have been in really bad shape if not for this place. Although maybe ignorance is bliss. I have a neighbour with lung cancer and I was more interested in what was going on than she was. She started asking her doc questions to satisfy my questions but still didn't really pay attention. Knowing that she didn't want to know I was careful with her. I think many of us on a forum want to know or we wouldn't have searched out this site.

I think you said you have an appt. tomorrow Anniec. Hopefully you have your questions ready and can come back to the forum and sort out more info.