just diagnosed 3 weeks ago...

msmaples,

I have been dealing with BC one way or another for the past 21 years. My mom was diagnosed 21 years ago, and I got diagnosed last year. When my mom diagnosed, she did not know (and neither did I) that you cannot look at a tumor as a hard, solid mass. A tumor is made up of cells which can leave the tumor site and go to other parts of the body. When these cells go to other places in the body and start developing there, the cancer becomes metastatic. For instance, a breast cancer cell which has left the tumor site and went to the bone is still breast cancer, not bone cancer. Once cancer becomes metastatic, it is treatable but no longer curable. When my mom was diagnosed as Stage Ia 21 years ago (I was 20 years old at the time and my mother 45), we did not fully understand this information. We relied on her doctors when they said, she did not need chemotherapy. 8 years later, she was Stage IV (and she has been for over 13 years). Even with all the imaging the doctors do, there may be microscopic cells which have escaped the tumor site via the blood or the lymph system (which do not appear on imaging) which chemotherapy kills. Basically, all other treatment - surgery, radiation - is local. Hormonal therapy is also systemic. With chemotherapy and hormonal therapy, you are trying to kill all those cells which may have escaped the tumor and spread in your body, which may, given the chance, develop in other parts of your body. I hope this helps in your decision-making.

YoungTurkNYC-- Do the mammaprint test to see if you need chemotherapy. It takes into account 71 genes and if you are premenopausal it has a better statistic than the oncotype test. I got both test done, because I have strong family history (mother, grandmothers, aunts, 1st cousin that is just mom's side) of BC my mother was 33 when she got it and they gave her 3 months to live. My BRCA came back negative and I was upset with that considering how many women have it in my family. For the past 22 years I was waiting for the shoe to drop. You are in the unknown stage in planning. Keep a journal to write down your feelings and questions it helped. It is scary, but you will make it through this with support.

I had a similar case and my doctor recommended a targeted 5 day radiation therapy in my case

Has anyone else had this

redhummer1, welcome. You are right that BC is a very scary diagnosis, especially as a young mother. I imagine your 'head is spinning'.

I can tell you that this is the very best place to come for information, support and friendship.

Post any questions or concerns you have, read the articles here and the experiences of others.

I hope you have a good support network to get you through.

We are with you every step.