Nurse called said cancer and that's about all! Help

Can't help a bit Jodi. Sorry but my thoughts are with you and I can really sympathize with the lack of information. I'm sorry you are suffering. I have my 'find out what's going on appt' Monday too. I will keep you in my thoughts. * big hug*

Hi Jodi, welcome. When you see your doc on Monday, you will more than likely get a preliminary report from the biopsy but the full report will not be available until after your surgery. This report will include type and stage but not grade this is done after removal.

As I've just said to RedReading, take someone with you for your appointment as it's always good to have that extra pair of ears and you will undoubtedly not hear or remember all that will be discussed. If that is not possible, take a small recorder and record your visit so you can refer back to it when you need.

Love n hugs. Chrissy

Ug, sign me up for the "Monday Club" too. ILC is all I know for now.

pipers, I also had ILC. Treatment is not so different from IDC. As Chrissy said, so many are here to give information, support and friendship. If you have to have cancer, this site is the silver lining.

Jodi, stop and take a few deep breaths.........most of this is slow growing and an extra week or three is not going to make any difference to the outcome. Cancer doesn't grow over night so you have time to look at all your options before you make your decision on where and how you will be treated.

This whole process is overwhelming so remember to slow down, take some deep breaths every now and then and take your time looking at everything.

Love n hugs. Chrissy

Like the other girls have said, take you time and research your doctors and where you will go for treatment. I was scared and jumped in to things and when I went for my surgery, right before being taken in to the operating room, surgeon comes in and asks me "do you want a mastectomy or lumpectomy?" I was flabbergasted, to say the least! Needless to say I went elsewhere for treatment, I actually traveled out of state to a well known cancer center.

You can also look for girls here on the boards who live in your area.

Good luck to all of you, sorry you have to be here. But this is a GREAT support system. Don't go looking for information on the internet about cancer, you can find everything you need right here! And from women who have been there!

Jodi--

I had that very same call about 5.5 months ago--the doctor who had performed my biopsy called and said "The pathology report came back invasive ductal carcinoma. That's all I know! Call a surgeon. Bye!" I tried to get a few questions in edgewise but there was no way. I was so shocked I didn't even realize until later how awful her delivery was. No one should be treated that way and I really sympathize with you.

However, the good news is that from here on out you will only be getting more and more information that will help you make your decisions. As many others have said, my initial reaction was also just have a double mastectomy and be done with it. But, also like many others, I knew nothing about breast cancer when I was diagnosed. I had a long 6 days waiting to see a surgeon, and then things began to come into focus. After several opinions on both surgery options and pathology, I ended up going in a different direction and had a lumpectomy. Of course I don't know your specifics but while you of course feel you're in an emergency situation, YOU HAVE TIME. You really do. Every surgeon or doctor I met along the way told me this. The most important thing now is to try to weigh everything out in as calm a manner as possible (no easy feat, right?) and move forward with confidence born of having all the information. You will make it through. I am here, those 5.5 months later having gotten through all the waiting and the surgery and other treatments that were right for me, about to go out for dinner with my husband. My children (also young--7 and 3) are happy and calm and my life feels like it is getting back on track. Back in June I would never have imagined any of this possible.

You will make it. The beginning is the hardest, and then you will learn how many amazing things are available to you thanks to modern medicine, the love and caring of your family and friends, and your own strength.

Be well. Be as calm as you can. We will all be thinking of you here.

Hi Corpor, I'd hate the extra day's wait, so I really feel for you. I'm glad your current hubby is there for you. I'm sure he'll get over his 'freaking out'. Silly as this sounds, it has helped my hubby to know that  other husbands were having problems too. Although I know that hubby-sitting isn't what you want to do when you're hurting inside. 

I was found with 4 spots - 3 smaller and 1 larger. My biopsy happened the same day. For me it's not waiting that hurts so much, it's not finding time to be able to process it as it is coming at me too fast.

Best wishes for Tuesday. I will keep you in my thoughts.  

Wow, we're all in the same boat aren't we? I don't like this boat and I want to get off! I'm actually not too bad right now but I have a bad cold and my mind has gone kind of numb. I'm thankful I'm a teacher (first year!) and the kids and all the lesson planning are helping to keep my mind off things for minutes at a time.

RedReading: my appt is set for 2:20 on Monday but I'm very angry right now b/c the GP's office made it with a surgeon that I did not request. Apparently they failed to get the message with the names of the surgeons I requested and I'm thinking that if I'm going to let someone cut my boobies off, I want to be able to trust them. The GP is a brand new one for me b/c I'm new to the area--just moved here in August. I hated him--I had to put down what meds I'm on b/c they ask you that, you know, and the only one I take is adderall for ADD so the whole visit became about that and he never even asked me about menopause, which is strange b/c I'm 54. Then as he was leaving he told me that later we'll have to address my memory problems and that I don't probably have ADD! I was livid and he didn't even remember what I came in for! I was going to keep him just long enough to get me to the docs I need to see but I'm beginning to think the time to switch is now. But yeah, you're right--the weekend is long and I'm missing my favorite social activity b/c of a stupid cold and not sure how much more I'll be able to dance from now on so it really bites.

Jodi, I hope you get the answers you need on Monday--I'm so glad that others are advising us to wait a bit and take stock of the situation. That helps a lot. I know this has got to be hard when you have small children.

Corpor, hang in there. Chrissy is right--this board is a lifesaver and I'm thankful to have it. I keep thinking of my poor aunt who did this in the 80's and it was horrifying what she went thru but then this was small town docs and the technology was cruder than it is these days and she had a husband who just didn't get it. Those who have great husbands: you have a treasure.

And to Chrissy, aaoaao, Goldie, Bounce, Kika, and Racy, thank you so much for keeping an out for us newbies--we need your wisdom so badly right now.

Jody-

Breathe, look at the search thread for the type. You can look at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001911/ for information. Make sure to print your list of questions and ask to record the conversation with the doctor. If you can take an appointment buddy. Breathe. This is the scary part of being diagnosed. Keep a journal of your questions and answers. Breathe. You will make it through this scary part. Don't be afraid to ask for help with the kiddos.

chrissy I have a question if you don't mind..I was recently dx with idc and findings of pleomorphic lobular. Just saw my bs last week. She has all my mammos and us from another imaging facility . She just had me do another mammo , us and MRI . Is this normal after you have already been dx . I had biopsies on both breast and one was b9. Do you think she is just double checking?

Blissful if the rescan etc is from another facility I would say she is just double checking. Docs have their favorite facilities for getting things done as they know they can trust what is reported. Deep breath, there is nothing to worry about with that one.

Love n hugs. Chrissy

Blissful an MRI shows a whole lot more detail that either Mamo or US so it gives the doc a better view.

ty chrissy I appreciated the info..I'm new to all this and a very stressful person..trying to take one day at a time but find it difficult at times..seems like forever since the testing began..

from Wyo: pipers- I am not making excuses for your GP but is it possible that the surgeons you requested are not available in the timeframe you need ?

It's certainly possible but when I talked to the nurse on the phone, she never even got the message about which surgeons I wanted. Also, I had my appt there a week ago this past Thursday and they were going to schedule a mammo right away, but I had to call and remind them to do it. Twice. I'm a pretty accepting person b/c lord knows I make my own mistakes, but it seems like everything that has come out of this doc's office has been a problem and I can't afford for them to screw it up royally.