Just Dx today!!

MsRockyG
MsRockyG Member Posts: 34
edited June 2014 in Just Diagnosed


I had a Biopsy on Friday and new something was "brewing". So when the Radiologist called today, I was not entirely shocked but numb. Told my husband first and then my mother. My husband took it non-chalant - maybe so I wouldn't freak out. My mother looked so hurt...


Well I made some calls to a few Breast Surgeons the Radiologist referred me to, but the offices was closing so I have to wait til tomorrow. In the meantime, I started looking online for info and resources. Then I knew I would need some "support" - so I came on here and joined the discussion boards!


Maybe I'll feel better after I make my appt for the Breast Surgeon and get some answers. All I do know it is in the outer right breast & is about 1cm big. The Radiologist said at least we caught it in time, and Breast Cancer is treatable and there is so much new technology out there. As reassuring as she tried to sound - it was all Charlie Brown to me.


Until tomorrow good folks...

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Comments

  • juneping
    juneping Member Posts: 1,594
    edited November 2013


    Msrocky,


    not sure if you already had your mammo and US burn to a CD. and asked for the pathology slide which cost me $45...the surgeon that you choose at the end will need to see that slide. and ask your primary doc or radiologist? to prescribe you a MRI which you'll need i believe to see the margin.


    i was dx on 11/15...so just a week earlier...

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited November 2013


    MsRockyG, welcome!


    My advice is to let the surgeon review your imaging and pathology report and then order any tests that he feels are necessary, including an MRI. At this point you want one expert managing your care, and that's the surgeon.


    And yes, for your records you should get copies of the reports and imaging (but not a pathology slide!), but if you are seeing a surgeon recommended by the radiologist, I expect that the surgeon's office will be able to get what they need directly from the radiology facility.


    Hope you get the appointment soon.

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  • mdg
    mdg Member Posts: 3,571
    edited November 2013

    I hate having to welcome you to a breast cancer group, but welcome anyway!  Glad you found us here.  I also had a tumor a little bigger than 1cm. The beginning is the hardest part - somehow it gets easier once you get started with everything and get your treatment plan figured out.  Best of luck!

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  • juneping
    juneping Member Posts: 1,594
    edited November 2013


    personally it's my primary doc prescribed me the MRI. it's also my primary doc told me to get all those stuff to see the surgeons. i cannot get an annual mammo without a prescription.


    the radiologist had very little to do in this whole process. she didn't discuss the path report with me at all.


    i am in NYC, i just thought that's how it's done here or may be it's because of my insurance network?

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  • MsRockyG
    MsRockyG Member Posts: 34
    edited November 2013


    @juneping, My Radiologist & Primary both suggested the Breasts Surgeons , which are all affiliated with my hospital & my insurance. I didn't realize I would need a MRI? Yes I'm going to ask for a copy of my records - not sure how they do it at the Breast Center I'm going to? In reality I don't want to think about any of this; but then that wouldn't be realistic! Thanks for helping me & keeping me informed. I have to be quite honest, I'm worried about my kids...

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  • MsRockyG
    MsRockyG Member Posts: 34
    edited November 2013


    Thanks @Beesie, kayb, & mdg for Welcoming me! Hugs to you all...I'm glad I found this group but I might have to go to a support group in person as well....

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited November 2013


    The radiologist often doesn't have much to do with the whole process - they usually provide the test results, and possibly arrange for some follow-up tests, but nothing more. They are not a primary contact through this process.


    Once a diagnosis has been made, the primary contact, at least until you are dealing with a Medical Oncologist, should be the breast surgeon. juneping, your situation is quite unusual, if you are still so involved with your primary care doctor. That's not normally what happens at this point. The breast surgeon takes over and orders any further tests. GPs are, quite frankly, out of their league once a cancer diagnosis has been made and that's why it's better to start to deal with someone who is an expert at this.


    MsRockyG, set up the appointment with the surgeon and let the surgeon decide what other tests you should have. MRIs are often done, mostly to ensure that nothing else shows up in either breast, other than what was seen on the mammo. As my surgeon said (he ordered my MRI), if he's going to operate, he wants to be sure to know everything that's going on and have as few surprises as possible. You should ask about an MRI, but it's the surgeon's decision - some surgeons find that they are of little benefit but these days most surgeons do send newly diagnosed patients for an MRI prior to surgery. And when you set up the appointment, you can ask the surgeon's office if they will be able to access your files directly from the facility where you had your imaging and biopsy done. Usually that's what happens. And once they have everything, you can simply ask them for a copy of it everything. That's how it's often done. Easy, one stop shopping!

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  • MsRockyG
    MsRockyG Member Posts: 34
    edited November 2013


    Thanks Beesie! I did my initial Mammogram & Biopsy at the same hospital, so the Breast Surgeon is all at the same hospital too & has direct access to my medical file. And I notice every time I go for a referral for one thing or another, my Primary Dr calls & makes sure I have all the info too.


    I feel better now that the Breast Surgeon's office just called & made my appt for next week. I'm relieved that I am able to schedule most of my appts during this whole ordeal while my little one are in school...

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  • juneping
    juneping Member Posts: 1,594
    edited November 2013


    Bessie,


    My primary is no longer involved but she speeded up the process by ordering the MRI before I met the BS. So now the BS has everything and I don't have to make more trips. I guess that's how she works with her network doctors...?


    I don't know but I m glad she told me to order the path slides the cd of the Mammo and sono so I have the whole package to forward to the BS.

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited November 2013


    juneping, what I (and others) are saying is that usually the patient doesn't need to forward the whole package to the breast surgeon. Usually the breast surgeon is able to access these materials on their own. So your experience is unusual in that respect. Since MsRocky is seeing a breast surgeon who is at the same hospital where she had her testing done, she certainly doesn't need to worry about rushing to get copies of everything before she sees the surgeon. She can get her own file copies from the surgeon's office at her first appointment.


    MsRocky, I saw in your other post that you've been told you have "Ductal Carcinoma". I think something like 80% of breast cancer is ductal but there are a couple of different variations. What you want to find out is if this is "Intraductal" carcinoma, which is another name for DCIS, or whether it's "Infilitrating" or "Invasive" ductal carcinoma, also called IDC. Glad that you are able to get in to see the surgeon next week. Good luck with the appointment.

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  • MsRockyG
    MsRockyG Member Posts: 34
    edited November 2013


    @Beesie. I think I read it on WebMD about the different types of Ductal Carcinoma. Last week, before I went in for the Biopsy, I was searching "Breast Cancer" & didn't know there were different types & so many different names & things?! My mother & I have reached out to a few different ppl who have had BC & after I did my research - those ppl we talked to seem "clueless". Not to insult anyone. Perhaps they just know what they have & never researched the different kinds? I know they say 'don't believe everything you read on the internet' - but I need info! Every time someone calls me from the hospital & gives me info , I get stuck. I can't think past what I just heard & then it takes me a minute for me to get my thoughts together...


    I am relieved that I am able to see the BS next week...

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  • TB90
    TB90 Member Posts: 992
    edited December 2013

    Hi MsRocky:  I was just diagnosed on Nov.28 and can totally relate to "getting stuck".  I even need to spend a bit of time alone to process the new info, research and learn from others' experiences on this site.  My surgery is December 18th and then I will have a whole lot more info to process.  This site has become my lifeline and when I start to feel really anxious again (it comes and goes), I sit down and read all the posts from all the wonderfully supportive women sharing our experience.  If they can get through it, we can and will :) 

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  • MsRockyG
    MsRockyG Member Posts: 34
    edited December 2013


    Hi TB90. Talking to others about it online and blogging about it help; or so I thought. I forward my blog to my Twitter & Facebook account & when the responses came - BAM - that;s when it really hit me! But talking about it to ppl in person helped to digest "IT." They scheduled you for surgery quick?! They want me to do Chemo, surgery, then Radiation. But this will all be after some other tests - Hematology & I think a Genetic testing. I was hoping to start this WHOLE process before New Years but looks like I'm ringing in the New Year - waiting. I'm also going to seek a second opinion. I did not think I had to do chemo & Radiation?! I actually did not want to - maybe one or the other...They said I had options but doesn't seem like it at all...

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