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

Hi Jodi

I was diagnosed with the same on August 26 of this year. I have had a double mastectomy on Oct 14 and more surgery this past Wednesday. The one thing you will want to find out is whether it is "ductal" or "lobular". They were able to give me a Grade after the tissue biopsy but not sure they can always do that. There is a lot that you need to learn, will learn and don't want to learn. My advice to you is this...Take a deep breath and a step back if you can. Everything has happened so fast for me that I have had to take control and say "whoa". I am a human, not a clinical specimen.

DO NOT BE AFRAID TO GET A SECOND OPINION! I just recently asked for a second opinion because I need all the facts so I can make the best decision for ME. I know the doctors mean well but everybody and every case is different. I am 51 years old and am fortunate enough to know my body well enough to know something is wrong and also know if something doesn't work for me. Everyone says it is important to stay strong and positive. Well, let me tell you that you will go through many different emotions and that is ok. Cry if you need to, be angry if you need to...if you let those emotions out it will help you to be stronger and more positive.

I pray that you have a good support system but keep in mind that as good as family and friends are....if you feel the need to speak to a social worker or therapist...DO IT!

As a "newbie" myself I am learning....I just went through an angry and crying stage a few days ago. I also realize that I am going to need to speak with someone "neutral" because it is sometimes hard for family and friends to hear you speak realistically about cancer. I hope this is helpful and I send prayers, hugs and smiles...

Remember to smile and laugh if you can....

Well, okay. So now I know. BC. Stage 1. Not a mass, very localized. So lumpectomy with 4-5 lymph nodes to be removed next Thursday. 4 weeks of radiation therapy. He said either option was a viable choice for me but the only guarantee was a mastectomy. And even that isn't really guaranteed. For me, the lumpectomy is less invasive and location of it is good for it. I'll try this first. Once it's done they will know what grade etc. and I'll know more. I hope. He says he thinks we caught it early.

He advised that with 2 generations of it now, (my mom had a mastectomy 10 years ago) my girls need to have yearly mammo's. I'm glad he's looking at the whole picture.

My thoughts and hopes are with the rest of the Monday Club and also our pal (Corpor was that you?) who is waiting for tomorrow. Today kinda sucked. The waiting is hard. 

Now to tell the kids.  

Jodi, when I had my second baby I had the same thing. Went to the doc and she said it wasn't my lymph nodes but sweat glands that were swelling up. They were pretty close to the surface and would get very hard and painful, but that phase quickly passed and I never had another problem with that. Did your doc say they were lymph nodes?

I go get an MRI next--they called today and asked when I started my last period and I was able to nail that one down with accuracy--right after I got the news I went to the bathroom and the period that I'd hoped I was missing had started. I'm 54 dammit. I let out a zinger of a curse word I can tell you. But, apparently the MRI has to be scheduled for around 10 days after your last period started and I guess that's in 5 days. I wonder if my fibroids will show up and have to be biopsied too? Or are the fibroids the reason they have to schedule it like that? Of course I forgot to ask this but I was teaching when they called.

RedReading, good luck on your surgery and I hope it's a lumpectomy for you. Doc said that's a possibility for me too so let's both cross our fingers.

NoTime...my Radiologist told me the same thing; I was and have done everything I could but still got BC. Since my sister was also DX it stands to reason it is a genetic thing since our mother had bc at age 68. The one thing I learned throughout this process is be your own advocate and make sure you have a good relationship with both your BS and your Oncologist esp your Oncologist. She/he will be the go to person post surgery and treatments. Another thing is def take someone with you. You will be inundated with information and trust us there is no way you can possible consume all of it. I took my husband - not initially but the next visit. I was also blessed to have friends and family who have been through the same thing. Helps a lot. Sometimes you just need to vent to someone who would truly understand. Whatever you decide it is your body and your life. diane

Jodi, your prognosis sounds good and it's likely you will be fine. Good luck with surgery and keep connecting here for support.

Jodi, we're sorry you have to go through all this… good luck today with surgery and best wishes for a quick recovery! Same for RedReading, good luck and please, keep us posted.

Thinking of you,

The Mods

Jodi, I'm sure you are already at or on your way to the hospital, but I wanted to let you know that I am thinking about you.   I will keep good thoughts in my head all day for your successful operation and a swift recovery. We're all here for you. Hugs n kisses.

I jumped into a mx and tissue expanders and the whole process without first doing my research with this site. Although I am happy with my results I am sorry I didn't know what questions to ask etc. So I would have to say learn about bc as much as you can so that you are as knowledgeable as possible. It is so difficult to be in that exam room half naked and able to be an advocate for yourself.

Hi Mommyathome-

Hopefully yours will come back still as ADH. It's funny how these decisions are so different for everyone. I have spent the last 8 weeks being poked and prodded, and the left breast is tender all the time. Knowing that with this diagnosis I'm going to be facing the same thing on the other side (not to mention the stress of all of this!) made the decision for a double mastectomy easy for me. But I've also had ADH, DCIS, and now IDC all on the same side, but in three different locations. My BS told me flatly that a lumpectomy simply isn't an option, there won't be anything left and it would essentially be a mastectomy anyway.

My surgery for the ADH really was not bad- I had never had surgery before and was pleasantly surprised. Had that been the end of it, I would have never considered a mastectomy. I am surprised that they are having you wait for the results. Can you call the doctor?????? I couldn't handle waiting that long- no patience here!

Good luck!

corpor

we are here for you, and know the feelings you are going thru, we,ve been there and some are going thru now, I made it thru with family and friends, and prayers and Lots and Lots of HOPE N FAITH.  I am now a 19 yr SURVIVOR(Praise GOD). msphil(idc,stage2, 0/3 nodes, L mast, chemo and rads and 5 yrs on tamoxifen) Hang in there,

In general, lumpy went well, had to get off the pain pills fast tho cuz they made my head all swirly and that, to me, was worse than the pain. I have been in bra hell!!!! I now have 5 new bras and none of them are doing the job. Had someone suggest I spend the money for a Danceskin bra - no seams at all, so I will be going shopping tomorrow for same.

Now that my mom and me have both had breast cancer, my daughters have entered the high risk program. Mammos and US every six months. They will both be genotyped. My youngest (35) got a call from our family doctor on Monday, results from mammo and U/S are in, he wants her to come in on Thursday. No, he won't say anything on the phone, just come Thursday. I know now that there is something worse than hearing you have breast cancer. That would be hearing my daughter say, mom, I have...

I wrote this long letter to you all, went back to check on some facts from a previous post and lost the whole darned thing. Note to self, do not go back to a previous page partway through your post.

Jodi, Piper, Corpor and Mommy, we've been on quite a journey together. Sorry about your stage 3 diagnosis Jodi, but it does sound like you have a good plan and a good attitude. Let us know about your double docs appts. Piper, waiting for the MRI is brutal - did you decide on a lumpy or an mx cuz I read on other sites that if you are getting the mx, you can skip the MRI. Cindy, Wyo, please correct me if I'm wrong. And if I recall, you were having doctor issues too. Did you get that resolved? Corpor, you are opting for a bmx? It makes total sense if you have had other issues. It would scare me I think, but if my results come back negatively on the 19th, I think I wouldn't be that scared. Funny how differently I view it all now. Mommy, 1 more day girl and you get your results. At the very least, you won't be in limbo any more. You'll be able to make decisions. With 4 little ones at home, I think it would be very important to you.

Big thanks to our nurses on the board for chiming in with good advice when it's needed. Must be awfully tough to both have cancer and help heal those who have it, even if only with wise advice. But we really appreciate it.

(((((big hugs))))) to all