Just diagnosed - am I terrified

shelly3162 · December 2013

I am 42 years old and I was just diagnosed with breast cancer on dec. 4th...I forgot to ask what kind of cancer I had or anything...the surgeon was nice, he came in said the news was not good "you have breast cancer" I don't remember much after that..I heard him say something about oncologist apt next week where we would decide to either do lumpectomy or chemo and lumpectomy...I remember him saying something about my lymph nodes not being swelled which was good but they could still have microscopic cancer cells in them...I remember asking why lumpectomy and not massetocmy ? he said they both had the same outcome...wth does that mean?...totally freaking out...I went in march 2013 for mammo..it was ok I found lump in left breast end of this past Oct and have been going to doctors appts since...4cm mass in left breast...

Moderators · December 2013

Shelly, welcome to Breastcancer.org, although we're sorry that you had to find this wonderful community.

You'll hear from other members about their own experiences, and in the meantime, the article from the main Breastcancer.org site called Mastectomy vs. Lumpectomy will walk you through the deciding factors for each, as well as their advantages and disadvantages.

Best wishes,

• The Mods

bdavis · December 2013

Hi shelly... Sorry for your news. To answer your questions and to make a suggestion, I wanted to chime in. First, before any surgery, I would ask for an MRI, to make sure you don't have multifocal tumors (more than one) and its the best diagnostic tool out there. If it determined you have a single, well defined tumor a lumpectomy is an option. But outcome being the same is not exactly true. If you have a lumpectomy, you will need radiation. You will also need to monitor both of your breasts twice a year with MRI to make sure there isn't a recurrance. The survival odds with this approach are the same as mastectomy, but the path to that end may not be. With lump/rads, you may have a 20% risk of recurrance, but with MX, it drops to 2% (and i am talking local recurrance). Chemo deals with distant recurrance or metastasis. If the cancer has gone to your nodes even microscopically, it is prudent to have chemo. I had a micromet (.38mm) in my node and got 6 rounds of chemo. No regrets. I also started with the lumpectomy, but then decided to be more aggressive and have the BMX (thus also not getting radiation). A lumpectomy is a simple operation and very easy to recover from, but radiation can cause other problems, like lung nodules (scar tissue), skin damage, possible damage to the heart, etc.

My second suggestion beside the MRI is to take your time to make decisions. The cancer isn't going to spread overnight, but making smart choices the first time rather than knee jerk reactions is the best way to go forward.

Good luck.

Tomboy · December 2013

Please take a deep breath, do as the mods said, and know that though this is one of the hardest things you may ever have to do, you CAN do it, and please give yourself a lot of slack. this is a difficult thing, and the more you can read here, as you are talking to doctors about the next steps, the better able you will be to formulate questions for your doctors. There are some truly amazing women here, who have been right where you are now, and give your self a hug for finding breastcancer.org so quickly. off to the left of your commputer screen is a drop-down menu, where you can browse and read different categories. Basically, scientists and doctors have found that lumpectomy plus radiation treatments are equally as effective as mastectomy at treating breast cancer. Though there are good reasons behind either treatment, that decision may be entirely left up to you, so all the reading and asking questions that you can do, to really help you make a truly informed decision, which will also help you to feel more in control in what is probably the scariest time of diagnosis. i am so glad that you found this army of women, they are truly amazing; you shall see. Good luck, and please come back.

Holeinone · December 2013

Shelly, I am so sorry that you have to go thru this. Did you have a needle biopsy & did they also do the sentinel node biopsy? Next appt. take a friend or family member that is a good listener & have them take notes. Have your ? Written down and breathe. It is so overwhelming in the beginning, I am still in shock & overwhelmed 5 months later but time has a way of easing our anxiety. My biggest hurdle is all the waiting. Tests, appts, healing time. Oh, sorry got off track. My surgeon explained, & I have read this, your rate of recurrence to the breast and worse ( having it spread to bones, liver, lung ) are the same statistically either way lumpectomy or mastectomy. I did not research anything. I trusted my surgeon & had a lumpectomy. Lots of women want the whole thing removed. Posting on this website helps emotionally because we all understand, & you can rant and whine..I do all the time. Friends & family will be supportive but they are not living this nightmare...

sherry67 · December 2013

Kathec,

I was reading your signature line and was surprised you only had 2 chemos with the herceptin...I was in a clinical trial carbo/abraxane and herceptin and after surgery I. Was givnen AC x4 ..I think I get upset because I had more chemo ..and when I look at others with more lymph nodes involved and a higher stage and they recieved less chemo. I don't understand why I was given more I call it the kitchen sink. Don't get me wrong I don't regret it though it was very tough. Sorry for venting

tekwriter · December 2013

Hi Shelly, Me to. I only know I am supposed to have chemo and surgery and see the oncologist and surgeon this week. Best wishes for both of us.

Just diagnosed - am I terrified

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