Just diagnosed this morning...

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dawnettejh
dawnettejh Member Posts: 3
edited June 2014 in Just Diagnosed


I am 52 years old and was just diagnosed this morning with Stage pT1c ILC...starting to learn what all these terms mean that I never wanted to learn -- or at least until I was older!


What I am reading here makes me feel a bit better, as it seems as with surgery, possible radiation this is highly treatable...


Somehow, I want this to not take over my life, I am just recently remarried in July and we were looking forward to the easier time of life...I am hoping to deal with treatment and keep working and doing the normal things we do...


Any coping advice would surely be helpful -- I am trying to stay positive...

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

    So sorry you find yourself among all of us....I was in your place three years ago when I was diagnosed.  I found the beginning to be the hardest part.  The waiting and not knowing everything was so hard.   Take it one day at a time.  Once you get started with a treatment plan, it will get a little easier.  I am happy to tell you three years later...life is great!  There is life after BC!  Good luck and hugs!


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  • melmcbee
    melmcbee Member Posts: 1,119
    edited December 2013

    Dawnette, welcome and im sorry you have to be here but this is a good place for info and support. Please feel free to ask anything. There is a great thread called team warriors with lobular cancer. Hope to see you around

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  • Camillia
    Camillia Member Posts: 185
    edited December 2013


    Sorry about your diagnostic, but you have found a great place to share and get info. Welcome to these boards :-) I want to command you for your positive attitude, it is a great first step towards a somewhat easier path ahead of you. If you do have to do chemo, it is hard, but certainly doable. Many here have kept working through their treatments. I was able to keep cooking and taking care of my family through 4 rounds of chemo, I even kept running half way through my treatments (4 rounds of chemo).


    Good luck to you. This is the hardest part but things will go back to a new normal. Just give it time :-)

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  • Lovegolf
    Lovegolf Member Posts: 513
    edited December 2013


    Breathe when in doubt breathe some more...the beginning is the worst. I think the not knowing what you will have to do weighs heavy. Take notes at the appointments. Write down questions as you go. When you know what your "fight plan" will be it will be easier. I am almost 5 years out. I will say you will need give yourself permission to ask for help some as you go along. Be kind to yourself. Find a good friend, who can talk you off the ledge and who will not be too emotional in dealing with YOUR cancer.


    After my surgeries I found a yoga group for all cancer survivors that helped so much.

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  • MsPharoah
    MsPharoah Member Posts: 1,034
    edited December 2013


    Hi Dawnette! I am so sorry that you have this diagnosis. These first weeks are the hardest. I was diagnosed last year and just finished active treatment in October. Stage 1 ILC. I am an executive and wanted to continue working through treatment. I was able to work from home while I was recovering from my lumpectomy. It took about 2 weeks to recover from the surgery but I only missed the surgical day. I started chemo about 6 weeks after surgery...6 cycles every three weeks. For the first cycle, I only missed treatment day but I noticed that I felt pretty crappy on day 3 and 4....so I scheduled those days to work from home. That way I could take a nap in the middle of the day and didn't have to spend any energy commuting, putting on makeup, etc. Chemo fatigue is cumulative and toward the end, I was very, very tired. I went to bed early and rested whenever I could. You may not have to have chemo, depending on your Oncotype test result. Chemo had the most side effects for me. I then had 34 radiation treatments after chemo, and had a 7:30 AM appointment and was able to go to work directly after. All total, I missed 8 days of work. Working was a distraction for me. When I was working, I didn't have cancer! I think I was healthier working, but it doesn't work out that way for everyone. We are all different and you have to put your health and well being first. I was able to keep working only because my husband took care of everything else and pampered me the whole time. He was fine with that because he knew that I didn't want to take medical leave and he supported that. I exercised every day, drank lots of water, followed the doctor's orders to the letter. I consider myself to be a pretty healthy 62 year old, very "hardy" and have a high tolerance for discomfort. We did have to curtail our fun activities during treatment, but my children came for several visits during treatment and we were able to travel to our grandson's 1st birthday celebration during radiation with no problems. I hope you find it encouraging that it is possible to work if you must or if you want to.


    Love, only love


    MsP

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  • dawnettejh
    dawnettejh Member Posts: 3
    edited December 2013


    Wow, you ladies are great! This first day has been a lot of ups and downs, but as my daughter said, this is day 1 of getting better! I have an MRI scheduled for Thursday morning.... don't know how long it takes to get those results, but hopefully with a scheduled treatment plan things will become clearer...it is all so surreal today/tonight....crying then fine, crying then fine...


    I plan on working through all of this, also hoping as MsPharoah said that work can be my distraction --

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  • MsPharoah
    MsPharoah Member Posts: 1,034
    edited December 2013


    Dawnette, aren't daughters just the greatest? I love what she said to you -so true. Your family will be a great comfort to you. They are my heroes.


    It took about 2 days for me to get my MRI results. Whenever you go for a test, make sure to ask them when and how the results will be made available. I also had all my tests copied to my pcp who has all my records and results available on line. Also make sure that you keep copies of all your tests.


    So much love coming your way, MsP

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  • Lovegolf
    Lovegolf Member Posts: 513
    edited December 2013


    They did not tell after the MRI that I might get a headache & I got a real bad one. So do not make plans after & drink lots of water & fluids to help with it. It may not bother you..

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  • dawnettejh
    dawnettejh Member Posts: 3
    edited December 2013


    Good to know about the possible headache -- will plan to work from home tomorrow after that...


    Very scared about the MRI. From what I am reading it seems as if things are generally worse than the biopsy results suggest? I was feeling better, now, not so much...and then my sister keeps sending me all these things to try -- grapeseed extract, Tagamet before and after surgery... so overwhelming...

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  • Rockym
    Rockym Member Posts: 1,261
    edited December 2013


    I would suggest taking some earplugs with you too. Sometimes they give you a headset, but the machine is loud with a banging sound. For me the noise was very upsetting. The next time I had an MRI I used earplugs and it was much easier.

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  • Camillia
    Camillia Member Posts: 185
    edited December 2013


    The breast MRI was very easy for me; it took a little while, but no headache or discomfort before, during or after. I had 2 tumors in my breast; they were both seen on the mammogram and us. The MRI did show they were multifocal but it didn't mean a worse scenario for me; my bs was already thinking a MX was better for me so it only made that decision that much easier.

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  • MsPharoah
    MsPharoah Member Posts: 1,034
    edited December 2013


    Hi Dawnette. I had an MRI and the noise was the worst and having to be still. The MRI is highly sensitive imaging. My breast surgeon wanted to make sure there was nothing else lurking in my breasts before he made his surgical recommendation. I also had a BRCA test to rule out genetic issues. Be prepared. The MRI may find additional suspicious areas they will want to biopsy. That happened to me but the biopsy revealed a benign condition. These tests do delay your treatment, but they give you and your surgeon better information to make your decisions. It sounds like you are under good care. It also sounds like you have a loving family who want to help. It is so hard for everyone and so big hugs to you.


    Love, MsP

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  • beacon800
    beacon800 Member Posts: 922
    edited December 2013

    Understand your worries about the MRI.  Just take it as it comes.  Sometimes they find a surprise on MRI, but very often there is nothing more than what they got from the biopsy.

    Do bring earplugs (though they will have some on hand to give you) and do use the ladies room before you have to go on the machine cause once there you cannot move for about 40 mins!  It's noisy and a bit creepy but it is ok.  Definitely drink a lot of fluids afterward to flush out the gadolinium dye.  If you have any kidney issues bring these up and don't do the MRI till you know your kidney function is working properly.

    This part is the toughest time but from what you know so far you have all the probability for a complete recovery.  Hang in there.  (((hugs)))


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  • pipers_dream
    pipers_dream Member Posts: 618
    edited December 2013


    I was supposed to have an MRI but they cancelled when they realized that a lumpectomy is no longer an option. Don't be terrified b/c it just shows the extent of the cancer in your breasts and if you're going to do a BMX then you don't need the MRI is what they told me. Since I do have to have a full MX, I elected to do the BMX so I'll be even will be doing recon and that's when they cancelled the MRI. I found out that with the MRI, they have to time it with your monthly cycle--ideally it should be done 7-10 days after your last period, if you still have them.

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  • msphil
    msphil Member Posts: 1,536
    edited December 2013

    we here know how you feel, we have heard those dreaded words and are here for you, HUGS!!!!!!!!!msphil(idc,stage2 0/3 nodes, L mast, chemo and rads and 5 yrs on tamoxifen)

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  • christina0001
    christina0001 Member Posts: 1,491
    edited December 2013

    Dawn, did you get your MRI results back yet?

    Yes, one of the "gifts" of breast cancer is that people, in an attempt to be helpful, will email/mail/call you with every possibly myth of things that might "cure" cancer. This can be frustrating... you may want to assure your sister that you and your doctor are working out a plan for treatment, and that the advice is really not necessary.

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