No good news here either

Pugsnotdrugs - I guess you are another dog lover!!  Hormone positivity is really GOOD news...........it gives you a lot of treatment options.  Her negative is really good news.............please don´t get hung up on the KI-67 as I had two pathologies done in different places and my KI-67 score varied by just over 50%    a heck of a difference. I can only put it down to the exact pieces of tissue that was biopsied.......after all if cancer is present then somewhere there have to be cells with a really high KI-67, if not there would be no tumour there......  can you ask for another pathology test and also for an Oncotype test?

Did they give a size of the cells removed?  

Take a look at my statistics!!  Definitely not good, but I am still here and have no evidence of other cancer, and I refused chemo.........

Best advice is to take your time on decision making and never make a decision based primarily on fear......trust yourself......some  women in your shoes have taken tamoxifen or aromastase inhibitors before doing any other treatment as this can have a very positive outcome but I am just sharing the info with you not recomending it.  Its horrible waiting for treatment plans isn´t it..

Sending you a big H U G....xx

So sorry you find yourself here and a member of the club.  The beginning is the hardest part.  Get a full copy of your pathology report so you can try to learn what everything means.  Many hospitals have them available online or you can pick it up at your doctor's office.  Once you have more information you can move forward with treatment and get through this.  Sending hugs your way! 

Dear Pugs - 

So sorry - but some of it is better than it might be. Try to hang on to that. Hugs.

im sure your stressed today...hugs....do u feel comfortable with your onc? I know.its a.overwhelming situation..but I think for myself I know my surgeon has a very poor bedside manner but im ok.with that as crazy as it sounds..I have an amazing team of doctors oncologist and surgeon but I my self need to hear the worse case...I have all my other drs to comfort me and my family and I needed that to the.point is what it is from my surgeon.....

Hi pugs. So sorry about your diagnosis. I did my treatments at UNC and I love my Onc there and the nurse navigators. I'm not sure who you're doc is but they made everything more comfortable. Everyone is different but I was/am happy with UNC. Good luck and keep us posted. Just hang in there!

the very thought of chemo is scary- and i don't think that there is anyone here who wanted to do it. I understand your reluctance. I agree you need to talk with the onco and look at all the suggestions. I am not going to lie. Chemo is tough and there are some really bad days. But I was fortunate enough to be able to work throughout chemo with about three days off after each tx. You manage the side effects as they come, you come here and vent and find answers and then you take each day at a time. You will find out that your inner strength will rise up and you will surprise yourself as to how tough a cookie you really are. Best wishes as you move forward.

Dear Pugs,

Having chemo before surgery is not necessarily for the purpose of saving your breast.  I had chemo before surgery and I had a mastectomy.  The purpose for my surgery was that doing a mastectomy wasn't even possible unless I got the cancer area smaller.   As my BS said, you don't have enough skin without cancer to cover your mastectomy.  

As others have said, having chemo doesn't have to be the nightmare that some people had in the past.  There are lots of ways to mitigate side effects.  For example, I never had any nausea until they took me off Emend (long story) and as soon as they put me back on, the nausea was totally gone.  In my case, I wasn't afraid of chemo--in fact I couldn't wait to get started.  I was terrified that my cancer would spread everywhere before treatment started.  I called every day to 'get started' until I think I nearly drove the MO's office mad. 

Good for you, pugs.  I'm sure you'll make a good decision. 

Hi, Pugs - Just wanted to chime in with some support and send some positive energy your way. I don't know if your center has nurse navigators and social workers available to you but if so, please get to know them. I've found them to be incredibly helpful in navigating all of this. Their job is to MAKE TIME FOR YOU, so if you have questions, doubts, need someone to bounce things off of, etc., they are there to do that. The center I'm using also has a big library of materials to borrow as well as support groups and fitting and wig specialists who also understand the ins and outs of insurance coverage, etc. 

I spent 40 minutes on the phone with the social worker today, who, in my case,  is a great sounding board, has helped me understand how to approach issues/questions with my physicians, helps me navigate the roller coaster we're on, etc. She is not at all what I would have expected from her title. 

Ask your center what they have to offer you in terms of support and use what you need of it. This is a tough, demanding position fo be in. You're entitled to get the tools and resources you need to grope your way through it. 

Take care.