Just Diagnosed 10/3/2014

Dear quilter,

This feeling that you just want it out is understandable, but is not really that important right now.  There are more ways to eliminate the cancer than cutting it out, but it takes time for the proposed treatment plan to develop.  In other words, the doc needs more facts.  If you have mets ?, that plays into it.  I had all sorts of scans before surgery--in fact, I had chemo before surgery.  

This is the hardest time, well, the second hardest time.  The hardest time is waiting to hear whether it's cancer.  The second hardest time is waiting to gather all the facts for your doc to propose a treatment approach.  You can either take, leave it, or do a combination of treatments, but it's way too early to know that yet.  I hope this is helpful in easing your anxiety that you have to do something (or decide something) immediately.  You don't. 

BTW, my first cancer diagnosis, I had a lumpectomy and radiation.  That seems to have been the right decision since that cancer has not returned 15 years later.  My second cancer diagnosis, a second primary (meaning a completely different cancer), I've had chemo and surgery, a mastectomy, and that seems to be the right decision since I'm now NED (remission). 

Got the news on October 16th...I have breast cancer. I cant stop crying and asking God why.  I've told my sisters and mom...no one else. My doctor has been available to answer all the questions and has given lots of information.  But I'm still trying to process the diagnosis and all the medical jargon.  I have next appointment on Wednesday with doctor and medical team. So many decisions. 

I was told on Friday October 17th. I knew I was a higher risk since my mother is a 16 year survivor  and passes the BRAC mutant gene on to me. I thought with all the preventive I did with mammograms and breast MRI's every year, it wouldn't happen to me. Boy, I got hit with a emotional roller coaster that day.  I've been to couple appointments with my breast specialist, and still waiting, seems like forever. My oncology report came back : IDC 2.9cm, stage 2 with negative er, pgr, her2. With possible lymph node involvement. My doctor's office is making my appointments with the radiologist and oncologist plus a body scan. I'm also trying to learn the new cancer dialog but feel like I'm walking through a fog. 

New to this thread so hi to you all.  I had a bx on 10/15 to remove to micro calcifications and a large mass that popped up in a 3 month period.  Have about a 2 1/2" incision with a bunch of sutures.  That's small in the scheme of things because on Monday. The results were +IDC.  I have done a lot of research on the subject (hey, I'm a nurse, it's what we do best!). From what I read a lumpectomy and maybe radiation is just as effective for getting rid of the cancer if It's not an inherited thing.  Unfortunately, I am not a candidate for a lumpectomy because  1) I have a history of many biopsies for microcalcifications and lumps and bumps, all B9 and  2) I have large breasts and cosmetically it wouldn't look right.  I'm seeing plastics next Mon. for them to do reconstruction @ time of surg.  Probably expanders.

My BS told me they would 1st take me to radiology to do sentinel node mapping then to the OR.  They will take out the sentinel nodes, send them to path for frozen section (they get results in 10-15 mins.).  If they come back + then they will do a node dissection then plastics come in and does his thing. Sounds like it's going to be a long surgery.

After that I will be going to a Oncologist.  They can't make TX plan until they know if it's in the nodes.  If it is then I will get testing to check for mets, (bone scan, MRI, etc.).  I know it's going to take a while for this to happen but, hey, the CA isn't going anywhere. 
Hope you find this helpful as to a time line.

I'm just bumping to bring this back to the original subject matter and poster Quilter1.

I'm very sorry about your diagnosis; I can understand your fear. I wonder what has happened since this original post, and if you have a response to the poster's question about why you included "mets" in your fears.  Have you been able to learn more yet from your doctors about your diagnosis?  It sounds like you have a lot of new terms to 'come to terms' with. There are plenty of women on here who have walked in your shoes and can offer support to your particular areas of diagnosis.  Best to ya.

i am 43 and i was just diagnosed with stage 2, grade 3 invasive breast cancer. i've been through the surgeries already. now i am waiting to see if my lump is fast aggresive or slow agrresive. i have to do the genetic testing yet and then  what treatments i have to do yet.