Was told this evening I have IDC

Hi Cmo65, sorry to see you have to join this club. I'm almost identical. 49 with no family history. My tumor is just over 2 cm so puts me at stage 2. It's been almost 2 weeks and the reality of my "new" life is just setting in. Each day brings new info and new doctors. The major shock for me is the need for chemo and all the lovely side effects, this being due to her+. I have found this site the bestest for info and support, I'm all about being prepared. Hugs to you!

Christine- so sorry about your news/ diagnosis. It is a hard pill to swallow! Like you, I have no family history of BC, as I have found many others like this. You have come to a great place for support! There are many caring people here, many have walked the same path. It will give you hope to hear so many stories of survival. As you move through your treatment remember to be strong, but cry when you need to. I have definitely done my share of crying in the last 6 months. Two weeks ago I finished radiation, which I look at as another milestone. There are many milestones during BC. I would say you just had your first one. Best of luck on your journey

Dear Christine,

Being her negative is both good and bad. It's good statistically, but bad you can't benefit from a drug that blocks her2. Mixed bag.

Hi Christine, I had the same diagnosis 4 years ago next month. I had MBX with reconstruction and I have to say that it wasn't nearly as bad as I had been imagining. I woke up in the recovery room with 2 somewhat deflated breasts and nipples intact. I had received 300 ccs of saline in my expanders so that's why my breasts looked deflated, considerably smaller than my original girls. I was node negative and my onco score was 15 ,low, so no chemo needed. I was on oral meds for about year but couldn't stand the idea effects. I'm on nothing now. My life is happily back to normal with an occasional doctors visit thrown in a couple of times a year. I know a lot of what I've just told you will have little meaning at this point but you will very quickly catch on to the lingo. My point is, it's not the end of your life. You're going to be kept quite busy for the next few months but then it will stop and you'll wonder what the hell I was so worried about!!

If you have someone that can go with you to your future appointments that will be of great benefit to you. I did this for a friend of mine who was diagnosed in December and it's amazing what she DIDN'T hear at each visit.Take time to breath .,Don't rush your thoughts too far into the future, you'll miss today.

Good luck and let us know how you make out. Feel free to ask me or anyone else here any questions that enter your mind.

Barbara

It is overwhelming at first, as you feel an urgency to get the cancer out! Like you, I had Pain that radiated from my left breast down my arm. I did find a lump where the pain was coming from. I did have a biopsy, but later was referred by the BS to have a 3D mammo and an MRI. At that time there was difficulty seeing things, due to dense tissue, however there were some micro calcifications. I had another biopsy- mammogram assisted. Luckily the second biopsy didn't result in anything of importance. During the early stage it helped me to exercise to keep my mind off of BC. I would agree with Barbara that taking a friend or family member is good support, as well as a second set of ears. My BS met w/ my mom, mother in law and myself to discuss the plan. Afterwards he gave me a CD with the recordings of the meetings and handouts with illustrations and information. I was so very lucky to find a great BS and MO, as it makes a difference. Hang in there!

Christine ,

We have all been there , the anxiety , fear and confusion !!

Once it sinks in , you will be fine ! My advice to you is to read a lot and know all of your options .This place is the right place to be for information and support !

I had a lump of 2.5 cm and a lymph node involvement , my lymph node enlargement was 3 cm and my BS was sure before the biopsy that it was cancer !! I felt my lump my self and the kind i have ( lobular carcinoma ) does not make lumps and hard to detect without MRI !!

You think you are a mess !! But this is the kind of thing that not only makes you stronger , but BOLDER !

Believe it to beat it .

Lina

hi Annie.

Christine, it's a roller coaster of a ride, with nausea. You want OFF !

Bottom line, you don't know the whole story until they get it there & remove it. If you have no Cancer in the nodes, you might not need chemo. Did they do a punch biopsy of your sentinel node? I went into surgery believing I had just one node malignant, came out with a enormous mass in the axillary nodes.

Some ladies have one node with Cancer cells in it & skip chemo. Radiation is long, generally 5 times a week for 6 weeks. For me it was easy. Chemo was not.

One day at a time. Keep busy, that seems to help. My house was never cleaner than when I was waiting for all the appts. in the beginning. Oh, your ? About does this ever end ? I was dx almost 2 years ago. ( July 2013 ) . I take Arimidex, it is a aromatase inhibitor. Almost all ladies take something for 5 years, some for 10. I don't know about triple negative. If you need chemo, depending on how many doses, it is a solid 9-10 months process. Some ladies get "chemo light". 4 doses of a gentler version. Having reconstruction can be a very lengthy process. I had a lumpectomy, much easier, supposedly the statistics are the same.

I suggest being selfish. This is the time of your life to make yourself # 1. Your Cancer is small, grade 1 is good. Try not to over analyze how this happen. Cancer is random, most of us dwell on it. When I think of young kids that are dx with various cancers, it makes no sense. Bad luck, random.

March 10, 2015

I was called today and given the diagnosis of IDC, right side lump of the right breast. have an appointment with the surgeon tomorrow, to discuss all the rest. Making sure I take my note pad in to get everything written down. I have several questions written that have come to mind, see if they get answered by his information. if not covered I will still ask. I am experiencing "a couple of wobbly knees" right now. I will not cry...don't have enough information yet. Of course my hubby knows and we have prayed. I don't want tears when I tell the married children and families....I really dread it....I have read some of your posts about family reactions.

Glad I was able to find a support group, my first night of researching the new world that I am coming into,

Wren- I am so glad to hear from someone that is a few years out. Now that I am past RT things are getting back to resemble my old life

TXFreckles-sorry that you have to join this club, but you have come to a great place for support. Once you get more information about your diagnosis then you will have more of a plan. The first few months of everything go by fast. I agree with the others that self care and doing things that are of interest are especially important during this time. At first I didn't tell my children, as they are younger, but I did when I knew more of what was ahead. My youngest cried and hugged me extra tight. My older child talks more about the treatments. He has questions about the details. We live in a small community and I haven't openly shared, as I feel my children do not need to have a constant reminder from people offering sympathy. I feel like cancer has pulled the rug out on their security, but it has made us appreciate everything more.it definitely has been a life lesson to us all. We love each other and our time together that much more.

CatsRus-stay strong! Support from your family will be everything after your surgery! I will be thinking of you. Virtual hugs as I know this is so hard! Rest and take care of yourself

With that small of a tumor and no node involvement, they will likely recommend a lx and rads. Depending on how high your ER and PR, you will be prescribed hormone blockers AKA Tamoxifen. You might want to read up on that. I would doubt you are looking at chemo. Try to hang in there. Your dx is not bad. ( I mean yes, cancer is bad) But you are VERY early.

I think a lot of women immediately want to go for the mx thinking that gives them a much better outcome but studies show equal outcomes when there is no node involvement. You don't HAVE to have a mx. (Of course you have to talk to your doctor first).

You are not a moron. You are normal person reacting to a fear. When you get more information, you will feel better. I am going to go out on a limb and say that with the information you have provided, it is very unlikely to have metastasized. I would encourage you NOT to rush into surgery, especially a mx. More likely than not, you have time. I think many women who could easily have a lx do that and then later regret it. Have you read any of the threads about making a decision about lx vs mx? As an example, my tumor is 3 cm. I asked my doctor if I could wait until early April to have surgery because we had plans for spring break. He said yes. As you read on here, you will see that your tumor is relatively small. Also, notice the people's signatures and see what treatments people who have your same diagnosis are getting. That should help you know a little about what to expect.