So helpful to read others have panic attacks

windingshores, take a deep breath and try to relax. It will help with the anxiety. You need to get all the info in front of you to see what you are really dealing with. Our heads will go to that dark place when we don't know, and so we panic. Once that sets in, it is hard to get the train on the track. You need to have your head on, gather up some close family and friends, and game on! Take someone you trust to the appointment so you gather all of the info. Record your appointments with your smart phone. Make notes so you can ask questions. The timing is slow, we all hurry up to wait for those appointments, and then hurry up to wait for the results, and on it goes.

We all feel better when we control the process and the people. Look through the boards, there are excellent threads to answer some questions, but also to suggest what to ask the Doctors. Please remember that knowledge is power, and power will give you some control. Now is the time to be ready, ask all the questions, look at the info on the boards and be prepared when you see the Doctors. You can do this, it is amazing what one can do when the time is now to do it. Please visit us often, we all help each other get through this. Take Care.

I've suffered from panic attacks most of my adult life, but I pretty much lived on Xanax for the first 2 months after being diagnosed with BC. I was in panic mode most of the time and couldn't even think about sleeping without the Xanax. My PC was great about prescribing it and basically told me w a diagnosis of BC she'd give me as much as I wanted. Eventually I started getting back to new "normal" and stopped taking the Xanax. Sometimes we need a bit of chemical help, but you won't turn into a junkie! Not too long ago, I switched to 3 mg of melatonin at bedtime to help me sleep and I swear it works just as well as the Xanax did-in the vitamins section, no need for a script.

My personal choice was to go to a large university breast center. This setting is very helpful in coordinating your care, having all the specialists you will need in one place and makes referrals to each specialist easy. I saw a local, small hospital surgeon initially when trying to decide where to have my surgery done and he said he could do the surgery, but I'd need to find and choose an OC and a radiologist and if I wanted genetic testing done, a geneticist. A large breast center basically puts your team together for you. But, if I hadn't liked my oncologist at Vanderbilt, I could have asked for another. They have several at their breast center. Just remember 2 doctors can get together and call themselves a Breast Center. If going that route I'd look for a university breast center. While the breast center was a long drive for us, both breast centers I consulted said doing radiation therapy closer to home was fine, even though my care was primarily thru the breast center. Radiation is an every day gig, and convenience becomes a bigger question if that is in your future.

Windingshores..big hugs. I don't think I have had panic attacks...maybe I am not sure entirely what they are and I simply call it "stress" lol. But when I was diagnosed (as a young mom of 3 little ones)...I could not even see straight, literally. I got up one night, unable to sleep, and went downstairs. My head was spinning. I promptly threw up. Right there, was rock bottom. I think we have all had those dark moments. It's a part of being human. It gets easier. I promise.

And the studies seem to show that lumpectomy has the same recurrence rates as mastectomy...so it's a very personal decision. I had rads after a mx with implants and I am fine.

You are most definitely not alone here

Kyra ... welcome to BCO.  I had panic attacks when I was diagnosed too.  The worst time for me was between when the cancer was identified by biopsy and when treatment actually began.  I asked my surgeon for some Xanax, which he prescribed.  It really helped me those couple of weeks.  Once you get more information and can get started on what's coming next, I think the panic attacks will start to go away.  I have to confess though, that radiation treatment brought on some panic as well. 

Please keep posting and let us know how you're doing.

hugs,

Bren

cmo65...I am still a little woozy from pain meds from my double mast yesterday but I just wanted to tell you that things do get better. I haven't gotten my final path report but look at it this way...you were healthy before diagnosis..just think how much healthier you will be as the cancer is removed from your body! You will be wonder woman! Big hug!

Dear eTinaMarie27, welcome to Breastcancer.org. We're sorry you have to be here, but glad you found us!

You may find it relevant to read from our main site reliable information on IDC — Invasive Ductal Carcinoma where you'll learn about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, etc.

We hope this helps, and wish you the best with recovery and getting your results and treatment plan!

The Mods