Scared stiff

Hi Kazza-

We just wanted to welcome you to our community here at BCO. We're sorry for what brings you here, but we're glad you've found us.

The beginning is so very difficult, we know. There's a lot of questions and uncertainty, and fear of what's to come. Just know that you're not alone, and you will find many women on these boards who have been where you are now. We've compiled a collection of information that many of our newly diagnosed members find helpful, you can locate those here: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/5/topic/8....

Please let us know if you have any questions, or need any assistance in any way. We're thinking of you!

The Mods

I have not run into this, but I think like you, the x-ray must fall within the first 10 days of your menstrual period. Perhaps it gives clearer results at a certain time when either estrogen or progesterone predominate.? just a thought. also I want you to know there is a thread here somewhere I used to be on for people with large tumors. Mine was 10 cm!!! Yet I'd had a mammogram every year. but guess what? the biggest do not necessarily go anywhere. they are big schlubs that just stay put. I had no nodal involvement despite my gigantic size. They even checkd out to see if someone had misread my previous year's mammo. But the tiniest can metastasize.

I could not figure this out, as after I had my Mastectomy and I was totally clear in 6 nodes despite have a very aggressive, quickly dividing cancer (invasive ductal) grade 9 out of 9 on the something or other scale for bad cell behaviour - Nottingham or richardson - I forget - but my surgeon always said "some are just not the travellin' kind". I felt I'd won the whopper of the year award. At that time (2008) it was MX first, chemo next, rads, hormonal therapy. We didn't do neoadjuvant chemo, as you seem to infer will happen (to shrink the tumor first right off the bat via chemo).

Waiting another few weeks is really no big deal. Through an error in my paperwork I did not even get a biopsy till about 2 MONTHS after my mammo from hell, and surgery was another month after that.

Good thing you have the clonazapam & ativan - take them! they are such a help, especially to sleep

Like everyone here says, this is the very worst, scariest time. Once you have more info and a plan, you tend to grab onto that as it gives you a sense of control - you doing something. Another wonderful thing happens if you like your doctors and medical team and put your faith in them and just go with the flow. I was actually extremely happy during chemo, the world had never looked like a more beautiful place - but at that point I knew i had no nodes involved and that was my gift from the universe, and I am hoping you will have that gift too.

Breasts will change throughout menstrual cycles, so this means 10 days from the day your period started. They want a clear picture, and that period of time seems to be the best for getting clear results about what is there.

I remember this from when I used to get mammos. I"m so sorry you had to join us here, but these boards have truly been a life-saver for me. Keep coming back to the community; I couldn't live without BC.org. Hugs/(and it will eventually all be okay again, I promise!)

Claire

Hi kazza and maxi,

I probably can't add much new info but I wanted to let you know I understand your anxiety and fear. Everyone here has gone through the same period of not knowing, and we have all had to try and calm the voices that "what if" non-stop. Xanax was my best friend until I knew what I was dealing with and what my TX plan was going to be. By that time I was a little more clear-headed and was able to look at surgery, rads, and Tamoxifen as weapons to vanquish the little bastard cancer cells.

Stay close to BCO, check out all the different threads, and you'll find so many who are available and willing to offer support and share experiences. Keep us posted on how things develop.

Hi kazza, sorry for your diagnosis. My diagnosis was similar to yours and I also have small children.
My tumor was never measured for sure (had neoadjuvant chemo) but on imaging it was 6-7 cm plus positive lymph nodes. I was so scared I would be dead within months. I am only 2 years out from treatment but I still hope this could help because 2 years felt like eternity at the time of my diagnosis... I feel much better now and I'm not constantly scared of what will happen anymore.

Before you know it you have started treatment, don't worry about the waiting time. Remember although this is a scary diagnosis there is still great hope for a long life.

good luck

Hi Kazza,

I was diagnosed 10 years ago. I was Stage2 grade1 IDC Invasive ductal carcinoma. My tumor was 5cm, which is kinda large. I had 2 nodes that also showed the cancer. I had chemo therapy then a lumpectomy and then radiation. This trip was the scariest thing I had to do in my life. But I am still here to tell you of my story. I am not sure of treatment in Ireland however I had Adriamycin, Cytoxan and Taxotere. I was er+ and pr+ and her2-. I actually handled the treatment pretty well. Good luck in this journey and stay strong.

Kazza - feel free to ask any questions you want. I hope you are soon done waiting for scan results and that they are clear. The waiting time was the hardest for me. BREATH and try doing something nice for yourself...

Lildee - thank you for your post. Gives hope to me as well. Hoping for 10-20 and even 30 year posts for all of us.

Hi Kazza2108, Sounds like the plan for treatment will be in place soon, that helps a lot to have a plan of attack. I also had a larger lump, but I had AC/T, then surgery, and I just finished rads. Keep us posted on how the tests are coming along.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!