34 years old, just diagnosed and many questions

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PAYTONnPRESLEYSmomma
PAYTONnPRESLEYSmomma Member Posts: 17
edited June 2015 in Just Diagnosed

Hi, well I have been lurking here and even though you all seem amazing I was hoping not to have to join you all, but that isn't the case. I am 34 and went into my obgyn for my annual when I told her I had noticed a lump in my armpit. I believed it was an ingrown hair cause I was able to pop it but it left a lump. Well she scheduled me for an ultrasound and mammogram to just check it out. All though the armpit lump was just a cyst they did find some calcifications they wanted to biopsy just to be sure they were nothing. Of course everyone told me being young and what not they told me they were most likely nothing to be worried about. Well, wrong on that part....my OBGYN called me into her office Wednesday and told me they found some "cancer cells" from the biopsy. She set me up with an appt with a surgeon today. I was hoping I would get more answers but that wasn't really the case. He said he wasn't able to tell me what kind of cancer it was from the biopsy alone. So next Tuesday I am going for a MRI, chest XRay and blood work and will then have an appt with him the next day to figure out where we go from there. I just feel so in the dark about it all and my googling is driving me insane. My questions I guess is....

1) is it usually normal protocol to do the MRI, chest X-ray and blood work before discussing anything else?

2) do biopsys just tell you cancer is present and nothing else? Like would it let them know if it was DCIS (I believe that's what it's called) or something more invasive?

3) would it be smart to get a second opinion? He is just a general surgeon, is that the same as a breast surgeon? I live in Chicago and as you can imagine trying to google who to go to is overwhelming.

Thank you for all your help in advance. I am terrified to say the least. I have 2 small children that need me and an amazing husband who has been there for me every step of the way. Any other info you think I would benefit from throw at me! Thank you again!!!

Jenny

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited June 2015

    Hi Jenny, wow, weird, my name is Jenny to, and I'm 34 years old! First, sorry you had to find us, but everyone here is just amazing! We are all hard core survivors and we will help you any way you need! For me, they did a biopsy and a xray and a mammogram befor surgery. They can't get a complete pathology on your cancer until surgery. In my case, I chose a double mastectomy. After surgery and complete pathology, they downgraded the seriousness of the cancer that I had had, which was nice. After surgery, another mri and CT scan to make sure they got it all. (They did)

    I think biopsys can show the amount of cell differentiation, but they just show a tiny bit of the whole tumor, unless it's an excision al biopsy.

    If you are not completely comfortable with your surgeon, by all means get a second opinion! You can even ask you current surgeon to refer you. Ask if your hospital has a nurse navigator to help you through this. They are a valuable resource at this stage of the game!

    Hey. You can do this. Most women who have cancer get treated and it never comes back. Treqtment, no matter what you decide, is a terrible battle, but very doable. Big hugs!

    jen

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  • 3-16-2011
    3-16-2011 Member Posts: 559
    edited June 2015

    hi jenny,

    So sorry you had to find us but there is lots of wisdom and suppourt here. I did go with a breast surgeon and she still is the office I go to when I have a question and I am not sure who to turn to. My breast surgeon' s office had a nurse cancer navigator who was able to give me. so much information and help me know what I needed to know. So from my experience a breast surgeon provided me with resources a general surgeon would not have.

    I wish you good medicine and peace.

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  • inks
    inks Member Posts: 746
    edited June 2015

    So sorry you have to be here. Usually biopsy will show the type of cancer, ER/PR+ or -, grade. But sometimes the sample may be insufficient, not enough cancer tissue in the sample. I got an MRI to see the location of tumors and lymphnodes, and I got a chest x-ray to make sure no issues with lungs before surgery. Breast surgeons are general surgeons specializing in breast surgery ( they can take out your appendix or gallbladder if needed). Make sure you get evaluated for genetic counseling, it's unusual to get cancer at our age. You want to have doctors who specialize in breast cancer to have the best outcome for the surgery and any other further treatment. You can find such doctors who work as a team (breast surgeon, plastic surgeon, medical oncologist etc) at a major cancer center at larger hospitals, some places even have breast centers (separate location for patients who need chemo/radiation for their breast cancer). Look for doctors who you like and connect well since you will be seeing them often for years. Hugs!

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited June 2015

    Jenny, we don't have much more to add, other than to welcome you to our Community!

    We hate that you have to be here, but are really glad you found us. As you can already see, our boards are a fantastic source of support, advice, and experience.

    We hope you keep us posted on how all of your tests turn out. We're all here to help you through it!

    --The Mods

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  • april25
    april25 Member Posts: 772
    edited June 2015

    I really have no idea, but I'm wondering if they are lacking info also because the biopsy was on you lymph-nodes and they haven't checked out your breast for a tumor??? I'd have thought they would do a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound to see, and then another biopsy if they see something--which SHOULD give you more of an idea... But maybe the MRI and Chest x-rays are first because they want to get a bigger picture first?

    I originally saw a breast surgeon, but also an oncologist, and ended up mostly going through an oncologist because I had chemo before surgery. Your case might be different. For sure, you need a lot more information first. And to talk to a lot of doctors. I saw as many as possible up-front: surgeon, oncologist, radiologist... (unfortunately I'm getting the full-treatment!) And I got a second Opinion for my overall course of treatment and ended up switching doctors to the 2nd one, because I felt more comfortable with his suggestions. It was all insanely crazy/busy/stressful/confusing. But you have time to sort it out and make decisions you are comfortable with. I took a month between original diagnosis of cancer before I sorted things out, got tests and started treatment... and some people go longer.

    I am so sorry you have to go through this. I hope you can get lots of help and support here and elsewhere.

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  • CAMommy
    CAMommy Member Posts: 437
    edited June 2015

    my pathology report had the type and grade of my cancer cells. It said solid to cribiform type and intermediate to high grade. It also said it was noninvasive and that it was DCIS. And it said it was 95% for estrogen and 70% for progesterone

    I'd ask for a copy of your pathology report.

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  • PAYTONnPRESLEYSmomma
    PAYTONnPRESLEYSmomma Member Posts: 17
    edited June 2015

    Hi ladies and first off let me start by thanking you all for the warm welcome and great and informative replies! I actually called the surgeons office this morning and asked for more info on my pathology report. She told me my dx was DCIS grade 2 5mm. Any insight or some laymans definition of what that actually means? I have googled and researched all weekend and the only thing it's done is send me into a dark hole of worry! I do have an MRI and chest X-ray and blood work to be done tomorrow. The nurse did assure me that those test are usually routinely done. Another thing she said I can have a report of my path but was wondering do you think they would be able to email it to me or would I have to pick it up in person? Thanks again ladies you really are a great community and I am so happy I stumbled upon you all.

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  • PAYTONnPRESLEYSmomma
    PAYTONnPRESLEYSmomma Member Posts: 17
    edited June 2015

    ok well I had them fax me a copy of the path report. Here is what it says....

    Right breast 10 o'clock, stereotactic-guided core biopsies:

    Invasive distal carcinoma, 1.2 mm focus, Nottingham grade 2/3 (histology grade 3, nuclear grade 2, motor of grade 1), in a background of areas of ducal carcina in situ, intermediate to high nuclear grade, solid and cribriform types with extensions into lobes, showing focal central necrosis and calcification

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  • april485
    april485 Member Posts: 3,257
    edited June 2015

    Payton, does it say invasive DISTAL or DUCTAL carcinoma?

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  • PAYTONnPRESLEYSmomma
    PAYTONnPRESLEYSmomma Member Posts: 17
    edited June 2015

    I'm sorry yes ductal not distal.

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  • april485
    april485 Member Posts: 3,257
    edited June 2015

    Sorry that you have to deal with this at such a young age Scared It sounds like they caught it early and your prognosis will be pretty good. I think because your IDC is larger than 1mm, your treatment will be based on that, not your DCIS. If it turns out to be under 1mm, then it will be treated more like DCIS -MIC and I am unsure what the treatment protocols are. But, you are definitely going to be treated based on the more serious IDC component of your cancer. Hugs and hoping that you know soon what will be your treatment cause once that happens, you will feel so much more in control. This is the worst part of this imho.

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