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Lovey1226
Lovey1226 Member Posts: 12
edited September 2015 in Just Diagnosed

Hi! I'm very new to all this, so excuse any mistakes. My background is, I'm 40. I spent most of my late 20's and early 30s receiving fertility treatments. Multiple IUIs with injectable hormones, then a few IVFs with more hormones. One IVF took, then ended in miscarriage. We adopted my son, then I became naturally pregnant when my son was 4 months old. My kids are almost 13 months apart and are currently 6 and 7. To say I am shocked by the breast cancer DX is an understatement. I'm a pretty healthy person, I love going to yoga and I run 1/2 marathons. Looks like this CA is going to change my fall races. In any event. That is me in a nutshell.

So, I went for my baseline in August. The baseline showed small calcifications, the detailed mammo confirmed, then I was sent for the horrific core biopsy. It showed cancer. This was on August 18th. We met with the breast surgeon on August 20th. Initially we thought it was a small 4mm site of DCIS with IDC. Totally lumpectomy worthy with a little radiation thrown in, was the initial plan.

Fast forward to an MRI and 2 Ultrasounds done yesterday. The cancer in the right breast is a TON bigger than mammo or MRI showed. The surgeon is concerned a lumpectomy will end in a MX anyway. Looking at the size I saw on the u/s I totally agree (I'm also a bit in healthcare). So, since my cancer has gone from cute and manageable to obnoxious, the doc's plan has changed.

Next up she wants to do the sentinel node biopsy, that will then determine the plan? Does that sound right? After researching and researching, I feel for me a double mx is my choice. But, I wonder how will we know if chemo or radiation is required? Will that be determined using the nodes or the tissue excised in surgery? I guess all that is still up in the air. Right now I am researching the DIEP versus implants. I should be getting a call today with info on a plastic surgeon and date for the node removal.

Thanks in advance for reading this.

-K


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

    Dear Lovey 1226,

    Welcome to the community. We are sorry that your "obnoxious" cancer brought you here but so glad that you reached out. We are aware that you haven't heard from others yet but hang in here. Stay connected and keep posting. We are offering some links to information on our site that might be helpful Your Diagnosis and Sentinel Lymph node dissection. You may also want to visit some of the threads in the Reconstruction Forum. We will be thinking of you. The Mods

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  • labelle
    labelle Member Posts: 721
    edited September 2015

    In my case the need/no need for chemo was determined by an oncotype test. This was done using material from my core biopsy, allowing us to put a plan in place fairly early. Others on here do not have this test done until the time of surgery, but it is commonly used to help determine whether or not one needs chemo assuming the cancer is er+ positive. I would certainly ask about oncotype testing if I were you, it can be very helpful in guiding treatment decisions re chemo. Others should chime in soon re some of your other questions. Hold on to your hat. It's a bumpy ride, but it is doable!

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  • trying2staypositive7
    trying2staypositive7 Member Posts: 96
    edited September 2015

    HI!

    I'm so sorry that you had to join the club that no one wants to join but just know that you are among friends. Everyone here is super helpful and inspiring when you feel that you are at your wit's end! The beginning is the worst because it's facing the fear of unknown. Once you meet with your doctors and get your treatment plan together, things move at warp speed and you really don't have time to stress. It's great that you're such a forward thinker and have already started mapping out reconstruction. If you do end up having radiation, some doctors feel that radiated skin rejects implants. In my case, I had radiation and it thinned out my skin so much that I couldn't have implants. I went with the DIEP (I can tell you that I'm not sorry at all about that but that's another story for much later). I'm sure more people will come on and give better advice but here's my two cents on the chemo matter. Usually, you have surgery and the doctor removes your tumor (the exact size of the tumor isn't revealed until pathology looks at it after surgery). After surgery, your doctor will call you in and give you your pathology report. To my knowledge, if the cancer has spread to any of the lymph nodes the doctor will recommend chemo and radiation. The chemo is for any straggling cancer cells that might have gotten past your lymph nodes (to prevent distant recurrence). Radiation is done to the chest area and that's to prevent local recurrence. Chemo is usually done before radiation. Some take the oncotype test to determine the benefits of chemo. But, for now, concentrate on being positive. Positivity helps the healing process. Also, take someone with you to your doctor's appointments or record them because I tended to miss half of what the doctor said because of my shock! LOL!! Lastly, come here with your questions. This place is a great sanctuary. Good luck and God Bless.

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  • Morwenna
    Morwenna Member Posts: 1,063
    edited September 2015

    Hi and welcome!

    I am also one whose cancer went from "cute and manageable" to "obnoxious" once I had my lumpectomy and sentinel node/turned to axillary node dissection/turned to mastectomy!

    My tumour, under the microscope, turned out far bigger/more invasive/more aggressive than any imaging/biopsy had indicated. So ended up having chemo and radiation as well as mastectomy.

    I later elected to have the second mastectomy and bilateral reconstruction. I was informed that my radiation would make implant difficult, if not impossible, and they didn't appeal to me anyway.

    I'm nearly three years out, and doing OK, so far as I know. :)

    As said above, sometimes these decisions kinda make themselves .....

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  • Tresjoli2
    Tresjoli2 Member Posts: 868
    edited September 2015

    I just wanted to identify with going for your baseline and coming out the other end with cancer. It's much better once your plans are made..,hugs

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  • Lovey1226
    Lovey1226 Member Posts: 12
    edited September 2015

    Thanks to you all!! I am blessed to have found this site! I know from past issues with infertility, the knowledge in the forums is what kept me from going nutty!!! Right now, I'm at the stage where everyone who finds out "the news" has a friend with the perfect surgeon. And also the, "Have you read the latest on this cancer test?" All my loved ones are doing their best to help control something that is way out of their hands. I expect I'll be receiving these emails for a while. Lucky for me, I love my BS, and I am anxious to meet the PS, so I have no worries about that - yet.

    I am rather sarcastic and I hope the humor translates via the typed words - I never mean to offend. But, thank you for welcoming me! I just want to the BS to call with the date for the sentinel node removal. Until then I will run, and yoga and reach for things on high shelves while I can.... Being 5'3" I have to reach for everything. :)

    Let's get this roller coaster ride started....

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  • queenmomcat
    queenmomcat Member Posts: 3,039
    edited September 2015

    Lovey: My sympathies about the reaching! 5'4" here, and everything's over my head. One of the reasons I was so keen to NOT have even a unilateral mastectomy, and glad my surgeon didn't need to do that in the end.

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  • msphil
    msphil Member Posts: 1,536
    edited September 2015


    we are here foryou glad u found this site, i was 42, found my lump, was planning 2nd wedding and optedforamastectomy so i didnthaveto worry bout coming back formore surgery later,i am now a 21 yr Survivor(Priase GOD) and we have been married for 21 yrs also, i did chemo for 3 mo, then L mast, then 3 more mo chemo and got married, and then rads, hang in there have HOPE it got me thru. msphil(idc, stage 2, 0/3 nodes, L mast, chemo and radsand 5yrs on tamoxifen)

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  • Lovey1226
    Lovey1226 Member Posts: 12
    edited September 2015

    Thanks all! I had a great visit with the PS on Friday. It seems a lot of decisions will be decided on which treatment plan is required...

    If I avoid rads, he is suggesting going straight to implants (I am NOT a candidate for DIEP, I found out). I am small breasted and do not want to go up in size. I explained my activity level (a 40 year old who will still do back handsprings on a trampoline and lots of back dives in the summer). Because of the stupid crazy things I still do, we took TRAM and DIEP off the table quickly.

    SO, anyone else go straight to implants? I have sentinel node removal on Friday-- any tips there? I am supposed to take pictures Saturday morning (amateur sports photographer here) and go to a college game Saturday night. Am I going to feel up to this?

    Thanks in advance!!

    K

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