34 and can't believe this is happening

Options
Dreamcatcher28
Dreamcatcher28 Member Posts: 5
edited October 2015 in Just Diagnosed

I am 34 years old and I was diagnosed just over a week ago. I'm still trying to work out all the details here, it's been a whirlwind. I found a lump about the size of a marble at the end of June, that I swear came up overnight. I waited a couple of weeks to see if it was a cyst but it began to grow. I didn't have insurance at the time and was denied for Medicaid. It took almost two months to find a program that would take me (since I am so young) and they thought it was a Fibroadenoma, they set me up for mammogram and ultrasound and appt with surgeon but no rush. By the time I went for diagnostics two weeks ago it was measuring 5.5 cm. Surgeon still thought fibro but did biopsy to be sure. Called me next day saying I needed to see him immediately. Now 6cm and growing rapidly (In 34B its almost overtaken my breast). Met with oncologist Thursday and he wanted to start chemo immediately but of course have to wait for zillions of tests. Am most terrified about the PET scan on Friday. I don't think I can take any more bad news :-( Scheduled to start chemo on the 12th. Any and all support and or advice is welcome!

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • readytorock
    readytorock Member Posts: 199
    edited October 2015

    I just want to say best wishes to you. You will get through this!!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited October 2015

    Dreamcatcher- I just wanted to say I'm here. There are many of us here that have been through a similar horror and it is indeed very hard to make sense of it all. A lot of information will be thrown at you, and the waiting for tests and results seems to be the hardest time for just about everyone.

    Please stay off Dr. Google and read the solidly helpful and informationally correct articles here in this site. And stay close. I do not have specific advice for you except get and keep a copy of all of your reports, especially your pathology report and keep your personal profile updated with your stats so people can help you with specifics.

    I will add this thread to my favorites and will stay with you through this. I'm sure others will as well. When I was diagnosed, I hadn't found this site yet. I only found it right before I started chemo, but these women have literally saved me from drowning in my own head.

    Sending a bottomless bucket of hugs to you now.

    Katy

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dtad
    dtad Member Posts: 2,323
    edited October 2015

    Dear Dreamcatcher. I second all that was said! May I say that if you could get to a university based teaching hospital it would be great. Hopefully you already are at one. Being treated at a top facility is an important part of this process. Hang in there try to keep busy and stay positive until you have all the facts. Did you actually get a cancer diagnosis? Did you have a biopsy. I know how hard the waiting can be. Please keep in touch....

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited October 2015

    Hi Dreamcatcher!

    I'm sorry you had to join us. By the time I was diagnosed, my tumor was 5 cm+ and growing rapidly as well. I also had one compromised lymph node. After five months of chemo, however, my active cancer was gone. I still got a lumpectomy and lymph nodes removed to make sure but the pathology report confirmed what the MRI and PET scan showed. I've had three PET scans, and I find them to be relaxing compared to breast MRIs. The only problem with PET scans is that they produce false positives from time to time. So, even if something "lights up" on your PET scan, it doesn't necessarily mean that your cancer has metastasized. I had something light up on my hip, but it didn't show on a CT or MRI, so my medical oncologist considers it to be a false positive. Best wishes to you!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 27heart
    27heart Member Posts: 151
    edited October 2015

    I was told the same too (I'm 27, dx this year), that what I had was probably a fibroid. And boom, I have cancer and it's aggressive. My body was killing me and I didn't even have a clue! It takes time for facts to sink in, but being here is a good step forward. Reading and reaching out to the Warriors here has been encouraging and very helpful.

    Do keep us posted on your diagnosis, and your treatment plan so that we can give you more info and help you out. Hang in there!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Dreamcatcher28
    Dreamcatcher28 Member Posts: 5
    edited October 2015

    Thanks ladies.

    dtad, I had a biopsy done on September 23. I tried to include whatever I could on my signature, but I'm still trying to figure some of it out. I'll have to check out some of the site on understanding your diagnosis because there are a couple of things I haven't seen on here yet (Nottingham score? Ki-67?)

    27heart, mine is very aggressive too. I feel like a ticking time bomb, and I hate that I have to wait 9 more days to start chemo. The referral from the surgeon to the oncologist said he didn't believe there was node involvement, but he also thought it was fibro so I'm taking that with a grain of salt. A few days ago I started having soreness on my left side and its making me completely paranoid :-(

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • fifthyear
    fifthyear Member Posts: 225
    edited October 2015

    Sending you cyber hugs.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited October 2015

    Hi Dreamcatcher,

    Just thinking about you and hoping you are getting more answers. Please keep us posted!

    --The Mods

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • msphil
    msphil Member Posts: 1,536
    edited October 2015

    hello sweetie i know that feelin as lots of us do i found my lump seem like grew overnite too i was 42 plannin our 2nd wedding fear over took me 4 awhile but decided to fight i am now a 21yr Survivor(Praise God) keep Hope n stay here for lots of support.msphil(idc stage2 0\3 nodes chemo rads Lmast 5 hrs on tamoxifen

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Dreamcatcher28
    Dreamcatcher28 Member Posts: 5
    edited October 2015

    First round of chemo last week, 10/12. Feeling pretty good (physically) the last couple of days, but emotionally I'm starting to falter again. The tumor is so large and I feel that it is still growing. I know that is probably pretty normal right now and that's why there are multiple rounds :-(

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories