Need help

Hi everyone, I was just newly diagnosed a few hours ago and am petrified about the unknown. I have a quick question for you ladies out there. My lump, measuring 1.9 x 1.5 is found on the right breast and so far (fingers crossed) ultrasound has not picked up any swollen nodes as yet. However, I have arm pain on the left arm and am so afraid that it might be arm mets. It hurts when I move it in certain ways. I have had it for about 3 weeks and to be honest I was moving around some heavy stuff but do not recall that I felt any sprain. It does not hurt when I sleep but it has not improved much either since 3 weeks ago. What are the symtoms of mets to arm? Sorry if this sounds paranoid but it is really bugging me since I am hoping for the best prognosis.

Your Dr(s) are who should have already been told of the pain as it has lasted over 2 weeks.

When you say 'arm pain', what/where do you mean? How long has it been since you had a Bone Scan, CT/MRI or PET scan? Depending on your DX, these are usually done before starting TX to be sure what 'all' might be going on throughout the body.

Even after a DX and TX - every 'ache and pain' or other issues are not always associated with BC in any way.

Talk to your Dr.

Kicks

Kiks, rest assured that we have all done the exact same thing and usually it has nothing to do with the diagnosis. But, our minds can't help but go there. You will be getting a quick education and will feel much better once you understand a little more and have a plan in place. If you don't feel 100% in tune with the oncologist keep looking. There are so many women on these boards that you can turn to for help and support. I don't know what I would have done without them. I'm so sorry that you have had to join us

A couple of ideas cor when you see your Dr (will it be a Surgeon or a Chemo Dr first?) - get a note pad, write down in it every question you have. Leave some space to write down his/her replies. Make a copy of all questions and give it to him/her as sometimes a Dr can answer several questions in one answer. Use your smart phone to record the appt so if necessary you can replay it later to be sure what was actually said.

Be sure to start NOW getting copies of 'everything' and file it. (This was IMPRESSED to me by the Radiologist who did my mammo, US and biopsies. I have boxes full of papers/reports that I can go back to IF I ever need to.)

Hope that give you some ideas.

That's great that you will be seeing your entire TX team as it is important that all are included from the 'git go'. The entire plan should be coordinated, not 3 individual TXs without the others being involved as to the best plan. Surgery is not always the best first line TX. Neoadjuvant Chemo (Chemo pre-surgery) is SOP for IBC but it is becoming more common for other types also to get the cancer to shrink and get better margins so surgery results are better and often less invasive. Same goes for including the Plastic Surgeon in the TX Plan if immediate recon is an option/being done as this can be effected by further TXs. There are many who have surgery without ever seeing a Chemo or Rads Dr because the Surgeon never suggested they seek a complete TX Plan before surgery. Remember - they are all Specialist in their field - very basically, Surgeons cut, Chemo Drs do Chemo and Rads Drs do radiation individually but they should be a team working together, not individually, for the TX Plan. Not only will you see them individually but they will undoubtably take your case to the Board for input from other Drs at the Facility or if one (or more) is on the Board at other Facilities it may be taken to them too (mine was).