Diagnosed Today

Options
Blueorange
Blueorange Member Posts: 76
edited June 2016 in Just Diagnosed

Hi all,

I was diagnosed this morning. Invasive ductal carcinoma, grade 1. I have two small nodules in my left breast. It's early on, thankfully.

I've been numb and in laser-focus mode trying to get treatment set up. Dealing with insurance today was frustrating, trying to get a referral and approval. I'd like to go to UCLA cancer center. I have tons of family near there and it has a high ranking..

So it begins...

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Beatmon
    Beatmon Member Posts: 1,562
    edited May 2016

    It will seem as though no one else that works in any of the Docs offices or insurance are focused on anything when you are trying to set up those first appointments. You will find so much support and education on these boards. ....come back often. There are so many smart women that are willing to help in anyway they can, many have come to my help over the last few years.

    We all wish that you didn't have to join our club

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lovelife38
    lovelife38 Member Posts: 5
    edited May 2016

    Dear Blueorange,

    So sorry you have to join this group, but there is so much support here. Please, take one step at a time. Take a deep breath and remember we are here for you to support you in any way we can!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PhoebeLee
    PhoebeLee Member Posts: 11
    edited May 2016

    Dear Blue Orange,

    Welcome to the worst club with the best members. Yes, the support here is very good to have. Mostly I would say to you that you will find a strength in yourself you never knew you had. Today I'm 7 months post dx and it looks like I'll be just fine.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Blueorange
    Blueorange Member Posts: 76
    edited May 2016

    Thank you all for the support. I'm still kind of in shock, just wanting to get to the treatment center...

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2016

    Hi, just wanted to share that you will recover from this...and unless you know how to sift through old, tired research and how to read research and treatment science, stay away from Dr. Google for a few days until you have an oncologist you like and trust, and one who treats you as a person they care about, not simply a patient.

    The dx is a shock, and still is sometimes to me even some years later. I could not have survived without all these ladies (and some gents!) here and knowing that I'm not at all alone and wasn't singled out.

    Hugs

    Claire

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LadyLisetta
    LadyLisetta Member Posts: 2
    edited May 2016

    Hi Bluorange! You got this! You have the same diagnosis I have. I understand that numb feeling so well. I got my diagnosis on 4/21/16. I was a basket case the first afternoon and evening vacillating between crying jags and cold shivers from shock just as Claireinaz commented above. Then I was numb for many days as I started to wade through information and gathered my excellent health care team together. After the initial melt down, I became laser focused on how to beat this illness and what I can do to make my body and immune system stronger.

    During the surgical consultation, my doctor gave us good information and spoke to us in layman's terms. He put my mind at ease about surgery and said that since my tumor is rather small and slow growing, the biopsy likely took half of it out already. My surgery is tomorrow morning. I surprised myself because for the last month, while I am laser focused on beating this and staying positive, I find I am at peace now with the DX because I know I am doing everything I can to be strong, positive, and focused on fighting this thing.

    While I am new to the forums here and I really don't post much, I do find encouragement, support, and good advice and information within the posted comments. Again, you got this and we are all here to support you. We are all Sisters of the Heart and we ARE survivors!

    Hugs, Light, Blessings, and Prayers,

    Peg

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Blueorange
    Blueorange Member Posts: 76
    edited May 2016

    Thank you, I am staying away from Google research!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Blueorange
    Blueorange Member Posts: 76
    edited May 2016

    Hi Peg,

    You are very new here as well! This site does help me to feel less alone. I am grateful for that. Thank you for sharing your experiences. I am still waiting to get approval from insurance before I can schedule anything. I'm finding that my patience is short with this!

    I'm also not sure when to tell the rest of my family and friends...I'm still in a strange surreal state. There have been moments of panic, then numbness. I have a 7 year old child so I am doing my best to act like nothing is going on when around her. I'm worried about her...and what to say...

    Best wishes with your surgery 💖

    Gaea

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • amiable47
    amiable47 Member Posts: 1
    edited May 2016

    Hello Everyone,

    I'm in the same boat as Blueorange. Had my mammogram and breast ultrasound 2 weeks before my OB-GYN appointment for annual check last week of April,2016. 3 days later, I got a call from my OB-GYN's clinic to come back for a meeting. He (OB-GYN) said it was very good of me to do both mammogram and breast ultrasound because the mammogram results show very dense breasts and seems normal.But the ultrasound found a lump at 1 o'clock position in my right breast which may be so small but he wanted it biopsied. So he ordered an ultrasound-guided biopsy to the lump. May 1st , I was called again to meet the OB-GYN.This time, he told me and my husband that out of 5 specimens that were extracted, 1 came out positive of IDC. So he referred me to a Specialist surgeon to look at the lump. Had an appointment on that Friday with the Surgeon and she recommended a lumpectomy first to really see 100% if it is really a real cancer tissue because I was really opting right away for a right breast radical mastectomy.By Monday,Surgeon scheduled me for a lumpectomy on my right breast and will send the biopsy to a different pathology lab for a 2nd opinion. That Friday, my husband and I were called to meet the Surgeon. It's verified by results that I have a 9mm and had clear margins .It has not gone to the lungs yet. So last Monday, May 23rd, had my modified radical mastectomy of my right breast. My surgeon was great, she always find time to explain every detail. Last Wednesday I was discharged from the hospital and she had just spoken to the Pathologist and said that there's no cancer cells seen in the lymph nodes and surrounding tissues. That's great news! She removed my drain last Friday and will be checked again this Tuesday. Will have an appointment with a team of medical and radiology oncologists this coming June 8th. I apologize I cannot give you a detailed diagnosis. Next visit, I will ask for a copy of my full written report in all biopsies and surgeries so I can give you here the specifics. I am facing my case with an aggressive approach though trying to avoid chemotherapy. But I am open for all treatments applicable to my case.

    By the way, I am 47 years old, married for 10 yrs with an 8 yr old daughter. Right now, I am on disability for at least 4-6 weeks. Time to recollect myself and get appease with my condition. I am not so shocked because my mother had breast cancer too and she's a survivor after 26 yrs since she's diagnosed.All I can remember is she had 10 rounds of chemo and had 10 rounds of radiation out of 25 rads prescribed to her. She was 50 yrs old when she was first diagnosed and was also taking tamoxifen for 5 years.

    It was my husband who found this site and had encouraged me to read all the contributors' very interesting sharing and how each one tackle each situation per se. Indeed, this site is so helpful to me and is really comforted by each one of you. Will update you with more specifics next time...

    Thank you Group.

    My fervent prayers to all of us...

    Plenie

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jenniferg29
    Jenniferg29 Member Posts: 6
    edited May 2016

    I WAS DIAGNOSED APRIL 18th, 2016 WITH INVASIVE DUCTAL CARCIOMA GRADE 3 STAGE 3B ER-/PR-/HER2+

    IM ONLY 29 YEARS OLD. ITS VERY HARD AT FIRST BUT IM MAKING IT. I HAVE TO START CHEMO FIRST. I STARTED CHEMO MAY 18. ONCE EVERY THREE WEEKS. SO FAR IVE ONLY HAD MINIMUM SIDE EFFECTS.I HAVENT HAD ANY VOMITING. MY TASTE BUDS CHANGED THE NEXT DAY AFTER CHEMO. I HAVE NAUSEA,DIARRHEA AND DAYS WHERE I FEEL WEAK TIRED AND A LOSS OF APPETITE.SOMEDAYS I CAN EAT EVERYTHING BUT SOMEDAYS I EITHER DONT WANNA EAT OR ONLY HAVE A TASTE FOR CERTSIN THINGS. I HAVE LOST SOME OF MY EYELASHES ALREADY AND I SHAVED MY HEAD BEFORE CHEMO.THE NEULASTA SHOT THEY GIVE ME THE DAY AFTER CHEMO IS DREADFUL. MY BONE PAIN STARTED THAT NIGHT AND LASTED FOR FIVE DAYS. MY TUMORS ARE IN MY LEFT BREAST AND HURT OFTEN. I TAKE NORCO AND NEUROTIN FOR PAIN. I CAN HONESTLY SAY MY BIGGEST TUMOR BEING 10CM HAS ALREADY BEGAN TO SHRINK.I CAN FEEL IT BUT I CAN TELL ITS NOT AS BIG WHICH IS WONDERFUL. MY CHEMO AND TARGET THERAPY IM ON IS carboplatin,taxtore,perjeta & herceptin.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Blueorange
    Blueorange Member Posts: 76
    edited May 2016

    Hi Amiable,

    You got treatment so quickly! I'm still waiting for insurance approval as well as approval from the breast center.

    Wishing you the best,

    Gaea

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Blueorange
    Blueorange Member Posts: 76
    edited May 2016

    Jennifer,

    Wishing you all the best. I'm still in the waiting game. Waiting for insurance approval...

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jenniferg29
    Jenniferg29 Member Posts: 6
    edited June 2016

    blueorange

    my treatment center provides charity programs for those who dont have insurance. They were in a hurry to start my treatment because of the stage. Hope you get your approval soon

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TennisPink
    TennisPink Member Posts: 22
    edited June 2016

    blue orange ,

    I have a 5 and 7 year old -- we talked about it but never mentioned the word cancer. Unless your surgeon or oncologist tell you that you are going to be severely sick, it's wise to give them the facts but not let them think the worst since your prognosis is good. I was scared, but I saved that for when they were NOT in my presence. Except ...truth...I cried once hysterically dropping off my preschooler after the diagnosis

    My girls knew I had a lump that didn't belong there and I was going to have it removed. We chatted about the surgeon scooping it out and getting some 'medicine' after (the medicine refers to radiation!!) to make sure they got it all. This has been a bump in the road for them but they went about life as usual and made me cute cards when I got back from surgery. When my kids are older we can talk more in depth about what it was.

    Since you are an early cancer, you will not know if you need chemo until after surgery. So don't get ahead of yourself by mentioning hair loss and feeling sick until your oncologist says to you "you will need chemo". Then you can address it, but I urge you...don't go there since you may not need it!!

    Your little one will be fine 😊

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Blueorange
    Blueorange Member Posts: 76
    edited June 2016

    Hi Tennis,

    Thank you :)

    The way you described it to your children is basically exactly how I've decided to approach it. I read a couple of books that recommended complete honesty, as in some people die from cancer. That was a scary thought, telling my child that. I chose to ignore the books, especially since mine is early, etc.

    Gaea

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories