Just Diagnosed - July 20th 2016

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emma2015
emma2015 Member Posts: 11
edited August 2016 in Just Diagnosed

I'm so thankful for this forum.....to have somewhere to share and speak to others....I haven't shared any of this news with any of my family & friends ( with the exception of two)  as may family have been diagnosed with some form of cancer and already lost their life this year, I just don't have the heart, to share what's going on with me.....I'm just happy to have all of you...

I feel fortunate that the diagnosis is a DCIS  - high grade -  has solid and cribriform pattern with focal necrosis and intraductal calcifications.

Both progesterone and estrogen receptors are negative.

I believe a Simple Mastectomy  and with a Sentinel Node Biopsy may be my best option.

It seems every twenty years I have to face surgeries, this will be the first planned surgery I my life......the first two were emergency with possible loss of life within the next 24 hours.....both visits only occurring by accident. One a ruptured appendix (21) occurred three days earlier with the surgeon telling me I should have come through the door on a slab !  The second driven to the ER (45) when I  was not able to talk or walk...as the circulation system had collapsed within my brain due to a tumor (didn't know we had two circulations systems). They couldn't even operate due to the swelling, which they did within 4 days once the swelling was reduced through medications. It was diagnosed as an atypical tumor...which usually come back I was fortunate that it didn't.

So here I am once again.......I am not angry that this happened as this is the way life is for some of us....I have a choice to sit by the wall and be upset...or I find the way to best way to jump it and make it the other side....


By the way....my name is Sandra....my ID says emma because I was gifted a baby goat that lost her mother that day....and I was so fortunate to save her, which was a daily struggle, took months to get her past the critical stages....but she has brought me so much joy and laughter......and I wanted to be reminded of that everything is possible.....

Your opinions would be great value to me....


Thanks for reading

Sandra


















                 

                    

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Comments

  • trying2staypositive7
    trying2staypositive7 Member Posts: 96
    edited July 2016

    Hi Sandra!!!

    You definitely have a great attitude and that is more than half of the battle! So, you're off to a great start!!!! I'm sorry that you had to join the club that no one wants to be a member of but please know that you are in good hands! Everyone on this site is a wealth of information and more than happy to share! I'm sure someone will come along with some really great advice regarding the DCIS. I had a mastectomy, chemo, radiation, and then hormone therapy but I'm stage 3. I think that the best advice I ever got on here was to take someone with me to my doctor's appointments. Those beginning appointments are full of so much info and your mind is constant swirling. If you don't write it down or record it, you always miss something!! I think that it's admirable that you want to not upset your family by telling them but you need to tell them. They love you and their support is going to be invaluable. You can do this! You are survivor! Just don't try to do it alone! Please let me know if you need anything! Sending you hugs and prayers!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2016

    I love that you have a goat named Emma :) I've always wanted a goat but I live in the city...maybe some day.

    I think that these kinds of struggles are what makes us human...I know we don't wish for them, but if we live long enough most of us face some kind of crisis like this--or more than one. My point is that you will get through this--it's DCIS, could be much worse, and you have a good tx plan and will move through this and come out into the light on the other side sooner than you think.

    Hugs

    Claire

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  • emma2015
    emma2015 Member Posts: 11
    edited July 2016

    Hi  !!!

             Thanks for all your words of support, it's so appreciated.  I read your DX.....your the amazing one !!! There is so much to learn and I know I have to make the right decision first time around to make a difference to being around for a while. I would prefer to avoid all the additional treatments of radation, chemo and medications. I remember the words of my previous surgeons they have to get every cell, if one cell was left, it would start all over again.  These words echo in my mind, I remember my neuro surgeon telling me at his office that he didn't have good news for me as the tumor was classified as an atypical and usually comes back within a year usually as an aggressive cancer. I told him he wasn't going to be making any more holes in my head and it wasn't coming back. Once your 5 past years.....your chances are good it's not coming back, I will make 20  this year. He was happy I had proved him wrong......

              I have told one more person, they are going to take me and pick me up at the hospital.  As I live two and a half hours away from the women's center and where I live they are not up to par in women' care like this.  Thanks for all the hugs and prayers....I'm sending you double hugs and prayers......Thanks for your support

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  • emma2015
    emma2015 Member Posts: 11
    edited July 2016

    Hi Clair

               Thanks so much for your words and support, you've gone through so much yourself. I once lived in a city but I decided if I made 5 years after the brain tumor I would buy me some land and build a house and that's what I did. I thought I was done with all of that after a brain tumor and a tumor on the facial nerve ( three surgeries for that).  So here I go again !  Your so right about that it is DCIS ....it is such a nothing compared to yourself and everyone here....the surgery is August 10th ..not too long to go.

    Well, Claire we will have to get you to experience some farm life one of the days ! 

    Double hugs to you !!!

    Sandra



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  • DaraB
    DaraB Member Posts: 945
    edited July 2016

    Hi Sandra! I, too, am sorry you find yourself here, but you won't find a better place for support, caring, and just being able to vent to women who know exactly what you're going through. I think you may be younger than I am, but we all have much in common. I was just diagnosed in May, and understand completely about the family connection to cancer. I'm the 9th person in 2 generations on my mom's side to be dx with cancer. I lost my sister to bc in October, but you need to realize that every single case is different. I know it's hard for family, but they really do want to support you and I'm sure will be stronger than you can imagine. You caught it early, and have such a positive attitude. My gosh, after going through a brain tumor, this should be much easier. There are many threads on this site that can help support with experiences and information to get through this. Come here often, people really do care and will follow you with your journey! Take care, Dara

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2016

    Hi Emma,

    You can also private message any one of us if you have questions...just click on the member's hyperlinked name, and go from there. Let us know how you are and check in time to time with rx and your plans if you like.

    Yep, I told my hubby someday I wanted a goat. But you're right, I have to have a place for it first!

    You're already ahead of the curve, trying to see the bright side, and your previous experiences will serve you well here; you got through that, you can get through this (brain tumor etc.).

    Hugs,

    Claire

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  • emma2015
    emma2015 Member Posts: 11
    edited August 2016

    Thank you BosumBlues ......  !!!!!!!!



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  • emma2015
    emma2015 Member Posts: 11
    edited August 2016

    Thanks DaraB

                                 I agree this is easier than a brain tumor the only difference between the two.....is the time between the DX and surgery ....with the brain tumor I came in through the ER in super critical condition and placed into ICU.....I was told later they couldn't figure out how I was still standing....since the brain circulation system had already collapsed ....I've had time to research, think and have an opportunity to make  a  choice which I didn't have before. I did change my decision from a singular mastectomy to a double mastectomy and I am more comfortable with that. I still remember the words of my neuro surgeon if he should miss one cell I would be starting all over again.....I've decided I'm not taking any chances for even one cell.....I don't want to go through radiation or chemo or meds....if I'm able to have a choice that can avoid all of that.....I'd rather go that route....so many of you have gone through soooooo much ....yourself and all of the women here are amazing strong women.......

                              

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