If you could go back, what would you tell yourself?

I'm not sure what you mean or are asking.

Breathe, positive forward thinking is important to staying on track and giving you back some feeling of control over this,take it 1 day at a time/1 decision at a time, make a list of what steps you need to take/what decisions need to be made, look at all options of surgery with and without recon (including natural tissue recon vs implants if mastectomy is your choice), listen to your gut instincts and push your healthcare team if/when needed, remember at all times you did nothing to cause this - nothing you could do would've prevented it, and take time out of BC to be yourself and do the fun things you enjoy doing (hanging out with friends, movies, vacation, etc)-your mind and body need the downtime. Hope this helps!

Consider, seriously, a second opinion about options. I wouldn't have gone for a mastectomy with lymph node removal but would have opted for the sentinel node and avoided the year and a half of pain that went with 7 nodes removed. I would have insisted upon the Oncotype test which I was told "wasn't needed". I had the surgical biopsy the first time and would have preferred it the second time. If two labs give out different results, get a third and go with that, especially if it is an approval cancer specialty lab. Any pain..get it treated. Don't let them bully you. AND TRY NOT TO DO THIS ALONE. You need a soft place to fall, especially into someone's arms. You need to be taken care of. I hope you go through this journey with the least amount of anxiety and pain and the results mean you are cancer free!!!! (((HUGS)))

I'm with Sandy. I didn't learn about the fat cells stuff until after txs. I'm almost 30 lbs heavier than when I started, and I was obese to begin with. Some of it is probably meds, certainly diet, Having had difficulty at times walking on my shot knees pre-cancer I should have known to really watch it. My problem is I'm alone and bored most of the time so food, my fav thing in the world, is my crutch. This eat whatever you can get down during chemo wasn't good advice for me because whatever I did eat was crap.

Marissa - please go to My Profile and post your diagnosis and what treatment has been recommended to date. You will have to make it "public" so we can see what you are dealing with.

I would have taken more trips in the years before diagnosis. But since I don't think you're asking that, I probably wouldn't have done much differently. I had second opinions with all docs & was basically pleased with their care.

I am waiting to see if I have bc and these are all wonderful ideas to keep in mind. I hope your journey goes smoothly.

Keeping talking with those you know that have gone through BC, they are the ones that can help. Also in the beginning take the anti anxiety drugs. Don't worry about short term use.

Remember everyone is different and don't put to much emphasis on statistics.

Operative words in the OP - before diagnosed.

There is nothing I could say to 'me/myself/I' before DX . I don't think there is anything post DX that I would say to 'me' that I should have done different.

There is also nothing today that I could say to the 'me' of 8 yrs ago that would be any different than what I did.

LIVE every second possible - never come up with 'what ever' as they don't exist.

rdeesides, Yes, It was like night and day when I was on TC chemo. I did it more for the advantages in treating the cancer, Dr. Longo of California did a study of mice with breast cancer. 1/2 were fed, the other half were given only water for 2 days. Then given 1 dose of chemo. The 1/2 that were fed were all dead in 180 days. The 1/2 that fasted were all alive and cancer free at 300 days. He said, to transfer this to humans we need to fast for 5 days before rather than 2. There is a fast-like diet that he has developed, you can google it if you want to try it but can't handle the fasting. I find it easier to eat nothing than to limit my food. I also can afford to lose a few lbs, but I have so far gained it all back before the next fast.

Now that I am on TCHP however, the side effects are much worse and not sure it is helping the side effects. I was right in bed the 3rd day after and didn't feel like myself for about a week. However I was able to function reasonably well after the 4th day post chemo. I go for more chemo again on Tuesday, so I will let you know. My last chemo wasn't my best experience. It was very long 9 1/2 hours and the nurse was not very attentive so I did not drink the water or eat ice as I usually do. I will make sure I drink more this time and it should only be 6 hours.

if you habe the youtube app...just click the arrow twice..

I would have done a bilateral mastectomy the first time out.....as my breast surgeon suggested. Instead, I kept my remaining breast feeling confident it would not return...only to have it return as a more aggressive type and grade in my contra-lateral breast

Marissa0258, I don't think I would have done anything differently before dx (maybe a few more Marguerita Mondays but those will come after I'm done with Anastrozole & can afford the calories!) but there are definitely some things I wish I'd done immediately after I learned I had BC:

Get a referral to an LEPT before you have surgery. Even if you only see the therapist once, get measured, get an exercise program to follow after surgery & get as much information as you can about how to avoid lymphedema. You may still get LE, but at least you'll know you did everything you could to avoid it.

In addition, go to the gym & strengthen your upper body before surgery - it can't hurt & it's a great stress reliever!

Last but not least (echoing the advice of others), be good to yourself & find people who will support you during this difficult time. Do what works for you - whether it's medication, meditation, prayer, therapy, support groups or something else. And don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

Don't be afraid to ask questions - you are your best advocate! Know that you're stronger than you think & that there are giving individuals on this Board who will be available to provide almost anything you will need.

Keeping you in my prayers - JKL

hello sweetie I wouldn't do anything different not only am I now a 23yr Survivor Praise God but I went thru this not by accident I see now But so I can Inspire those just going thru that it is possible with Faith plenty Hope and Positive thinking.msphil idc stage2 0\3 nodes 3 months chemo before n after Lmastectomy 7wks radiation 5days wk tamoxifen 5yrs all while making wedding plans. Now married between chemo n rad No I wouldn't do anything different along this journey I have had the privilege to help Inspire Many here.

Just curious Secondchance, but did you have an Oncotype DX test done to see how aggressive your original tumor was? It seems they would have done that to chec the chance of reoccurrence (whether in other breast or body) after your first mastectomy.