It wasn’t just a cyst...

Bless your heart you have been through a lot. I'm a monster dog lover too by the way.

Understandable you are anxious. We've all been there, done that and some of us are still dealing with issues and the unknown.

You will know a lot more tomorrow. Things should move quickly after that. It would b helpful if someone could go with you because you will be inundated with information. It's hard to think about what to ask when all of this is foreign to you. All we can concentrate on is the fact we have BC. Hopefully you have good doctors and ones you have a rapport with. That is extremely important.

I had a good BS who didn't have the best bedside manner and an MO who was efficient but no grad of charm school either. Just so you know I am 6 years out from IDC, Stage 1b, Grade 1. Lumpectomy, radiation and 5 years on Tamoxifen.

They have come a long way in treatments and research. The one piece of advice I'll give you is be your own advocate. This is a great place to seek advice. No one is a medical professional but we all have first hand experiences which is invaluable.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Diane

Hang in there Gardengirl. Everything your feeling is normal. I had my freak out in the shower the day after I found out. I didn't want my kids to see. I have a 14 yr old and an 11 yr old. It's hard to imagine but it does get better. I think the more information you get the more in control you'll feel. My oncologist is awesome and my new surgeon is very calming. By the way, rescue dogs rock. We have a rescued pug mix! Hugs to you!

I had a "cyst" too!!!! Luckily my MD sent me right over for diagnostic mammo, ultrasound and biopsy the same day. I can sympathize with all the obstacles you had.

Your grade and individual scores are good, and it's small.  Can you access the hormonal tests and the HER2?  You may have an Oncotype test at some point which will give recommendations on treatment if you are estrogen/progesterone positive.

If you have to have cancer, this is a picture that is not terrible, as your doctor said. But having cancer at all is scary.

The waiting is hard. Ativan and Netflix!!

Thank you pupmom! I'm still new to posting. 😂

I'm right here with you. Diagnosed on September 26, '17. I found it myself several weeks ago - thought it was a cyst so didn't freak out. I'm 45, already have cosmetic implants (and the girls are old - 20 years). Normally have mammogram every year, but skipped a year last year because research said it wasn't necessary to have one every year unless you have a problem. Houston, we have a problem.

Tumor is 1.3 cm. Invasive ductal carcinoma. ER+, PR-, HR2-. The spit test was to test to see if you mutated BRCA gene. I took it as well. It gets really confusing - all the tests and what they indicate. My best advice is to record your visits, especially when you're discussing important matters, with your cell phone. I did, and I keep going back to it and realize I misunderstood something that I initially thought I understood clearly. Here's the info on BRCA gene testing:

BRCA1 and BRCA2 are human genes that produce tumor suppressor proteins. These proteins help repair damaged DNA and, therefore, play a role in ensuring the stability of the cell's genetic material. When either of these genes is mutated, or altered, such that its protein product either is not made or does not function correctly, DNA damage may not be repaired properly. As a result, cells are more likely to develop additional genetic alterations that can lead to cancer.

Specific inherited mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 increase the risk of female breast and ovarian cancers, and they have been associated with increased risks of several additional types of cancer. Together, BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations account for about 20 to 25 percent of hereditary breast cancers (1) and about 5 to 10 percent of all breast cancers (2). In addition, mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 account for around 15 percent of ovarian cancers overall (3). Breast and ovarian cancers associated with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations tend to develop at younger ages than their nonhereditary counterparts.

So, I guess the results of this test will tell us if we should or should not have bilateral mastectomy and/or have ovaries out as well. It takes a few weeks to get this one back. I'm hoping my results come back before surgery - it would suck not to, and then find out additional surgery is necessary.

Then, if I'm understanding all of this (still learning like you are), after surgery they perform oncotype testing on the mass, which is:

What: The Oncotype DX breast cancer test is a unique genomic test that helps women recently diagnosed with either early-stage invasive breast cancer or DCIS (non-invasive) breast cancer. The test generates a score of 0-100 based on 21 specific genes in your breast tumor tissue that was removed during surgery. This unique set of genes predicts your response to chemotherapy as well as the chances of your cancer returning to provide personalized information that is not available from any other test or measure.

During/after surgery, they'll also evaluate lymph nodes. This is a biggy. PRAY it hasn't spread to one or more lymph nodes. This result has a big impact on whether or not (or how much) chemo and/or radiation we'll need. My doc said he thinks we caught it early and doesn't see or feel any evidence that the cancer has spread, but again, we won't know for sure until surgery.

I'm meeting with my plastic surgeon today, and he determines the surgery date - surgery is the first step for me. So I'm anxious. Plus I need to break the news to my kids.

No matter what, since your tumor is hormone receptive like mine - I'm fairly certain you'll be put on tamoxifen for 5-10 years no matter what, because, like me, we're premenopausal.

Keep us posted. I feel for you.