Introduction

Hi Dawn,

Sorry you are going through this. I’d ask about tumor size, grade and hormone/ HER status. If they are telling you what the treatment plan is, they will likely bring them up without you asking, though. I’d have someone hear your plan with you and take some notes-someone who is detail-oriented, if possible. Don’t know if you are learning the plan on the phone or in person. All I know is that I was very distracted and thinking way into the future as my plan was explained.

I’m sorry your daughter took it so hard, and that you lost your son. It sounds like you have a very close family, and I’m sure she will rally once she’s had time to process it.

Dawn:

I'm glad you have more information and are moving forward with a plan. There are great forums on here for reconstruction. You can ask ladies lots of questions about their experience.

I had tissue expanders (TEs) and implants. TEs not fun but doable. There is also sometimes the opportunity, depending upon your circumstances, of direct implant. I had Exchange to implant in Sept and happy with results. My only complication was a post-op infection after BMX which cleared with antibiotics.

Good luck and hang in there!

Hi Dawn,

Hopefully nodes will be clear and you wont need further treatment outside of hormonal therapy. I had ILC with lcis and dcis. I choose a double(did not want the anxiety of worrying about 6mthto 6mth surveilance on the remaining breast, plus I would have probably looked lopsided. I went straight to implants, no expanders. I was not a candidate for a DIEP, not enough fat, and my skin is too tight..who knew such a thing so not a candidate for expanders. I was able to do direct implants, I'm not any bigger than I was before, which was small, but I'm ok with it. I'm doing Tamoxifen, 4mth so far, and not too bad.

Kids take it hard no matter how old they are. Mine are 22, 20 and 16. My only daughter, the 20yr old, it really hit her hard. Her best friend had just lost her grandmother to breast cancer, my younger sons friend's mother had died the same week of ovarian cancer and I had to tell them I had breast cancer. That sucked. Try to reassure her you will be around a long time, and believe that yourself.

Edited because I stupidly submitted it before I was done!

I work as a firefighter/paramedic. I was at the desk within 2 weeks, and back on the fire engine in 6 weeks. I do heal fast though and had no complications.

You will want to ask about oncotype testing (or similar)to be sure you do not need chemo. Most likely you will not, but occasionally small tumors are aggressive little buggers. You should meet with a medical oncologist after surgery. He/she can order it.