Just diagnosed!

Options
Mrsayala24
Mrsayala24 Member Posts: 15
edited August 2018 in Just Diagnosed

Hi all,

This morning I got the worst news that I have invasive Ductal Carcinoma. I had noticed pain in my left breast about a month ago and noticed the lump. I thought it was a cyst, but luckily I had an annual doctor's appointment scheduled and had it checked. It moved really quickly from there. Appointment was last Wednesday and I had the ultrasound/mammogram/biopsy on Friday. Now here we are.

I have a lot of anxiety going into my first consultation with the surgeon on Monday. We also have a vacation that has been preplanned from 9/12-9/18. I'm debating if I should cancel it. It sucks to have to speak with everyone on this occasion, but I'm not sure what to do and if I need to alter my plans. How quickly will I have surgery and then start chemo?

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited August 2018

    My bet is you can schedule your surgery before your trip and chemo would have to wait until you heal anyway—often 4-6 weeks.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Georgia1
    Georgia1 Member Posts: 1,321
    edited August 2018

    Hi there and sorry about your diagnosis. In most cases breast cancer is slow growing, so I'd keep the vacation plans and take this step by step. First: schedule an appointment with an experienced breast surgeon. It took me three weeks to find mine but it was time well spent. Second: get copies of your mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy reports. Depending on ER status, HER status, size, lymph node status, etc. you may not even need chemo. But as Ingerp said, you won't start chemo or radiation for a month or so after surgery.

    Hang in there and let us know how we can help.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited August 2018

    Welcome, Mrsayala24 - we're so sorry you find yourself here, but we're glad you've joined our community. We echo the other sentiments, there'll very likely be no reason to cancel your vacation, as appointments will move pretty slowly initially. And truth be told, it might be nice to get away and focus on something else for a while!

    The Mods

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mrsayala24
    Mrsayala24 Member Posts: 15
    edited August 2018

    I appreciate all of your feedback! With all the crazy things that have happened today, I’m so glad to know that there is a community behind it all. My family agrees that I should continue with my vacation. I will call it my “cancer moon.” I will keep everyone in my prayers

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • beach2beach
    beach2beach Member Posts: 996
    edited August 2018

    Yes, go on that vacation. Won't help to stay home and think. If you are going to be "thinking" might as well be somewhere nice and with people you care about and some distractions. You may not even need chemo as what has already been stated, depending on all your factors which hopefully you will find out soon what your ER/PR and HER 2 status are, the size and grade. You'll get more information on Monday and quite possibly once you know what you are dealing with and have plan in place, you might just be able to relax a bit and enjoy some of that vacation.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • M0mmyof3
    M0mmyof3 Member Posts: 9,696
    edited August 2018

    A bit of advice from me, don't be afraid to ask questions and be your own advocate. Even if you might think your questions might sound stupid to you, it could be very valid.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mrsayala24
    Mrsayala24 Member Posts: 15
    edited August 2018

    I have found out that I have HER triple positive. Not sure what ER/PR yet. I have completed the bone scan (the tech said they were “unofficially” clear) and CT scan done for a Saturday. Monday can’t get here fast enough. Monday is my appointment with the oncology surgeon and the following week I have an appointment with the oncology radiologist. My lump is 5cm but I also have big boobs and more tossue. They also said m y lymph nodes didn’t look inflamed in my mammo

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MelissaGallagher
    MelissaGallagher Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2018

    I'm in the same boat. I just found out . I am going to the Mayo Clinic on Monday in Minnesota to find out next step. I have 5 invasive lymph nodes with Cancer. I need surgery,chemotherapy,radiation therapy and hormone therapy. It runs in my family. IM scared

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Becca953
    Becca953 Member Posts: 99
    edited August 2018

    HER+++ is a good news/bad news scenario. On the plus side there are many effective targeted treatments, with Herceptin and Perjeta being the first two up to bat. Herceptin has been around for about 20 years. Perjeta is much newer since 2012. My guess is you will probably be on the neoadjuvant TCHP program, where they do chemo/targeted therapy first and then surgery. This is to try and shrink the tumor prior to surgery, and it also gives you the option of seeing how well the tumor responds to the standard treatments. Some women receive PCR (pathological complete response - meaning the tumor completely disappears) with the chemo beforehand, but for others it shrinks the tumor substantially. They will schedule you for a port which allows easy chemo delivery and blood draws. Hopefully, others will chime in with more info. Best of luck on Monday. This is a very supportive group with many helpful members full of useful advice and tips. Do not be afraid to ask questions.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Bostoniangal25
    Bostoniangal25 Member Posts: 263
    edited August 2018

    Hello Mrsayala24, sorry you going through this ..

    Triple positive - it is Estrogen / Progesterone positive and plus Her2 positive.

    I think If you have surgery first- it takes month to schedule it, especially if it’s big hospital , I ve been diagnosed at the end of May and schedule my mastectomy on july3, but if I choose Boston hospital I would go on July 16 for surgery there. Then. Chemo started on August 8 .

    Go ahead and have fun , if they decide Chemo first - you can start it after vacay!!

    Feel free to pm if you have questions!! Smooth sailing...

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mrsayala24
    Mrsayala24 Member Posts: 15
    edited August 2018

    Melissa, I know exactly how you feel! It helped me out by doing some research and writing down questions for my appointment. I’m sorry that you are in the same boat as everyone here. While it is really scary, we are all here for support!!! ❤️❤️

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mrsayala24
    Mrsayala24 Member Posts: 15
    edited August 2018

    Thank you everyone for explaining what triple positive is. I’m so appreciative of everyone’s support! I think I’m going to go on vacation and get my mind right for this fight

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Becca953
    Becca953 Member Posts: 99
    edited August 2018

    Triple positive usually means ER+/PR+ HER2+; however, HER 2 when measured a certain way (IHC) can be scored either +, ++, or +++. The 2 means it is equivocal and the 3 means it definitely is HER2. If you do not have the hormone receptors back yet; it may not be truly triple positive just HER+++. Pathology will report a percentage score based upon how many cancer cells are growing using the estrogen and/or the progesterone, but they can be negative as well.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories