Just dxed with IDC

Dear Melzer,

This is an understandable and overwhelming time when you are newly diagnosed. Please try not to let your worse fears get the best of you. There are many variables to breast cancer and everyone's situation is different. You will get a lot of support from the wonderful men and women on this site and from our moderators. Stay off the internet and verify everything with your doctors. There are many treatment options available depending on your pathology report. It is normal to think that every pain and twitch is MBC, especially when you are newly diagnosed. You're carrying a lot of stress and it can show up in physical ways i.e. backaches.

Here's a few suggestions that I learned along the way.

1. Get referrals for your breast surgeon, medical oncologist and radiologist (if needed) from you personal care physician or through word of mouth. Ask as many people as you can.

2. Get second opinions if you're uncertain about your treatment options and get another doctor if you're not comfortable with them. I wish I had done that earlier in my journey.

3. Ask questions and more questions. I was so intimidated in the beginning that I was afraid to look at my pathology report. However, we are our own best advocates. A very wise man told me that in general if women advocated for themselves like they would do for a daughter, mother, or sister they would be better off.

I want you to know that you are not alone. There are many wonderful people on this site that are and have been my angels. We are here for you!!

Sending love and strength

hey sweetie we know what your feeling been there I was diagnosed while making wedding plans and after that each thing I felt made me think the worst. So scared didn't know anyone else who had breast cancer none in family or friends. But I had my cries then I decided to fight this thing I decided to think Positive I spoke Positive telling the cancer it had to leave my body. I kept Hope and I am this yr a 25 yr Survivor Praise God. I believe I'm still here to Inspire others. msphil idc stage2 0/3 nodes 3mo chemo before and after Lmast got married then 7wks rads and 5yrs on Tamoxifen.

Melza, I'm sorry you find yourself here, but you will find encouragement and hope here! Those of us who've been through the diagnosis phase completely understand your emotions right now. What I will tell you is this: HER2+ cancers grow like crazy at some point (look at my stats below--and I'm ER/PR- also). I took six rounds of chemo and when they did my surgery, the pathologists could find not a single cancer cell in the breast or sentinel node. When I was first diagnosed, I would hang on to stories like mine turned out to be--women who's tumors were larger than yours and mine, melting away with Herceptin, Perjeta and two chemotherapy drugs, usually Taxotere and Carboplatin. Here's a thread to encourage you: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/80/topics/825974?page=1.

Dr. Dennis Slamon is my hero--he developed Herceptin. I read the book about the development of Herceptin during treatment. My oncologist told me that 25 years ago, my diagnosis would have been a death sentence, but now we have great hope! Be encouraged, Melza. You're in the worst part now when all you know is a lot of hard information and you're not doing anything about it. Where are you being treated--a cancer hospital? If it's a National Cancer Institute Hospital, I'd go with what they say and get the show on the road. Tell them you are ready to start chemo/targeted therapies right now. It's doubtful that there would be any significant difference in how you're treated as long as you're at a hospital that specializes in cancer.

With best wishes to you,

Beesy

melza89 my neighbor was diagnosed with a similar diagnosis last year. Her tumor imaged very large as well - although those sizes can change quite a bit during excision. She did the initial chemo, followed by lumpectomy and radiation, and is now on Herceptin for any cleanup. She has had a complete response to her chemo and is doing very well. When they went in to do the lumpectomy all they could find was the marker! I wish the same outcome for you.

meiza89...the best advice I can give you is to get treated at a major university teaching hospital. At the very least get a second opinion at one. Good luck and keep us posted.