46 year old freaking out

You're in that weird time where you know something is going on but you don't know what. It's incredibly stressful. Don't worry about under or over reacting now, whatever reaction you are having, that's the reaction you're having.

I'll just say -

• they're sending you for a biopsy because they don't know and *can't* know that it's cancer without one. If they can't know whether it's cancer, there's no way for you to know either, yet. No amount of googling can substitute for a biopsy. Bodies are weird and do lots of strange things. There's almost never just one possible explanation for a thing like a lump.
• if it IS cancer, you'll most likely feel much better after your first meeting with an oncologist. You will start to have an idea of your treatment plan and an idea of what the next few months of your life will look like. It is much less scary to face a known than an unknown. And you will be able to find plenty of support here and hopefully through your treatment center.

G1973 - I think you and I are on the same timeline. I also have a palpable lump that wasn’t there at my regular mammogram last year. I hope you get good news next week

G1973

I am curious about the size of the mass.

Where does the 1 inch measurement come from? Did they tell you it measured that size or did the image of the mass on the screen appear to be about an inch across?

If you are estimating the size of the mass from the image on the screen know that this is a magnified image and may not accurately represent the actual size of the mass.

G1973 - my preliminary said that it was low estrogen/progesterone which doesn't surprise me since I have been post menopause for about 4-5 years. It's probably not related though. They wouldn't give me a copy of the prelim report so I have to wait for the rest of it until I either see my surgeon or they scan it to my patient portal.

Sorry about your diagnosis. Oddly it is also my left breast. I need a shirt that "My boob is trying to kill me!

Ha! I just saw this reply djmammo.

If we don't make light of this at times, we would probably all be in a closet curled up in fetal position refusing to face the world.

G1973 - it looks like it may be chemo first for me. I met with the surgeon and that's her recommendation. I will meet with a MO this week to see if they agree. Port placement already scheduled for this Friday. Hope you are doing well

G1973,

I am 49 and official DX was on my 47th birthday. I named mine extended diarrhea. Had 4DD AC chemo followed by 4DD Taxol. Dose dense chemo is rough but you have to and will face it head on. Please be gentle to yourself such as sleep as much as possible. Eat whenever you can.

Good luck to you on Wednesday! Show Big Bertha who is boss!