Diagnosed today with IDC

I am so sorry that you have joined the club that no one wants to join. You are at the worse part of your journey: getting the bad news, but not yet having a plan of action - it is totally overwhelming. Like DorothyB said, make sure that you take notes on everything and write down your questions. The first appointment that I had was with the BS and I had about 3 pages of questions to ask him. Although you are in shock now, the journey gets easier as you get more information and begin to feel that you are in control of things. This is a great forum to be on, the ladies here have all been through what you are going through and are only too willing to help, so feel free to ask any questions that come to mind on this forum.

I'm sorry you are joining us here.

Taking notes and getting the right information is important, because there are different protocols for different types of breast cancer.

Are you certain that she said Stage 2 and not Grade 2? Usually staging isn't done until after surgery.

As for the possibility that there is more "in its early stages", that sounds like there might be calcifications that indicate the presence of DCIS. About 80% of cases of IDC also include some DCIS. This is because most IDC develops from DCIS, so they often are found together. DCIS is a non-invasive cancer, and while any DCIS will need to be surgically removed, because it's the lesser condition, it won't affect your staging, treatment plan or prognosis. So it's scary to hear that there is more, but if it's DCIS, it's not something to worry about.

Do you have an appointment scheduled with a surgeon? When you next see a doctor, make sure you get a hard copy of your biopsy pathology report, unless you already have access to it through a patient portal.

Let us know how you are doing. There are lots of us here who've been in your shoes.

Hello. Today, I too got that call. IDC, grade 2. Left breast has two areas plus one lymph node that we know of right now. Estrogen and progesterone responder positive. This may be the extent of the information I know along with this website.

Like you, my head is spinning and my thinking is not clear. I am scared. I'm a mom of two small children, married, bread winner and in the dark about what comes next. Tomorrow I speak with the doctor to set up an appointment to go over options.

For those of you who are well beyond my point of entry can you tell me the process? For instance, diagnosis to staging to treatment? Did you get a second opinion on treatment? Diagnosis? What in the world did you do to calm your nerves through this harrowing process? When did you talk to your children?

Right now I’m waiting for more information before I do anything. And I’m sobbing, this feels like horrible news.

Welcome, ARL624. We're so sorry you find yourself here, but we hope you find this community to be a source of support, encouragement, and information as you begin down this road. The first days and weeks are difficult, but hopefully you start to feel a bit more in control once you've met with your oncologist and medical team and have a plan in place. We're all here for you, and you are not alone!

The Mods

Deenster:

I see that you are in NJ. So am I. Take some comfort in the fact that in this state you are most likely to get very high quality care. There are several NCIs in the state and if you are not a patient at one right now, I would recommend getting a second opinion at one of them just to put your mind at ease knowing there is a consensus regarding your treatment plan.

As for your anxiety, I completely understand. I cried for days after my dx. Ask for something to help with your nerves, absolutely no reason to have to deal with that on top of everything else. I needed to have my husband with my at appointments as I had a really hard time comprehending anything that was being said to me.

I had the same dx as you, ER/PR and HER2+. I know it is scary, but the prognosis for our specific type has improved markedly in the past decade. The HER2 makes the treatment plan longer with having to have Herceptin/Prejeta for a year, but they are miracle drugs for us. I did not have any side effects from them and so far after a year and a half on Exemestane (hormone blocker), I am just a little stiff in the mornings (I take Glucosamine and Chondroitin which helps greatly). Chemo was not a walk in the park, but with the anti nausea and anti vomiting drugs they give you, I was not sick one day. Yes, you start to feel tired and weak towards the end, but if you are in relatively good shape, you will be able to handle it. Radiation for me was just the inconvenience of having to go everyday for 6 weeks.

Everyone will tell you that this is worst time, just being diagnosed with no treatment plan in place. Once you start treatment, you really do feel like you are doing what needs to be done to eradicate this from your body no matter what side effects you may (or may not) have. It is a sense of taking back control of your life and your body.

Please feel free to private message me if you like. I am here to help if I can.

ARL624- for me, I met with my BS first who decided what further tests to do: breast MRI, genetic testing. After that, we decided on BMX. I next met with the PS.

Once I'd met with both doctors and my tests were all done, they scheduled the surgery. That was actually one of the best days because all of the waiting was done and we were finally doing something proactive.

Deenster- we've all been there with the anxiety! It is awful at first, but after the surgery things get better. My surgery is in the rear view mirror, and my TE's don't look too bad. I think I'll like my fake boobs when they're finally done. I've just started chemo and it is not bad so far. I feel great and I'm active. I don't have any anxiety over the cancer and once the chemo is done and I do my exchange I'll just look back on this year as a tough one. I'm feeling normal now, and upbeat, and I can't wait to get this behind me!