CALLING ALL STAGE I SISTERS

Hi prehistoricmom (what a cool screen name! also love the amanda colemane quote),

Neoplasm is a more generic term for abnormal cell growth which forms a tumor. It can be benign or malignant. Carcinoma is a type of neoplasm which is malignant. Then there are types of carcinomas. For me, it's invasive ductal carcinoma. That was identified by the pathologist in the specimen removed during the initial biopsy, so I knew before surgery the general type of breast cancer I had. Other factors could be identified from the biopsy as well, such as the hormone receptor status, rate of cell growth, etc. Real-time pathology done during my lumpectomy was performed to determine the presence of cancer cells in some of my lymph nodes, but certainly it can be done for other reasons, too. Ultimately, the post-surgical pathology report will be the most complete as it was done on a larger section of the tumor and additional testing can be done.

My reports identify my "active diagnosis" this way: "Malignant neoplasm of upper-quadrant of right breast in female, estrogen receptor negative." Interestingly, in my Patient Treatment Summary regarding chemo, the "Treatment Intent" is "Curative." Gee, I hope so!

Good luck with your appointment this afternoon. You'll get a boatload more information then. Might not make you less nervous, but you'll be better armed.

Anne

PiperKay thank you so much and the AHA was probably so loud all of Texas heard it.

I finally found out it was ductal when I watched someone write it into my chart on the 16th. Probably was told before but ADD. Working my way through Dr Love but keep throwing the book across the room.

P.S. I am prehistoricmom because my kids used to make fun of me years ago for not being able to pick things up when I wore long fake fingernails. Like watching a velociraptor trying to turn the ignition on or whatever

Joan ..Thank you for coming and sharing the very sad news about Sheila .Cancer is so unfair ! Please give my condolences to her beautiful family .RIP Sheila ..beautiful lady xx

RIP Sheila. I met her here 10 years ago and we became Facebook friends. I’ll miss her

Thank you Joan811 for letting us know of Shelia, may she soar as she enters her eternal life.

My surgeon told me it’s just DCIS it won’t kill you. She didn’t know until the lumpectomy it was micro invasive cancer. Preferred treatment is the same but why do they tell you that when they can’t know till they get the whole mass?

VeeHow...so sorry ..I know how you feel..mine was upgraded to IDC after surgery as well...

Upgrade here too. Takes a while to accept it. You’ll get there. Gentle cyber hug to you.

Veehow - a GF was told the same. All is good, oh this won't kill you, you're fine. She wasn't. I'm glad I didn't have her surgeon, and wish no Dr say those words out loud to a patient. Best of luck to you.

beep..great news ...negative is what we all like to hear !

I, too am a newbie. I just had a single mastectomy with reconstruction. I am Stage 1 also. It's been four days since surgery and I am very tired. I planned to return to work in two weeks but I'm wondering if that will be long enough. I am lucky and can take off as much time as needed so I am trying to decide whether or not to take another week.

I have a lumpectomy scheduled for Friday 8/21 and am taking only the day of surgery off work. I’ll work at home the following week. Does this seem doable

I had a lumpectomy/excisional biopsy/ partial mastectomy on a Thursday. On Saturday I went to a football game, but I was quite tired. By Monday I was good. It’s nice that you’ll be at home and hopefully able to take breaks.

When I had the mastectomy, reconstruction meant tissue expanded under the muscle. It was tough. I would not have been ready in two week, though it would been nice to have somethIng else to think about.

I had a separate lymph node biopsy. I don’t even remember any type of time needed for recovery from that. Of course I had already heard my diagnosis and was a complete wreck.

Best wishes everyone

robinorbit,
Good luck with your lumpectomy this week. It's been quite awhile since I had my lumpectomy for IDC. I had the surgery the last week in August. I went home soon after surgery.
I took the week off from work, plus Labor Day gave me a long week end. Then I returned to work. I felt fine. My breast was enlarged but not noticeable. I could also hear fluid sloshing around inside, which I was hoping nobody else was hearing. It was bizarre, but it stopped after a short time.
You are planning to work from home...you could feel tender and/or stiff if you will be sitting and maybe using a computer. I had axial nodes removed for testing (underarm, separate incision). Just pace yourself, and rest when you can during the first few days.
Your pathology will determine any further treatment. My surgeon told me before surgery that for lumpectomy I would have to have radiation. That started about 6 weeks after surgery. I continued working through radiation, and I took off occasionally on Fridays. The radiation did not make me tired. But the driving to work, leaving work and going for rads then driving home 5 days a week for 7 weeks kind of wore me out. There are many options now for getting radiation over shorter time periods.
It seemed very do-able for me to return to work full time and to go for the radiation. I worked at a college, and when January break came, I took two weeks to completely rest and relax. I needed it.
I hope everything goes smoothly and that your pathology report is favorable.
Best wishes,
Joan
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((( Sheila)))

((((Sheila))))