So much information

Hi there, I'm sorry you have to be here. I am also new to this. You will be going through a whirlwind of emotions, tests, scans, appointments, etc. But very soon your team will have a plan in place for you. Once you start treatment, whatever that may be, you will feel better knowing you are doing something about it. And you will feel a weight come off as you focus less on what ifs and more on getting better.

This forum has been a godsend for me. I have asked every ridiculous question I could think of, vented, cried, and these wonderful women (and some men) have been nothing but supportive. There is a vast pool of knowledge here from women just like us.

A word of advise is to stick with threads that pertain to you and your situation. I made the mistake of looking at stage 4, palliative care, etc, and scared the loving bejesus out of myself for no reason. Once you have your specific diagnosis, join a thread with women going through it with you ( such as chemo, radiation, surgery, etc by month).

Do not google. There is nothing that Google will tell you about your specific situation. Keep you mind occupied with positive thoughts. Thinking of you ❤

Kay, I will offer a bit of a variation on the suggestion that you get a second opinion. Sometimes getting a second opinion is important and helpful, and other times it's not necessary.

If you are comfortable with your doctors, if they listen to you and answer any questions you have, if they offer up options of treatment and explain to your satisfaction why they are recommending a particular treatment plan... if you are happy with them and don't feel the need to get a second opinion, then a second opinion isn't necessary. But if you feel uncomfortable in any way, perhaps that you are not being given options, or the treatment recommendation has not been explained, or you can't get your questions answered, or you just want verification that the recommended treatment plan is the right way to go - then definitely go for a second opinion. Some people do, some people don't. And sometimes people get a second opinion for one doctor (let's say, the surgeon) but not another (let's say the Medical Oncologist), because they connect and feel good about the relationship with one of the doctors but not with the other.

One benefit of being on this site is that once you have more information about your diagnosis, people here will be able to share with you the treatment options for that type of diagnosis. They will help you with questions to ask your team. They will point out if something seems off about what's being recommended or said to you. There are also resources available on-line, such as the NCCN Treatment Guidelines, which can provide very detailed and specific information about treatment options. All this information will help you decide if you would benefit from a second opinion or not.

Don't feel the pressure to get a second opinion if you are happy with your team. And don't hesitate to get a second opinion if you are not fully comfortable.

Make sure you get a copy of your pathology report from your biopsy. You have a right to get copies of everything and it's important to have these reports to help with your understanding of the diagnosis (it's easy to miss something during the discussion with your doctors) and for your records.

What appointments do you have lined up for this coming week?