Diagnosed a week ago

Sandy - people who haven't been there will never understand your fear or where your head is. Since you've been through a Whipple, this should be a much easier.

First - stop reading "Dr. Google". His information is often outdated and can be very incorrect. Try not to get ahead - hard at that is. Once everything is in place for treatment, it will be easier Try to focus elsewhere - binge watch TV, walk, dive into a book, etc.

There are lots of other tests that may or may not be appropriate. If you're HER2+, you'll likely have chemo before surgery. My surgeon wanted a CT before she operated to pinpoint the area. My oncologist wanted an MRI to make sure it was localized. Since you're ER/PR+ they may order genetic tests.

It's good that you're meeting with everyone up front. Every doc will have a different manner & focus. Be sure that you are comfortable with how they present the information and the time they are giving you, or get a second opinion with someone who may be a better fit.

SandyHay, sorry you are going through this. I just wanted to add, it's also very possible your oncologist WON'T order an MRI. I did not have one, and I'm not unusual.

Wishing you the best.

I am stage IB and I was told that it wasn't protocol to order a Pet or even a CT scan with that stage. So depending on your diagnosis, you may need to ask your oncologist for the further scans.

I wanted the piece of mind before I started radiation, mostly because I had a positive lymph node. I just wanted to make sure. My oncologist ordered a pet scan per my request...she was happy to do it...but it was denied by insurance..so we instead did a bone scan and a ct scan. Absolutely glad I got that peace of mind.

Now with this being said...it can be stressful going down some rabbit holes. For example, I had a spot show up near my spine that I had to get a biopsy on. It was negative, but that was a very stressful time. Ultimately, I would have done it again though

EDIT—If you're talking about a breast MRI...that for sure was protocol. My BS ordered that. Pretty quickly, actually

Sandy - we have all been where you are now and it will get better!

The general surgeon that did my biopsy would not have done an MRI but when I changed facilities, the new one had me do an MRI just to check the spot and look for any other cancer in my breast.

I was like you - I was scared it was spreading every day but my breast surgeon and oncologist assured me that any activity I wanted to do would not cause it to spread.

Once you get a treatment plan you will feel more on control.

Please keep us posted

Robin, I agree. An MRI is not standard. Some surgeons like to do them before operating, while others don't. My surgeon does them and I was glad about that - based on his experience he finds them useful - but the research doesn't actually support it:

Meta-analysis of pre-operative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and surgical treatment for breast cancer
"Our study-level pooled analysis, based on 19 studies that had a control group in the design did not find any evidence that pre-operative MRI was associated improved surgical outcomes....

...The increased odds of receiving mastectomy as BC treatment attributed to MRI can only benefit patients if it translates into a decrease in local recurrence rates. However, the evidence clearly shows that pre-operative MRI does not reduce the risk of BC recurrence. Individual patient data meta-analysis has shown that 8-year local recurrence-free survival did not significantly differ between patients who had MRI and those who did not have MRI (P=0.87), and the associated multivariable models found no effect from MRI on local recurrence-free survival: hazard ratio for MRI (versus no MRI) was 0.88 (P=0.65), whereas age, margin status, and tumor grade were significantly associated with local recurrence-free survival in that meta-analysis. A recent study with long follow-up similarly found no significant effect from pre-operative MRI: 15-year local failure rates were reported as 8% for patients with and 8% for patients without MRI (P=0.59). The secondary analyses we report considered surgical outcomes examined in only some of the studies, including re-excision rates, rates of positive margins or incomplete excision, and re-operation rates; we did not find statistical evidence of a beneficial effect from MRI on any of these end-points in the overall or the stratified analyses."

As for PET and CT scans, as mentioned earlier, they are not protocol for Stage I breast cancer. Some MOs order them anyway, but most do not.

Sandy, see what the MO suggests in terms of testing and if there is something else you want because of your past health history, ask about it, explain why you want the test, and see what the MO says.

edj and Bessie, right. My cancer center is highly ranked. When I asked about MRI, the nurse navigator shook her head and said, "We don't do them here."

Sandy, also you mentioned the choices being between lumpectomy with radiation, or mastectomy, either being followed by years of meds. Just to reassure you, there again there is no statistical difference in outcomes. You won't be at less risk if you choose mastectomy than lumpectomy. So while there are other substantial differences between the two, you can breathe easily about that one.

sweetie we know your fear been there but once treatment plan in place things will ease up some. I was diagnosed at 42 while planningnour 2nd weddings i prayed for this man after waiting for right one Thank God he was with me thru it all. I was so scared i wouldnt make it But i had my cry then i decided to fight the good fight with Positive thoughts that i Would indeed get thru this. Hope and family also was important for me. Hang in there i am now a 26yr Survivor Praise God and am married also. msphil idc stage2 0/3 nodes 3mo chemo before and after Lmast then we got married then 7 wks rads and 5yrs on Tamoxifen.

SandyHay

I too was terrified of chemo. My knees actually buckled walking to the infusion suite the 1st time. Although it wasn't easy, it was definitely not as bad as I had imagined. You are stronger than you know.

Sending you love, light and strength for your journey.