PLEASE HELP

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joykeeperorg
joykeeperorg Member Posts: 154
Hello everyone my name is Chantal I'm 23 yrs old and I was diagnosed on 2 Aug 07. I guess Im still in the shock phase but is trying to remain calm. I will be having a Sentinel Node biopsy and Lumpectomy done on the 10 of Aug so they can do some more test to see if it has spread. Im here for support!

Comments

  • WendyInCalif
    WendyInCalif Member Posts: 172
    edited August 2007
    My sweet young thing, my heart goes out to you. This is going to be a challenge but due to your young age and resilience, you will be fine.

    I am glad you came to this board where there is available the most accurante information I have found available without exception. And information is power.

    The calvary is on the way.
  • determinedmom
    determinedmom Member Posts: 276
    edited August 2007
    Welcome Chantal - this place is GREAT. What was the path? There are so many treatments out there now so don't give up. Also, the Chat Room here can be very comforting w/ lets of info.

    On a side note, not all share this info, but good to know. If you are on pain meds after surgery, make sure and take stool softeners and/or laxatives, no BM after a couple of days can be another discomfort you don't want to deal w/.

    Best wishes
  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited August 2007

    So sorry you've been diagnosed, especially at such a very young age. You've found a great support group here, though. Yes, please post your path with any questions you may have about it.

  • kuchagirl
    kuchagirl Member Posts: 66
    edited August 2007
    Hi,
    I was diagnosed with papillary breast cancer in Jan 2007. It, like medullary cancer, is not seen very often & is considered one of the better cancers to get. My cancer was totally cut out (then radiation & daily pill), and now I just get regular checkups. If I had to get a cancer, I guess this is the cancer I would get. All my best,
    Lisa
  • BethNY
    BethNY Member Posts: 2,710
    edited March 2008
    Chantal the beginning is very scary-- there's so much unknown...
    I was diagnosed when I was 26.
    You have a long road ahead- but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
    To find more girls in your age group check out
    www.youngsurvival.org

    ps- I'm about to celebrate my 30th b-day in October- cancer free- new hair-new boobs, and a great life-- you'll have just the same!!!
  • joykeeperorg
    joykeeperorg Member Posts: 154
    edited August 2007

    I dont have the Path report in front of me so ill post it at a later time. I do have a question though I have seen many women post and than they put 3/07 1.4 cm IDC, ER+ Her2Neu- Node neg Onc 15 I using WENDYinCALIF's remarks I have know idea what that means! How do you read this?

  • Bren-2007
    Bren-2007 Member Posts: 6,241
    edited August 2007
    CRC,
    It means she was diagnosed on March 7, 2007, Infiltrating ductal carcinoma, 1.4 cm tumor, estrogen positive, HR2 negative, node negative, Oncodx test score of 15.

    Hope that helps.

    Brenda
  • joykeeperorg
    joykeeperorg Member Posts: 154
    edited August 2007

    Thank you so much all of this is so new to me!

  • joykeeperorg
    joykeeperorg Member Posts: 154
    edited August 2007

    Does anyone know how long the Sentinel Node biopsy, lumpectomy, and I might be getting the Mediport take to heal? I will be having that done on 10 Aug.

  • joykeeperorg
    joykeeperorg Member Posts: 154
    edited August 2007

    My areola in my left breast where the cancer was detected is smaller that my right is that normal?

  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited August 2007
    CRC--I'm 18 days post-op from my lump/SNB. Haven't had my port put in yet. I started feeling pretty good on day 4 or 5 as far as driving and being functional all day (I have small children and also work from home as an accountant). I'm older than you--39--but still fairly young. So I would think you should bounce back very quickly. I'm also a competitive athlete and was told to take it easy for 4 weeks, which seems about right.

    As far as your areola goes, I don't know, but it could possibly be related to the tumor I suppose, especially if it's something new you just noticed. The breast where my tumor was was actually shrinking--very noticeable right before my surgery. My tumor was invading my pectoralis muscle, and it's almost like my breast was getting sucked into my chest or something.
  • Methusala
    Methusala Member Posts: 285
    edited August 2007
    your aereolas come in all shapes and sizes, just as breasts do. Generally, whatever hand you write with, that side breast will be bigger. I still don't understand allot of the terms and abbreviations either. I asked Dr. Edge about them, and he said that some of them can't be determined until all the testing is done, completely.

    I know allot of the women who already posted said you'll be fine, but when I first found out, I cried every time I heard that from someone!! We all have our own journey, yours will be your own unique path. Even if you don't feel fine right now, try to find things that calm you and keep you focused.
    That was the hardest thing for me to do, but it helped me the most. Keeping my life as normal as possible! Doing what I would normally do... you know, the regular routine..
    The shock of being told you have cancer is horrendous. But I have found, that the more I focused on my LIFE, the less I focused on my cancer. It was some advice I got on these boards.. and it's really true. You have to KEEP going forward. I do sincerely wish you the best.
  • joykeeperorg
    joykeeperorg Member Posts: 154
    edited August 2007

    Does anyone have a mediport put in yet for Chemo? I would like to know what they do when you start getting Chemo through the mediport.

  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited August 2007

    Just had my port put in this week. The port is surgically put into your chest, between your clavicle and your breast. In order to access the port, the chemo nurses find the port under your skin and stick the IV needle into it. My mom has had a port in for five years and has had it accessed hundreds of times, and she says the prick is very tolerable. There are also numbing sprays the nurses can use if the prick bothers you. When chemo is done infusing, the nurses take the needle out, flush the port out with heprin, and you're done.

  • fd411
    fd411 Member Posts: 398
    edited August 2007
    Chantal,

    I had my port put in July 20th. It was sore for about 3 weeks, but now, I forget that it's even there sometimes. No pain at all.

    The surgeon's office gave me a prescription for Emla cream to numb the skin. I put it on the skin where the port is 1 to 2 hours before it's accessed. I barely feel the prick.

    I first get blood drawn through the port to check my counts. The nurse leaves the tubing in and I get saline and heparin flushed through. If my bloodwork comes back OK, I get my chemo, lots of saline to flush the port and another flush with heparin.

    The first time I did chemo, I didn't have a port. By the end of the 6 rounds, my veins were toast and very stubborn. I promised myself that if I ever had to do chemo again, I was getting a port. It makes things lots easier.

    Ferne
  • Fit999
    Fit999 Member Posts: 119
    edited August 2007
    You poor babe. I remember oh so well those first days and weeks. Terrifying. Feeling frustrated, helpless, confused, all normal. These boards are a tremendous help. And the more details you give, the more we can help. I do not have a port and I finished chemo. Still getting a drug every 21 days in an IV.

    I had my lumpectomy done on a Thursday and was back to work on Monday. You can do this, just put one foot in front of the other, one step at a time. And make sure and take at least 1 person to ALL of your dr visits. I don’t remember half the things they told me, but my husband and mom were there and they remembered.

    Like what was said above, normalcy. Keep to your daily routine as much as you can. For me it was continuing to work fulltime and going to they gym. Family and Drs thought I was nuts, but it was part of my normal. And everything you feel is ok.

    Big hug,
    Issa
  • joykeeperorg
    joykeeperorg Member Posts: 154
    edited August 2007

    I'm still waiting on my Path reports but I should be starting Chemo in the next week or two. I'm so scared. The harderst thing I'm dealing with right now is the fact that I'm going to loose my hair! How did you ladies deal with that?

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2007
    CRC...The prospect of losing my hair, along with all of the other trauma bombarding me at the time, was so terrifying to me that I initially refused chemo and said I'd have a bilateral mastectomy even though it wasn't recommended or indicated. Chemo was though and I continued to be really horrified at the thought of it...until it started to happen. One day, about 2 weeks after my first infusion, strands started coming out in my hand and, for some reason, instead of freaking out, I went into a total take-charge mode, drove to my wig lady's shop (had already picked out and ordered 2 wigs even though I secretly hoped I'd be the exception and not really need them) and had her buzz my hair. I was actually rather pleasantly surprised that the shape of my head was so attractive....but not pleasantly surprised enough to go bald in public! One of my wigs was in and I put it on and never looked back. Truthfully, the buzzing was an empowering experience, I think because I controlled that decision.

    Now, 2 years later, my hair is finally back (I was bald as a golf ball for 6 months), styled & beautifully highlighted, and just brushing my shoulders. So I'd say that the only way past the fear is to walk through it. I know it's hard to believe, but it's really not as hard as you imagine. At least that was my experience....

    ~Marin
  • Fit999
    Fit999 Member Posts: 119
    edited August 2007
    Hair loss was terrifying. But like Marin said, one day it just starts to come out. I had that for about 3-4 days (I had very thick hair), then it looked ugly. It was dull and all matted and just horrible looking. So getting it cut super short was a relief. I didn’t have to worry anymore. Then a few days later when it was so thin I wasn’t comfortable, I had it buzzed at my wig ladies shop. She just spun me around in the chair so I couldnt see, shaved it off, and put my wig on. So when she spun me back around I had med length hair (wig) and it was pretty. And the next day at work when I got all the comments I just told people that I wanted a change.

    Have you checked out the section of this site for the “chemo sisters”? It’s a huge comfort to have other women in the same situation. If you go to the beginning of any of those threads you will see all the worry and stress we all had during pre-chemo. Joining the ladies doing chemo at the same time as you might be a great comfort and a huge source of information, it was for me.

    And once your on the other side of this nightmare, hair loss will be lower on your list of worries then you thought.

    Big hug,
    Issa
  • slanderson
    slanderson Member Posts: 152
    edited August 2007
    I agree with above. Hair loss was the WORST part for me. I remember thinking after mine was over how different the whole experience would have beend without the hair loss part. I felt naked and exposed. But, 2 years later, you couldn't tell that it ever happened.

    Good Luck!!! Shannon
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2007
    Also, check out www.chemochicks.com It's a great website put together by women like us and treats hair loss and other side effects with a good mix of humor and helpful ideas.

    ~Marin
  • conniehar
    conniehar Member Posts: 954
    edited August 2007
    Yes, the hair loss is the worst. I remember sitting at my kitchen table crying on the day that I started to shed. I didn't think I would be able to get through it. But, I did. I was so relieved when I was spun around so I didn't have to watch myself being shaved. I think I would have lost it. I still in the midst of chemo and still bald, but I wear my wig everyday. In fact, just this morning I was thinking how easy it was to get ready for work now that I didn't have to do my hair. I can't wait until it grows back though.

    When you get through this, you will look back and be proud of yourself for how much you endured and how strong you actually are. Best of luck to you!

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