If you have just been diagnosed....

Hi.  I am new to this forum and finding it very informative.  Family and friends have been very supportive, but they don't have the answers.  I never realized how much control you need to take when dealing with breast cancer.  So many decisions to make, and very scary because they are about your survival.

I had my lumpectomy two weeks ago today. .5 IDC. Cancer is estrogen positive.  Margins were clean, lymphnodes were clean.  Finally some good news. I am having radiation in a few weeks for 6 1/2 weeks, 5 days a week.   Surgeon would like me to see an oncologist.  She said probably I would have to take an aromatase therapy.  Anyone with information on this.  I thought that aromatase therapy was given after tamoxifen.  I was  hoping to just have radiation.  The side effects are not as bad as tamoxifen, but still (osteoporosis, bone pain, elevated cholesterol). I'm 60 and in good health except for bc.  Is there anyone who has opted not to take hormone therapy?Or has taken any of the three aromatase medications after radiation.  I definately will be seeing a few oncologists. 

Hi gals, the decision about the aromatase I THINK depends on if you are Estrogen Receptor Positive or Progesterone Receptor Positive.  I was a Triple Negative, so I did not do anything but lumpectomy with radiation.

This is written on path reports as ER+ and PR+ (or negative).  I am 9 years post treatment and doing well.

Hugs, Shirlann

Sunny, I have been on Arimidex for almost 2 years.  I had some joint pain and some abdominal weight gain but am getting rid of those.  I do take glucosamine for the joint pain and am walking over 3 miles now.  I didn't do radiation but did do chemo. 

See the oncologist and take it from there. 

Liz

I was just dignosed with having type 11 breast cancer.  Mine did not show up in the Mamogram it was detected in the Ultrasound after bringing it up to the specialist that I had a knot that I was concerned about.  After getting two referrals I have been told to get the Mast since mine is not being detected by mamograms and my risk are greater that it would not be detected if it appeared again. My surgery is set for the Oct. 19 and it is a little scary.  Thank god I have a very supportive group of people in my life that is helping me think postive and be strong.  The hard part is not knowing what to expect after surgery.  Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

I was just diagnosed with lobular carcinoma IN situ stage ll on Friday the 12th. I had a second opinion today, they say I need an MRI. My question is the same as connieB. So much information at one time and its so confusing on what to do.  My husband says he doesn't care if I have one or none, he just wants me alive. But I'm not sure whatI'm going to feel like looking in the mirror and seeing one when there should be two.

If you had it can you tell what we should expect?

Its one thing coming from doctors its totally different coming from a real person who has went through it.

Thank you and good luck to everyone.

Hi, Well I went with my sister today and she was just diagnosed today. She has had the simular test such as the mammogram first which was 2 weeks ago and then the needle biospy which confirmed that the mass was not cystic but was solid. The results was given to her today and all I could think about was all of you beautiful women and what you represent and stand up for. I continued to remain positive, even thou I felt like crying inside. Her mass was interductal and insitu with a size of 1.3cm. I kept telling her to stay positive and that we were going to get thru this.  After receiving the results I immediately scheuled her to have surgery to remove it in 2 weeks, because I felt there is not telling if it is a rapid growing or slow growing cancer because it was not there last year. She has a bone scan schedule for next week and received the chest x ray today.  I pray that this is the right thing. I can't believe how the mass grew. It did not show up on the mammogram last year. The surgeon recommended taking the mass out by performing a lumpectomy and remove the lymph nodes associated with that breast and after the surgery send the lymph nodes to biopsy and determine whether or not it had accually spread to the lymph nodes, this will determine whether or not she will not chemo. However,she will receive radiation to the surrounding tissue after the mass is removed.  The mass is estrogen and progestin receptor positive which means that it will respond to the oral treatment regime postoperatively. I am trying to give her support and after you get the news you are in shock. 

Signed,

Still in the shock phase praying that I did the right thing

Thoughts and prayers are with you tomorrow!

Let us know how things go.

Thinking of you Diane ...Good luck...and sending lots of prayers xx

Just diagnosed - surgery scheduled - what's next?  Can you work during treatment?  I'm the sole breadwinner so this is important to me!

I have just been diagnosed with Lobular Carcinoma, and they want an immediate decision on if I want reconstruction or not...It has only been diagnosed in one breast, but there is a 10% chance it will go to the other...I am leaning towards Bilateral...and no reconstruction, but my Doctor is pushing reconstruction.  Currently they are not talking about radiation or Chemo...I got it very early...Thank God for yearly Mamos...anyone have input on reconstruction or not?

Thanks

Sorry that I didn't see your post before now.  I hope you are still checking back.  You are so right when you say "Life Comes At You FAST"!  It sounds like you have been doing everything right so I pray that it is in early stage.  Just remember that if the worst happens and it isn't in the early stage that you still have a life to live.  There are so many woman on this board that were not diagnosed in the early stage, me included, that are planning a long life.  I am in the beginning part of this as well, diagnosed Sept. 5th with double mastectomy on Halloween, but I am planning to fight this with all I have.  I am stage III and had two grade 3 tumors and one grade 2 tumor.  For me all that says is I have to have more chemo and fight that much harder.  I refuse to let this cancer have me because I have people that have already claimed me.  You will get through this.  I will be praying for you.  Keep us posted on how you are doing.

God Bless,

Jenny

Hi, I'm just sick. I was just told tonight that my core biopsy has come back cancerous.  I"m only 43 years old, 2 beautiful children and I feel like ending it all right now.  I can't stand the thought of being sick and not be able to care for my children.  I now have to have more films and then go to a surgeon.  My life is over isn't it?? I feel like I have just been handed my death sentence.  They thought it was just calcium deposits again like 5 years ago.  I was totally blown out of the water tonight.  I"m soooo scared.  I don't think I can handle this, the surgery, the treatments.  Heelp!  Is there anyone out there that is going through the same thing right now??  Kitty

BreastCancerTreatment.us is also a god place for info on different treatment options

Hi. I'm 27 years old, and on Halloween I found out that I have breast cancer.  There is no history of breast cancer in my family.  I've had my bi-lateral MRI, CAT Scans, Bones scans- my right breast is the one with cancer. Stage I.

I'm scheduled to have a mastectomy by the end of this month. I have chosen to remove both breasts and have them reconstructed. I can't live my life worried about my other breast.  The past two weeks have been so confusing. There is too much going on in my head; way too much information to process. I mean, I'm 27! I don't have children yet. My husband and I met with the plastic surgeon yesterday to discuss reconstruction. I feel so overwhelmed - Still can't believe that this is happeneing to me.  I'm trying to take things 1 step at a time, and remain positive. I'm a positive person, and I won't let this destroy my spirit. I have wonderful supportive friends and family that are there for me every step of the way.  I've started reaching out to support groups and other women. I would like to know how other women feel, and how they were abe to handle everything- the ups, the down, everything. It's a lot to handle and I know I can't do this on my own.   

Kitty you are so NOT alone.  I am 44 yrs old with two great kids too.  All of this is beyond overwhelming, but by NO means is it a death sentence.  There are people on this board that were actually told it was a death sentence and are still kicking.  There are new treatments being found everyday.  Like the saying goes "This isn't your mama's cancer".  That is so true.  My mom died of cancer 14yrs. ago.  If they had the treatments then that they have today I believe she would still be with us.  That is why I know that I will be around for my kids.  There are a lot of us here that were blind sided by this because we believed something else was going on.  I had gone in for a routine check of a cyst we thought was growing only to discover it was a 2.5cm cancer mass in my right breast.  The mass had not shown up on the ultra sound 1 1/2 years earlier.  After having two lumpectomies and having an ultra sound to make sure there was no cancer in the left breast we discovered through an MRI that I wasn't suppose to get that I also had a 2cm mass there.  After having a double mastectomy a 4mm mass was discovered in the right breast that had never even shown up on the MRI.  As you can see blind sided has become my new name, but I refuse to let this cancer have power over me.  I will not let it take me from my family.  I will fight with all that I am and I do plan to win.  Don't allow yourself to think this is the end.  It may be the beginning of a tough fight, but as woman and mothers we are well equipped for tough fights.  Don't give up and know that there are many caring people on this board here to hold your hand through it all.  God bless and I will keep you in my prayers.

Jenny