confused and scared Death?

Amy,

I am so sorry you are going through this. Your doctors are doing scans that are routine to rule out the possibility that the cancer has spread. Many women are diagnosed with breast cancer, go through treatment, and it never returns. Whenever someone has been diagnosed with cancer, it's important to evaluate with additional scans and tests in order to choose the most effective and appropriate treatment. It does NOT mean that the doctors are keeping something from you, although I can certainly understand how you might feel that way.

If your scans show cancer in other areas of your body, it is not an automatic death sentence. Many doctors consider metastatic breast cancer (cancer that has spread from the original site) to be a chronic disease. There are numerous treatment options available and more are coming. I have breast cancer that has spread to my bones. It was diagnosed in February 2006. I have been able to keep the disease under control with hormonal treatments and a drug called Zometa that strengthens my bones. If my current treatment quits working, there are plenty of others to try.  Being triple negative means you will have different treatment options than someone with a different pathology.

But, that's all getting the cart before the horse. Your doctors are merely behaving responsibly and assessing your situation. Please try not to worry too much. I will keep you in my prayers and look forward to a future post from you saying all your scans were "clean"!

(((HUGS)))

Diane 

Amy,

Take a big breath...and wait.  Cancer means that you must learn to wait peacefully as you able too. We all have had a lot of experience at this and it is always the hardest part. 

Diane is right about the reports.  Believe me there will be a time you will want them so you have a ideal where you stand.  Also you most not let the doctor tell you your out come.  Each of us are different and they just don't know.  I was told I had 3 to 6 months to live two years ago because it was so aggressive for me.  I'm have been in treatment two years and I'm NEDS right now.

I had two separate mast. a year apart.  I tell myself it was them or my life.  And for me this is true because I have locally aggressive bc.

Living in hope one day at time,

FlaLady

Hi amy, don't worry about not being told everything, with such active law suit issues, doctors tell you everything, as soon as they know. They have to, otherwise you could sue their socks off. Kinda ugly, but this is true, the days of "sparing the patient a lot of worry" are long gone.



Try not to jump ahead. This is difficult, especially with so much info on the Internet. Keep in mind that there are literally thousands of us out here who have been through treatment and are doing fine. I am 9 years post treatment and I met a lady at the dog park who had her cancer in 1985 and told me she sometimes forgets which side it was on.



This is no longer a death sentence. Advances have been enormous in treatment and survival just in the last 10 years. So don't go there at all.



You will be just fine and live to be an old lady.



Gentle hugs, Shirlann

It is not a death sentence.  I truely believe that attitude has alot to do with it.  If you think that you are going to die you almost give up.  You need to stay positive.  Treatment now is NOTHING like it was years ago.  It is doable and though you will never be "in remission" it doesn't mean that you will have cancer your whole life.  It is very hard going through it so young. I was diagnosed the day before my 33rd bday...happy birthday to me right?  I had the genetic testing and took my life into my own hands.  I feel that I have done everything I can to prevent this from happening again (I did test positive for BRCA 1 and had prophalatic double mastectomies and opphorectomy) and I feel great.  I almost forget what I went through.  You will be ok and life will go on!  Life is what you make of it.  Live life to the fullest!  Don't have any regrets and make each day count.

Hi Amy, I am the first one to tell you this, but every little pain or ache is always cancer coming back.  It isn't, but try telling your overactive mind that!

I have had cancer of the big toe, hair follicles, and never just a headache, always brain mets.  Just goes with the territory.

I don't mean that things like this don't ever happen, and that you should ignore things, but all the little aches and pains that you once just brushed off, now are a major worry.  Just part of the "cancer dance".

So sorry you had to join us.

Gentle hugs, Shirlann