If you have just been diagnosed....

CAJ.......I was just turned 49 when I got my DX in Dec. Take a deep breath. It is scary to get this kind of info that no-one wants. Just remember DCIS is non-invasive. Most surgeons will prefer breast conservation but the choice is yours. Since your area is very small you have a wonderful chance at conservation with a really good prognosis. Rads are usually a standard followup preventative. Many ladies have done well and worked thru their treatments. Keep your chin up......you'll be okay.

Hi everyone,

I haven't responded back to this site. I am having a really hard time trying to understand everything that is happening. When doctors talk to me I seem to shut down and not hear anything. I had a lumpectomy and a sentinal node biopsy last friday. Its a week now and I still feel sore and still some pain. More like shooting stabs when you don't expect them. I still don't know the stage or hormone information that I have been reading about here on this site. Saw the surgeon last wednesday and he still didn't have the completed path report yet. I have to see him again on Mondays so I hope it is there. I also have a medical oncologist appt. on Monday so I will see what they have to say. Already saw the radiation oncologist. Not looking forward to that every day. I am worried about the lung and heart getting hit with the radiation too. This whole experience so far has been terrifying and confusing. On top of it all I have to make some big decisions about my work and now my daughter was rushed to the hospital in pain. They are telling her she has a cyst on her ovary but then discharged her home for the weekend in pain. I had to try to take care of my grandson who is 5 for the last two days. Its all just been a little overwhelming to me right now.

I think I just got on this site today to vent and I'm really sorry. Alot of you are going through a whole lot more than I am right now and I shouldn't even be on here complaining.

Take care everyone,

Linda 

Hi Madison 13 S

I had a biopsy done and was told what kind of cancer I had (mix ductal, lobular) type !, and Estroegen receptive. From that info, and the position of the tumour we agreed on a mastectomy which I had 3 weeks ago. With the breast removal the surgeon removed the sentinal and two other nodes. Am really a novice in this breast cancer trip, but thought I'd share my experiences.

It's pretty daunting, but I found this wepsite invaluable, and could even follow what the seemingly endless round of doctors were saying.

Take care

SIONA

Thank you Madalyn for the great information and reply. I am going to try and bring someone with me to the meeting. Also I may buy a small tape recorder, because I know I will probably not understand evrything right away.And I do have my list. I will add to it to ask about the surgery delay. I read last night in Dr. David Chan's book"Breast Cancer real questions real answers" that sometimes you may see an oncologist before the surgeon, because they may want to try to shrink the tumor with chemo, before surgury. From mammo results, mine is 2.7cm. I don't know if this is considered large or not. All this pre-speculating is unnerving. Can't wait to find out whats really happening.

I've also just been diagnosed and I went to the surgeon last Thursday and I have Infiltrating Ductal

Carcinoma Stage 2. It is also estrogen positive which is a good thing? (They figure it's been hidden there for a couple of years. I was shocked to learn this is not uncommon??). So, plan of action is

March 10, 2008 modified-radical mastectomy and after that a good chance of chemo and/or hormone therapy. After researching the internet and armed with what little I already knew I had already made

up my mind what route I was going to take. I could have still gone for the lumpectomy but as the surgeon put it in his opinion it would have been a very bad choice. The morning of the 10th I'll have to go to for a procedure I think is called sentinel node biopsy which should greatly benefit me in evaluating my treatment plan. My surgery itself will not be until after 3:00 at . The surgeon also stated that after what I had to endure with my back this should be a piece of cake as far as surgeries go.



Needless to say this is scary beyond belief and I'm so trying to keep a positive outlook but then they phone to say I have to go for a CT scan before the surgery and my mind goes racing.



I have two small children, age 46 and up to last week worked full-time. Taking sick leave and my doctor will evaluate it month to month. I'm just amazed to know that women actually work through this - I'm just a bundle of nerves and feel like a basket case.

Roberta,

I, too, was dx w/ IDC and had a mastectomy w/ SNB (sentinel node biopsy).  My dx was Jan. 14 of this year, and my surgery was Feb. 5.  I am now recovering and waiting for further test results that will say whether or not I need chemotherapy. I already know that, because my tumor was ER+, I will be getting Arimidex (an estrogen inhibitor) once the chemo is completed.

There are many, many of us here in the same situation you are in.  IDC is by far the most common type of breast cancer.  Lots of us are in the middle of treatment, either getting ready for surgery, recovering from surgery, in the middle of chemo, or long down the road on an estrogen blocker.

Now that you have your diagnosis, why don't you start a new conversation in this topic (Just Diagnosed) or even in the "Surgery" section, since you will be having surgery this month.  That way, your posts and questions won't get lost at the end of a very long list of posts like this one.

Hugs to you!

otter 

hi everyone Just got back from visit with the oncologist.It went really well. They moved the appt. with the surgeon up to this Monday. Feel great about that.They couldn't say for sure, but they figured I would probably be able to have a lumpectomy-most likely followed by some type of chemo. I guess the full pathology report comes after the surgery.My son accompanied me. At the very end of the meeting with two oncologist, I totally lost it. Just busted out crying. I guess everyone thought I was crying , because I was afraid. And that for sure is part of it. But mostly,I was spacing out about a lot of things-telling my daughter who has lupus(in remission), being in the same hospital where my sister passed from the same desease in 2003. I am feeling better now though-since things are moving forward. Feel really greatfull that so far all the main doctors caring for me are so kind.Their kindness and dedication leaves me speechless. I am so humbled by the fact that these young men and women really do want to save my life.What a wonderful world!

Hi otter Yes I will be finding out on Monday-the type of surgery. There are 3 different surgeons at the clinic where I go. One of them I have met before. He was my sisters surgeon. Hoping to see him, because he is the top doctor there. He is also one of the best breast surgeons in the nation, and the best in the tri-state area. He also has an expertise in onco-plastic surgeon, which, if I am a candidate, I would like to have it done. The other two doctors are international and nationally renowned. One of them, through her research is responsible for the new dye that is used by many surgeons in sential node biopsy. So I as you can se I am not very anxious about Monday. This really is not the worst club to join. My daughter has lupus. Most people will say"whats That?".With this desease everyone wants to save you. Been down this road with my loving sister-evryone was so kind to her-even the pharmacist where she got her morphine. I am new to these boards, don,t really know what you mean about a different thread. If someone responds to me, I greatly appreciate it. If not thats okay too. For me just to vent is helpful.

This is for tomatojuice & susansblues:

tomatojuice--

Here's how to start a new "thread" (also called a "conversation" on this website).  Go back to the main "Topic" page, which for this section of the discussion board is called "Just Diagnosed."  (There are lots of other topic pages; some of those may become more relevant as time goes by.)  Under the Topic: Just Diagnosed is a list of "conversations/threads".  Examples are "Concerned about Friend," "What choice would you make", etc.  At the top of the list on the left-hand side is a button:  "Start a new conversation."  Click that button, and you'll see a screen that looks like an email "compose" screen.  Type in the subject of your new conversation (something you want to talk about or ask), and then the body, etc.  Click "submit", and you're done.  You can go back and edit what you've written if you see errors.

susansblues--

I will try to answer some of your questions.

1) The aggressiveness of your treatment will be based on the apparent aggressiveness of your cancer.  The size of your tumor is above the magic threshold of 2.0 cm, so you're at least Stage II.  The grade is "3", which means the cells appear to want to grow quickly.  Your axillary LN are enlarged, and your docs seem to be worried about that. LN enlargement can be an indication of spread to the LN, but that's not necessarily true.  My LN were "generally enlarged" and they were fine.

2) As you know, SNB is less invasive than ALND. However, until recently, SNB was not done if there was clinical evidence (enlargement, "matting") that the cancer had already spread to the LN. I think most surgeons would still want to do a full ALND if they had clinical evidence of spread to the LN.  Perhaps a fine needle aspirate of one of the nodes would tell ahead of time.  I don't know...my surgeon went through the same dilemma and double- and triple-checked my swollen nodes, before she was satisfied they were OK  to do the SNB we had planned.

3) I don't know whether the injection for the MUGA will interfere with the bone scan &/or CT. I'm pretty sure the MUGA and the bone scan both use a form of technicium radioisotope.  I think you should call both places first thing Monday morning, so one can be rescheduled if necessary.  The MUGA is probably to check heart function prior to the start of chemo (adriamycin & herceptin can damage the heart); the bone & CT scans are to check for mets because that might change the approach to treatment.  This is a guess--you might be able to delay the MUGA, because unless you already know you have a heart problem that might affect your surgery, the results aren't needed until chemo planning. 

4) "They say" you should get dental work & pap smear done before you start chemo.  I can't speak for the pap smear; my last one was 18 months ago so I'm late too.  I did get my dental check-up & cleaning done about 3 wks after my mast/SNB, once my incision had healed and I had no more drainage or fluid build-up.  One problem with dental work & chemo is that the dentistry releases mouth bacteria into your blood (supposedly), and the chemo suppresses your ability to capture & kill those bacteria. I've read that flossing your teeth does the same thing.  I take antibiotics before dental work anyway, because of a heart valve thing; so I'm assuming the ampicillin wiped out any showering bacteria. (I'm not on chemo anyway.)  Also, chemo will kill off the cells that become platelets, so your ability to stop bleeding will be decreased and that could be a problem with dental work.  I think you can fit it in between surgery & chemo, if you're healthy during that period.  Check with your docs about timing.

5) For questions about ACT vs. AC->T, check the "chemo" topic of these boards.  Those women have lots of information!

Best to both of you as you find your way through this maze!

otter 

First Timer here!

30 yo...diagnosed Feb 14, 2008 w/IDC Stage 3

bilateral mastectomy Feb 29, 08 ...at home recovering

2+ lymph nodes 

so glad to have found this board!  i have lots to read and catch up on. 

I have just been diagnosed with two nodules and my surgeon has told me that mastectomy is the only way to go and I am unable to just have the nodules removed, etc.  Is there any other way?  I really don't want a mastectomy...Any ideas or suggestions? One has tissue in which there is focal lymphatic involvement by tumor, the lymphatic spaces are confirmed with D2-40 stain and within them are tumor cells similar to that described in specimin C.  That nodule is an infiltrating duct carcinoma, large, irregular and confluent nests of cells are present within a desmoplastic stroma, there are areas of necrosis.  There is moderate perhaps some ductal carcinoma in situ with low grade formation is seen.  There is Prognostic studies are preformed yielding the following results: Estrogen Receptor-positiove 95% of cells, Progesterone Receptor-positive 90% of cells, Mib-2 proliferation rate-high. 

This info is all greek to me right now but if any one has any other options I would love to hear from you....thanks, Linda 

Linda, I don't have an answer to your specific questions. You can start your own conversation when you go to the main page of any of the boards and click on add your comment. You will get more answers if you do this.

sheila

Dearest Tomato,

I understand so well the way you feel. BC tries to take away our lives; it's a beast, a monster, a vampire. I also had a wonderful life with a very promising future; now everything has been put on hold with the words "yeah, I'm afraid it's cancer." Not snatched away; only put on hold.

I also understand your grief over the loss of your sister. In fact, you're in double mourning -- for your sister and for your own lost health. My little sister died in 2002; I still talk out loud to her every single day, and will never get over her being gone.

This said, we must remember that we are not our sisters, and we are not our cancers. Some people -- many people -- make it through the dark tunnel and emerge into the sunshine on the other side. People are cured; people survive. We must believe we will be among those. Not because I have any faith in theories about attitude affecting the prognosis of BC, but simply because without hope, people give up.

You need to start fighting now, Tomato! Don't let the beast eat you up; don't let the dark take over your life. Do your treatments, your surgery, whatever you have to do to get well again. In the meantime, live! Go out to eat, have friends over, drink a glass or two of good French wine, cook and enjoy a fine meal, go to a museum, listen to music and read good books, cuddle your kids or someone else's, walk your dogs and stroke your cats -- just live.

I will be looking for updates from you.

Love,

Annie

Hello Everyone,

    I was diagnosed this past week with a High Grade Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma 3.2 CM in size on the left side.  The doctor actually removed the tumor during the biopsy.  My pathologhy report reads as follows:

    - The tumor grade is III and the margins of lumpectomy are free of tumor.  The closest margin is estimated at about 1 MM. 

    - The cancer is a stage II.  

    - The tumor cells are ER and PR negative.  No overexpression is dected to HER2/NEU.  The KI67 proliferating antigen is present in over 50% of the tumor cells.

    - There is tumor necrosis and hemorrhages.  No angiolymphatic permission by tumor identified. 

    - pT2,  pNX, pMX

Does anyone know what any of this means?  My doctor has given me the option of a partial mastectomy or a total mastectomy.  According to him, the chance of reoccurrence is 5% or less either way I go.  The cancer did not get into the bloodstream and they believe it is confined to the breast.  During the next surgery they are going to check the lymph nodes but they do not believe it got to the lymph nodes.  I have approximately 2 weeks to make a decision on what I want and am very confused on what way to go. The doctor said that even with the size of the tumor, because of my breast size he would still have 90% of my breast tissue left to work with if I go waith a partial.  I then wouldn't need as much reconstruction done on the right side.  How do I make this decision? 

Linda--there is a thread you may want to look at about ILC. This is a difficult time when you don't know all the specifics.  Once you get a pathology report and have a plan in place, you won't feel so out of control. My mom is a survivor of ILC  (lumpectomy, rads, tamox) now over 21 years and doing well. Her story is an inspiration to me and I hope can be for you as well.