If you have just been diagnosed....

thank you crazydaisy, I'll do that.

Anyone suffering from breast cancer must know that there are many other things they can do to beat the battle of breast cancer. I have had bone cancer and I must tell you natural treatments work more effectively than chemotherapy. The doctors told me they couldn't do anymore for me, so I followed the advise of Phillip Day and I am still here today. There is hope for everyone please just read what I have to say!

I have beaten cancer without so much as a doctors help, and so have eight other I know of whom are willing to prove it. That's right the cure is through natural supplements. Has anyone heard of Phillip Day? I wouldn't have expected you to. The battle in defeating cancer is over, it has been won, already. There are many natural treatments available which can allow one to beat the disease. In fact I am one of them, I beat it when the doctors could do no more. There have been tens of thousands many of which were told hey could do no more they were terminal and through these natural good health ways they are still alive. Phillip Day and his books show that many scientists and researchers have found natural ways to beat cancer itself. The books are a collection of many studies conducted my world renown scientists and doctors. For further information I found this site yesterday- not as well versed as it could be but  good site http://www.cancerfightingstrategies.com/ Further information is on Linus Pauling the multiple Nobel prize winner for science said in 1994 " All people should know that cancer in our society today is basically a fraud." It is known that the reason for cancer is the pollutants and chemicals in our environments foods, shampoos, etc. There are natural ways to cleanse the body of these. Things such as vitamin B17 found to be absent on all cancer sufferers is to be taken- it is found in apricot kernels. What is interesting is that the selling of apricot kernels has been made illegal by the government in the USA. Why may you ask- that's the very question we are all asking, why would they ban apricot kernels- the only true source of B17 vitamins? This one factor amoung others shows that one can rid of cancer, like me who is living three years after I shouldn't be am here to show it is proof it works. I was shown this when my cousin's friend had turned to natural supplements against the doctors wishes and is alive and well today. Phillip Day's books must be bought, you can find them on websites. The real reason why we have chemotherapy is that it is such a successful market for business a multi billion dollar industry in western countries like here in Australia.  Doctors go to school and are taught about the drugs that are available, not natural treatments. I promise with all my heart this is true, I know that you all have a chance- Please find out more about these things it has saved me and can change anyone's lives.

Faithfully Michelle- free of cancer.

P.S Just try it its natural - it wont hurt.

Hi, I am new to this site. I was looking for information as I have just been diagnosed. I'm 39 years old, my mom had breast cancer but I never thought it would happen to me. I had an open biopsy last Thursday and the doctor told me at the time that he believed it was cancer. I'm still waiting to see the report but my primary doctor called me this morning and the only thing I can remember her saying is grade 3. She didn't really explain anything to me and my follow up with the surgeon isn't until Wednesday. I'm feeling really overwhelmed and can't stop crying.

Thank you crazydaisy. I appreciate your kind words and support. Actually, my mom passed as a result of a stroke but BC was among the many medical challenges she had. She got sick around the same age I am now with heart disease, BC came later, and I worry that my life is starting down the same path. All of this is so sureal. I feel like I should be doing something right away and the waiting is killing me. Given that my cancer is a grade 3 will that speed up my timeline for treatment? I spoke with my surgeon yesterday and have an appointment with him tomorrow. He has already recommended a mastectomy. This seems like such a radical course of action. I thought there would be other treatments options available. I plan to get another opinion but I don't want to delay treatment. I was told the next step is to have a PET scan. What should I expect this to be like?? Thank you again. I'm glad there are people like yourselves willing to help and offer support.  

Missy, I was diagnosed on Monday of this week with infiltrating ductal carcinoma, my tumor was stage 2 and i have another biopsy scheduled to check the lymnodes.  My tumor was 2.5cm at the greatest dimension and after removal my doctor had sucessfully removed it and had very good margins all around. 

They are suggesting no need for masectomy unless i so choose, i am facing radiation and chemo....lots of anxiety here!

mellowyellow37

Hi, I am new to this site, but thought I may be able to help a littel.  I am also in upstate NY and I was just diagnosed last week with breast cancer.  I have a surgeon who is affiliated with Albany Med. and he and the hospital have been great up to this point.  I had a surgical biopsy this last Thursday and it was the best experience I have had at a hospital.  For me it has been less than a month since I found the lump, been diagnosed, had two biopsy's and he is ready to do my mastectomy in the next couple of weeks.  He has already discussed reconstruction and I am seeing the plastic surgeon this week.  For me the fact that my doctor has been aggressive has been a real plus for me.  I want to get it all taken care of before it spreads any further.  I am still Young and want to have some of my summer left to have a little fun!!

I am also familiar with Samaritian Hospitals Cancer Center and it is also great.  Hope it helps a little. 

hi Frustrated. I feel that you and I have been mirroring each other. I found my lump April 14 and went to the doctor on the 15th of April, ultrasounds, mri, biopsy, etc....now I am currently waiting to determine surgery and chemo needs. I have already seen the surgeon, but I am seeing the oncologist Wednesday and the plastic surgeon on Thursday.  We did talk about bilateral surgery when I was at the surgeon's office, but he did not mention any issue with blood loss. I have no idea what that is about, although I guess it could make sense.  I feel for you...I also feel that I am all alone even though I am married and I have two young children. You know, a lot of people offer to help you out, take them up on it. Go to a stupid, funny movie, go shopping, enjoy the weather, and do things if you can. I think my biggest issue is that I can't sleep at night which affects how well I function and cope. My doctor offerred meds to help me sleep. Are you sleeping at night? If not, have you spoken with your doctor?

StaceyR  I am sorry to have to meet you here but I am glad to have someone who is going through some of the same things I am.  I don't know how you have done it with such a time laps between finding the lump and having surgery.  I would have gone completely nuts.  I know I will get through this one step at a time but I don't have any patients, so I want it to be over now.  I hear that keeping a journal of the journey is helpful.  Maybe I could turn it into a book?  That could be a good way to end all this.  Hang in there StaceyR and keep me updated on your progress.

Jule  again sorry to have met you here.  I just feel sometimes as if I got the raw deal in life.  But you are right I need to get out more and just try to have some fun.  My friends and family have been great and as I get deeper into this I know I am going to need them more.  I am just so independent that it is hard to not have control of this.  I have not had any trouble sleeping but I have this overwhelming feeling that I should not have to work.  That I have the right to stay home and just take care of me.  But I need the insurance and the rent needs to get paid.  Do you think that maybe the stress is whats keeping you up at night?  I have had some problems with sleep in the past and they can give you some sleep aids that wont leave you regretting it in the morning.  Keep me posted on how your doing.

i've just been dc yesterday, but my surgeon said he can't tell what stage until he does the lumpectomy. we're scheduled for it on the 16th of may. there's no radiation therepy, just a dye injected the day before that's supposed to go to the lymph node next in line if the cancer spreads. all the others that i've about does radiation. has anybody heard of this?

kaejon,

I think you might be thinking of two different kinds of "radiation."  It sounds like you will be having a "sentinel node biopsy" (SNB) at the time of your lumpectomy.  The SNB involves injection of a dye that will move from the breast tissue into the lymph nodes under the arm.  The surgeon will identify which lymph node(s) contain the dye, and will remove them.  Those are the "sentinel nodes"--the first ones in line to collect lymph and other material from the breast, so the first ones that might contain stray cancer cells.

For the SNB, some surgeons just inject a blue dye.  Others use a radioactive compound that can be detected with a Geiger counter-like instrument during surgery.  Many surgeons use both the dye and the radioactive marker. In any case, the marker material is eliminated from the body pretty quickly.  There is no "irradiation" of your breast--the radioactive material that's injected just leaves a trail and marks the sentinel nodes like the blue dye does; and then it's gone.

The other type of "radiation" you  might be thinking of is radiation therapy--using a beam of radiation to kill cancer cells.  This is not done with an injection.  It's done with a machine that is kind of like an X-ray machine.  You lie on a table and the machine emits a beam of radiation onto your breast tissue.  This form of radiation is used routinely in women that have had a lumpectomy.  It is seldom needed after a mastectomy; but because removal of just the "lump" of tumor tissue can leave stray cancer cells behind, radiation therapy is needed to be sure they are all killed.  I know of very few women who have lumpectomies and do not get radiation therapy afterward.  The radiation therapy is not done until several weeks after the surgery, though.

Please do not worry.  (Easy to say, right?)  Ask your surgeon about these things, or call and ask his/her nurse.  They should be able to answer all your questions.  If not, then be sure to post on these boards and we'll try.

otter 

jojo--Hang in there and remember it will all be over before you know it.  Did you opt for the bilateral mastectomy and they would not do both breasts at the same time?  I asked the DR to do both of mine at the same time but he refused.  Just wondering if you had run into the same problem.  Just keep looking forward, it will all come to an end soon.

Hi

frustrated2 - Rb is the initial "need to do" mastectomy, my mum and her sister have had BC in the last 4 years, I am 34 and have asked if they will do Lb at the same time . I have not had an answer yet. It does not seem to be the done thing here in Australia - It was not even mentioned at "sorry we have to do surgey again" consult. So not sure if they will even do it at all.

Onwards and upwards. 

Well, generally, size is certainly a component.  They like to find these critters as little as possible.  BUT, Dr. Susan Love in her book mentions that often a pin sized cancer will metastasize and a great big, lazy one is taken out and never seen again. 

I think this "unknown" or lack of "for sure" answers in cancer treatment is what drives us all nuts.

I have yet to see the breast cancer that is not described aggressive, although certainly, some are worse than others.  And the part about invasive, that is the very definition of our cancers.  They have invaded other tissue.  DCIS, the best of all diagnoses, is merely cancer of the breast "in situ", or, latin for "in place".  These have not spread out of the spot they started in.  Almost all of us have cancers that are out of the original spot, into other tissues.  This is not a severe worry.  The thing we all dread and worry about is spread to Lungs, Liver, Bones, Brain, that is the fear we all have.  Many, many women have positive lymph nodes.  This is a worry too.  But the lymph nodes are all over the body and are made to stop things from moving to other places.  This is their job and this is what they have done if they are positive.  This is not an ideal diagnosis, but does not mean doom.

We had one gal with a large tumor and 27 out of 27 nodes were positive.  I spoke with her recently and she has been fine for 7 years.  One just doesn't know.

Gentle hugs, Shirlann