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New to this forum... just diagnosed... surgery on Friday

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Posted 4/24/2007 4:24 PM (GMT 0)

Hello all... I am 39 years old and have just been diagnosed with aggressive ductal breast cancer, 2.5 cm. No family history. Surgery to remove this is scheduled for Friday. Hope that all tests come back saying that cancer has not spread. Hoping that lymph nodes are not affected. Not looking forward to chemotherapy while working full time (?), and caring for my 2 year old son. He is becoming quite a handful (all good... just active and busy exploring the world around him). I hope I can keep up with him and the treatments, etc. I have been staying strong in mind and spirit. I have a lot to live for and will not give up. My husband, family, and friends are terrific and the support I will have will help get me through this.

I hope that all of you will accept me as a "new member" as I just told someone yesterday that I am now part of a "sisterhood" that I never ever imagined being part of. My husband's aunt went through this 6 years ago, being diagnosed right after losing her daughter (cousin Vanessa) in 9-11 world trade center. Vanessa was only 21 years old and had started her first job out of college in a firm on the 89th floor of the 2nd tower. This woman survived losing her daughter and then went through her breast cancer treatment and stayed positive throughout the whole process. She had her bad moments, of course, but she has a zest for life. She talked with me recently about meditation and I am going to pursue that as part of my treatment. She is my inspiration to pull through this like she did. I am also connecting with woman who are breast cancer survivors and they are the most wonderful people. They are also my inspiration. My son, of course, is my reason for living... his smile and his delight in life will keep me going. 

Posted 4/24/2007 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome Stanski! Sounds like you have plenty of great support at home and with this group also, that's even better! Wow, your husband's aunt sounds like a very strong and possitive woman. What heartbreak she has endured! I think you have a very good friend there.

This group is from all over the US and some in other countries. All ages, too. Lot;'s of love, knowledge and humor here, and that is a good thing to have tongue . Stay with us and we'll help you all we can. Maybe you are even near one of us? I live in Eastern Washington State, not far from the Oregon Border. I am 55 (till next month) and am 7 years out from dx. I am sure you will be hearing from lots of others here. ((((HUGS))))

Gail

Posted 4/24/2007 5:44 PM (GMT 0)
Stanski

Yes welcome to the club that noone wants to be a member of, we all have felt that way when first diagnosed. You will fin d the most amazing women on this site and all of us are going thru or have been thru breast cancer. There is a wealth of information and there is always someone that can answer any questions that you have. I can not tell you how much this site has helped me over the last 1 1/2 years the women are wonderful. Im so glad that you also have your aunt to lean on she will also have alot of the answers to the questions that you have. Make sure that you take someone with you to your appointments and/or take a tape recorder so that you remember everything. Get copies fo all of your reports too it helps when you look back and try to remember what all of the results were. Get as much info on the web that you can but be careful, some of the sites are very negative. I found this site after looking into a couple others and they had me scared to death. just remember this is NOT a death sentence and you will be fine. There are alot of emotions that you will feel and feel free to express them to us (pitty parties are okay)

Give your little one a hug for me and remember we are all here for you!

L&H
Bernadette
Posted 4/25/2007 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there Stanski! Welcome! Of course we'll accept you as a new member....gosh, one day I hope we can go out of business as a group though, know what I mean? Glad you found us...we're a good group to hang with. I am 38, dx'ed 7 1/2 years ago right before turning 31. My tumor was also 2.5 cm, grade III and my nodes were negative, no other sign of cancer. I did chemo and rads, then 5 years of Tamoxifen. Attitude will get you far! There is no way to predict how you'll do on chemo, but starting with a strong and positive approach is a big part of things. I was able to work during chemo, taking off just a couple of tired days each of 4 cycles. I have no kids, so can't tell you how that will go. My advice is to prepare for the worst, but don't expect it. Good chance that it will be pretty tolerable!

Definitely consider takinga tape recorder with you to the early sessions, even if you have someone with you, there is no way to get it all the first time hearing it.
Be sure to ask lots of questions here and at the doctor's office. No question is too silly, and no feeling is unimportant.

Stick around, we're glad to lend a hand and a hug when we can!
Lori
Posted 4/25/2007 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome and thank you for making me smile today.  I wish you all the best and thank you for your positive outlook.  Hugs!
Posted 4/25/2007 4:09 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the club none of us volunteered for.  We are here to help each other and no question is too embarassing or dumb to ask.  Someone has been through it and can help guide you.  Your aunt will be a great help to you, I'm sure.  Your family and friends sound wonderful and their support will be a big help.  Attitude is everything - remember that.  My onc told me that was one of the most important factors in a person's recovery. 

 

I am 47 and was diagnosed in Sep 2004 with invasive ductal carcinoma.  No family history.  My tumor was 5 cm and I had mets to 1 lymph node.  Underwent 5 months of chemo (working full time) and 2 months of rads.  Treatments are very doable these days.  They are tiring, but not too bad (at least mine weren't). 

 

I'm in So. Calif.  Where are you located?

Posted 4/29/2007 11:13 AM (GMT 0)
A big thank you to all of you who have welcomed me. I just had surgery on Friday. Lumpectomy with sentinel lymph node removed. I guess there were some complications with excessive bleeding and a hematoma w/ lumpectomy? The swelling is a bit more than I imagined - I think that is due to the complication. They still sent me home same day, so I imagine it can't be too bad or they would have kept me overnight. I am doing well and not taking the pain meds they prescribed. It only hurts when I move around. So, I have been pretty much just laying around propped up on pillows and keeping ice on it. I didn't expect a 2 inch incision w/ 6 staples under my arm for one node being removed ; I can't imagine if they had to take more out? As I understand it, I will get the full pathology report as early as tomorrow, end of day. That will confirm a negative node and the margins around tumor being negative. Saying my prayers and staying positive. It has been hard on my husband because we have a not-yet-two-year-old boy and he is a bundle of energy. Have to keep him away from climbing on my lap, etc. and I miss him snuggling with me! I have to stay home from work next week until I go to follow up appt. with the surgeon. My surgeon is so awesome and caring. He even gave me his home and cell numbers if I had any questions. possibly all surgeons,  but it is new for me. I am determined to call him today so I can catch him on the golf course as I know he is a big golfer! Ironically he is the same surgeon that did my husband's crohns surgery 10 yrs. ago. He specializes in oncology surgery though and has done many breast surgeries. Now, to find the best oncologist in the northern illinois area! Has anyone had experience with Canter Treatment Centers of America? I think they have 4 hospitals in the U.S and one happens to be 20 miles from me. I am skeptical because I saw a couple bad things about them, but it seems like a wonderful center at least from the info they gave me. I think I am going to talk to at least 3 diff. oncologists before deciding where to go. Any suggestions on what I should be looking for in an onc? I live in the northern suburbs of chicago, near wisconsin. Going downtown to the city would not be possible, so I have to find something up this way. Any ideas on what I should be looking for in a trtmt plan would be appreciated. I'll check in later today or tomorrow. Hope to hear from you! Thanks!!!

Kathy

Posted 4/29/2007 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kathy-
Hang in there! I'm in Michigan and have family in the N. suburbs of Chicago, I also lived in Buffalo grove when I was a baby.
Ouch, 6 staples! I had steri-strips on that incision. The thing is that they try for one node, but they sometimes get a lot. In my case, I had the SNB and my doc took out 15! He took out anything that was "warm" and "blue", although the "hot blue" node was identified as the SN. The nodes are in clusters and in my case, smaller than expected, so he thought he submitted a sample with one and found like 4 or 5 each time. He told me the number of nodes removed is not the concern for lymphedema, rather it is the procedure and less cutting with the SNB compared to the full node dissection.
As for Cancer Center of AMerica, I have not heard much about them except when someone is in final stages of cancer and they are looking for a miracle. Sorry, I have no info. As for the multiple opinions, good idea, always. I had 2 opinions for each, saw indiv docs and then went to the U of M breast care clinic at their cancer center and met with the whole team, ended up switching. Even though the chemo was the same, the surgeon at UM was willing to do a SNB, which in 1999 was not as common. So I ended up doing chemo there too, just to be consistent. I'd consider looking with a university hospital or a comprehensive cancer center, but those who saw private docs at community hospitals would also probably have good feedback. I just felt more secure with a major facility, but it was just my preference.

Rest up and be a good patient. Please ask the doc or nurses about stretches for the arm. No one told me to do it since I "just" had the SNB and I still have some tightness that improves with stretching.

And great attitude! Yes, your node will be negative! We'll start the benign mantra chant from here!

Lori
Posted 11/12/2011 1:46 PM (GMT 0)
hi my mum (66) has just been diagnosed with a medullary grade 3 , apparently 6mm.She has had the lump removed and was told non malignant and lymps are clear.She had to see the professor yesterday(11.11.11) and might need chemo and radiation.It is quite confusing being told it is clear and small but agressive. Any advice?
Posted 11/13/2011 4:54 AM (GMT 0)
Ok I am also new to this site so I am researching as much as possible about breast cancer and LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ). Let me ask you this is LCIS a better word for cancer now days from doctors instead of saying the word cancer? Also if I'm scheduled to have surgery to remove this LCIS does it mean that i will also have to do rad and chemo? The doctor wants to put me on Tamoxifen after the surgery but I'm still scared. What should I expect after this surgery on the 2nd of next month? Can someone please give me some advise? There is no history of LCIS in my family although my grandmother and mom both had benign lumps but was never diagnosed with LCIS. I'm scared and don't know what to expect after my surgery.
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