New To Site

I am in the biopsy wait stage.  45 years old.  Freshly out of 19 year abusive marriage.  On my own with 16 year old son, and loving it.  Now this.  Mother had bc at 40.  Have been expecting this shoe to drop so not hitting "out of the blue" yet still very unsettling.  Mammogram last Thursday came back suspicious.  Ultrasound this Wednesday, biopsy yesterday.  Won't get results until after the weekend.  Just under 1 cm x .5 x .5  at 11:00 right breast.  Watched the whole biopsy on ultrasound, very brave, calm asked questions, got in car and lost it.  I'm scared.  Have been pink ribbon supporter for years and know many incredibly brave women, such as all you.  Glad to have found this site.  The waiting is so hard.  I have not told many.  Want to wait to see what the results are.  In process of negotiating child support, parenting plan, etc and that has been contentious so don't want to complicate things if this is all for naught.  just want to say you are all so remarkable. 

-Time

Hi Gail.  I'm from Washington too, Seattle area.  Dr. Hutchison actually operated on my mother 25+ years ago.  I know we have some great care in this area.  My diagnosis is through Overlake Breast Center in Bellevue.

-Time

Hi Time! Wow, you sure are having to handle alot right now. Having gone thru a divorce with (at that time) 2 young daughters, I know how frustrating it is to fight for what you and your son deserve. I understand your wanting to keep all of this with the biopsy quiet, but find at least one person that you can confide in right now. Someone that will let you lean on them. I hope that you will take someone with you when you find out the results or have them sitting by the telephone with you. We are all here for you, whatever you need.

Take some deep breaths. Do something fun this weekend to keep your mind occupied. Go see or rent a movie that will make you laugh. Laughter is a wonderful medicine and stress reliever.

Please keep us informed.

Hugs

Deb
From Missouri

Well this is one of those miracle "coincidences" that helps me know I am being looked after from a different level. I have been working out for about a year now in an early morning strengthening class a few days a week. In the class is a young woman with two small children that I have been sharing chit chat and class encouragement with. She had been gone from class for a while and when she returned last week I had asked how she was. I could tell something was up and not comfortable answering around the crowd so I changed teh subject. Monday I got the call I needed to come back in for ultrasound on Tuesday. Tuesday morning I did not go to class but went to the coffee shop to work remotely on a project. She came in after class, had missed me. (long story but both these actions, me being there and here being there are very irregular actions for that day and time). She asked how my shoulder was doing (had some injuring she saw at class) and then told me she had been out because of a historectomy. I asked if she could share why: turned out she was dxed three years ago w/ bc. Stage 5 I think. Had mastectomy, radiation, chemo the work. Was not responding to hormone thpy so had historectomy. Hast mastecised to femur and lungs. She is the most upbeat, energetic person. Says she asks the doctors if they are sure they have the right x-rays because she feels great. She started a new job and has asked for chemo that doesn't take her hair. I shared with her what was happening to me. She is the one who offered to go to ultrasound (I opted to do it on my own) and is the one who called me immediately following to talk aout what was going on and encourage me to not be too pescimistic. Whether this thing turns out to be something or not, I have to feel that part of it is orchestrated to get us together to support each other through whatever happens. Same reason I may be typing this on this site right now. Anway, thanks all.

OK, can't keep these wheels from turning. Just possibly making a connection now. Last summer had extensive blood tests for possible thyroid problem. Results came back, borderline watch for Grave's Disease. Everything else looked very healthy. But my question is more around other thing that has since happened. Blood tests showed no sign of pre-menopausal. Then, suddenly, abruptly, periods have stopped. Haven't had a period since late last summer. Who's complaining, right? It's not like I miss them lol. And since I am separated and sexually inactive I am not concerned about pregnancy. But now I am thinking...is there a connection. I mentioned to my GP last visit about the no period and she said strange but with all I've been through with divorce it could be stress related but to keep an eye. I had forgotten about this so haven't mentioned it to breast center. Know you all aren't doctors but have you heard of anything like this related to bc??

Hi there Time, sorry you have so much going on right now. I hope we can help you with plenty of support. Please feel free to tell the other young woman about us, too. Sometimes things happen to bring us together. Many of us have been around four or five years together, we have had meetings in various cities and gotten to know each other. Many of us have someone nearby who we see more often. I live near Fort Worth, TX and Jo-Ann lives north of Dallas, so we get together every few months. She comes here for a few days and we have a great time. She lost her husband just a few days after her second mastectomy, so we became close at that time. It does help to have someone to talk with face to face or on the phone or email as well as through this forum. We are trying to get chats started up again on Tuesday night. I think it will be 6 pm in Pacific time next week. Hope you can join us. Hugs and prayers, Mary K (MK)

Dear wonderful people, the news was good. The tests came back clean. I will have follow ups every six months but for now I can breath again. This experience has forever changed me. As I mentioned my mother was diagnosed with bc at 40. She had very aggressive treatment and lived almost 19 years more, a very full, beautiful life. Two immediate things that I need to do: get involved in the early detection band wagon. And to see if there is some local study dealing with prevention: I want to be part of any study that will work toward measures that will mean that your daughters, grandaughters, sisters will not have to live the nightmare you are all so bravely marching through. If it's OK, I would like to check in with you all, offer support where I can (what can I do?). Thank you for holding my hand through the long weekend. I have become aquainted with two local women who are in the battle. I will let them know of the support that is offered here. This is a beautiful site.

Blessings,

-Time (Jennifer)

WONDERFUL NEWS, JENNIFER! Yes, please stay in touch and yes you can help. You just went through the awful waiting process to have it all turn out ok! So you do have something to share to others waiting for the first time. It gives them hope. There is a wonderful lady named Janice that live in Poulsbo, WA. She has been on this board for quite some time. I met her 2 years ago when I was over in Seattle starting my reconstruction with Dr Baxter in Mountlake Terrace. Wonderful doctor! Janice is not doing real well right now, so she is not on the board a lot lately.
It is so nice the wonderful ladies I have actually been able to meet from here! Please do tell your friends from there about us! We will welcome them and do all we can to help.
Take care, L&H, Gail

PS, So you ever get over to the Tri-Cities? That is where I am in Kennewick. If you do I would love to have lunch sometime!

So glad to hear you got good news. Sure you can still hang out and help, you can be the one who stays to say, "I got good news, you can, too!" I had two benign tumors before diagnosis, so quite often I mention that to newbies, so they know not all lumps or spots on the mammo are cancer. Come anytime. We have been getting a lot of new ladies lately, so it does help for them to hear good news can happen. I lived in Bremerton when my husband was stationed there in the Navy in 1964-65. WA is a beautiful state and the people I met were so friendly. We were only there seven months but it was a great experience I will never forget. My son started school there and had a wonderful teacher who gave him a great beginning. Hugs MK