Introduction

 Hi, All.  I joined this group, I think, earlier this week.  My name is Jan, 56.  I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma on November 16, 2006, 3 days before my birthday.  My Christmas season was spent on December 11, 2006 having a mastectomy and recuperating.  The tumor was .8cm, located in the lower, inside quandrant.  It had lesions but had not gone any further than the breast.  It was Stage 2, Grade 2 tumor, with no lymph node involvement.  Had no chemo and no radiation. 

In January, 2007, I started taking Arimidex.  The side effects were too much too deal with so after six weeks, I was switched to Femara and Clodronate (a clinical trial medication for bone strengthening purposes).  Things are so-so right now.  I have had an increase in migraine headaches, bone/joint pain in my left knees (10+ on a 1-10 pain level).  There is not a day that goes by that I don't hurt in most every place.  Part of the pain is due to injuries to soft tissue in a car accident several years ago.

I appreciate being a part of this group.  I do not have much expertise about breast cancer except for my own experience and what I gained from another website. 

Hope to be a participating and friendly member of this group.                                                                                                  

"Life isn't how you survive the storm, but how you dance in the rain."

 Hi, kasey56:

It is a little late right now.  However, I do want to post back to you.  So sorry that we have to meet this way.  I'm glad to share my experiences with you and answer any questions that you may have.

Talk to you later.  Thanks for the welcome.

Hugs, Hope and Prayers,

jko

Hi, kasey:

 I wish that I was meeting you under different circumstances - something other than breast cancer, for sure.  Wow!  Just received a diagnosis!  I remember that day only too well.      I don't think there is anyway to prepare anyone for that moment when the doctor starts out and says, "You have breast cancer."  Those were words I never in the world imagined would be part of my history, present or future.

I have my own experiences and emotions as my point of reference.  I have been part of a great website on breast cancer that was extremely helpful.  It helped get me through so much during times when things were moving really fast.

Thank you for the welcome.  I will be glad to answer any questions that people have about my experience.  I will keep you in my prayers in the days to come as you begin the journey of breast cancer.

Hugs, Hope and Prayers,

Jan K

 Hey, Kasey:

  I was reading your post as you awaited your diagnosis.  Waiting is no fun and hopefully now that you have some idea what you are dealing with, I hope you are feeling a little better.

  I had a single mastectomy but in retrospect, wished that I would have had a double mastectomy.  The reasons?  I think that I would not be wondering about cancer in the other breast, and my body image would be so different now.  This is my experience. 

  I didn't do reconstruction because after two consultations with two different plastic surgeons, I did not like the options that were offered to me.  I had wanted to have a DIEP flap but was told that I had too much abdominal tissue.  One surgeon told me that he would only do the lattismus dorsal type of reconstruction with implants only.  The second surgeon told me that he would only do the lattismus dorsal type using my own tissue from my back.  I already have a weak side on the side he was going to take muscle and tissue from (left side) because of a previous surgery on my left shoulder.  Besides that both surgeons had egos that were huge.  I quickly learned after these two consultations why these people are called "plastic" surgeons.  Neither of them believed they were human.  They were the experts and had no considerations for my thoughts or feelings.  After consideration of all the information I received in the consultations, information from the internet, (particularly that from the American College of Cosmetic Surgeons), and considering what my experience with the mastectomy had been, I felt one surgery was enough.

Hope this helps.  Just remember, whatever your decision, it is the one that is right for you.  My decision was right for me.  I will be keeping you in my prayers as you look to the future.    

Kasey:

This breast cancer stuff is not easy, at least that has been my experience.  It does get better, especially after you meet with the oncologist and get your treatment plan together.  That being said, I wish people would have told me that the biopsy and mastectomy were the easiest part of this journey.  I am finding that the hardest part for me is the unexpected things that happen, like side effects from meds. 

Take some time to breathe and take one step at a time.  The fortunate thing about breast cancer is that it is not a death sentence anymore.  With all the progress in treatment and research, we don't have that fear anymore.  There are ladies with Stage IV cancer that lead productive lives. 

The hardest part, as I recall at the stage where you are, is the waiting and not fully knowing what is going on.  You just know there is this stuff in your body that is not supposed to be there.  Not knowing is the worst.  Cancercare.org is a good website to get information about breast cancer as well as the Susan Komen website.  The American Cancer Society is great, too. In fact they have resources to help a person financially.  A great book that was given to me by the nurse at the clinic I go to is Breast Cancer For Dummies.  It explains things so simply and alleviates a lot of uncertainty.  For me, information is power.  I know for others this is always true.  But the more information I have, the more I can know what I need to do.

I wish you well as you begin your journey.  You aren't alone.