Best Of
Super scared and depressed
I have dense breasts and have kept up with annual Mammos. Last month, I had a mammo, diagnostic mammo, ultrasound, and stereotactic biopsy. Results came back as DCIS Grade 2. I just had a breast MRI and it's showing another area in the same breast (no suspicion of malignancy in the right) so they want an MRI-guided biopsy of that area. There doesn't seem to be any lymph node involvement.
I already suffer from depression and severe anxiety. On the report it says, "small pleural effusion." I Googled it and saw that it mainly is the result of cancer and one only lives for months after diagnosis. I've been crying since yesterday. I have not had anything to eat in 24 hrs. Can't sleep. I'm a wreck.
Does this likely mean the new area to be images is probably invasive and Stage 4 due to the PE? I had a consult with a surgical oncologist today and she tried to reassure me that I'll be ok. She thinks the pleural effusion is from a recent cold. She said she is more concerned about my mental health than the DCIS. This is so overwhelming. I had a chest x-ray one year ago and all was fine (no PE). I do have pain in my left rib, but no cough or chest pain. No recommendation from the surgeon I saw to see a pulmonologist but I'm trying to schedule an appt.
Re: June and July 2024 Surgery Support Thread
Hello @lh1981,
thank you so much! I did it! I just had my surgery and I’m now recovering in my room. It went well and they were able to do immediate reconstruction. I’m in pain but not too bad as of now. It’s more discomfort and numbness in my entire body. I was told tomorrow it will be opposite: numbness will go away and pain will increase. We’ll see. I’m also weak on my legs and most definitely dizzy. Hoping for a good recovery tomorrow so I can go home🤞my husband said that per doctors my lymph nodes are negative as of now! The final pathology will tell us for sure and I hope it stays that way!
Re: June and July 2024 Surgery Support Thread
Hello, my surgery is scheduled for next Tuesday, 6/25. I was diagnosed with DCIS (two spots) in the right breast. I chose bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. I was terrified of the surgery when I first learned that I need it, but as the time passed I realized I’m not as scared. I met with the oncologist last week and per my oncologist, all further treatments will depend upon node involvement. MRI showed one suspicious node. Waiting was hard as it’s been almost two months since my diagnosis but now I’m close to being on the other side. I hope all goes well and without complications. Also hoping for good news in the final pathology when it returns!
Re: I say YES. YOU say NO....Numero Tre! Enjoy!
As of July 6, my former employer was in violation of his second deadline to pay the penalties owed for our unpaid wages complaint. The CDLE (Colorado's dept of labor) found that he owed us the maximum amount of backpay allowable; and, since it was deemed willful, he was fined penalties equaling 3x the backpay owed (non-willful penalties are 2x backpay), plus additional penalties to the state. But the state is kind and merciful. If he paid it off early, they would halve the penalties owed us and waive the state penalties.
When we received our backpay checks we thought he had finally given up and would take the reduced penalties deal. Then, a few days before the penalties checks were due, he decided to appeal the "willful" part of the decision and sent checks for half of what the penalties would have been if the finding had been non-willful - 1x backpay instead of 1.5x backpay.
In doing so, he shot himself in the foot so hard. One of the requirements for the reduced penalties is that the defendant doesn't appeal the amount of monies owed to the complaint filers. (They can still appeal any procedural orders handed down, but not money.) So even if the appeals judge finds in his favor, he will owe us the 2x backpay penalty and will have to write us another check for another 1x our backpay. But now that he's violated his second deadline, the penalties go up half-again from 3x to 4.5x backpay owed. Either way, he will owe us more money for the sake of his ego.
If this goes the maximum in our favor, this whole saga will cost him just over $500,000. That will be some tasty karma.
Re: Success Stories!
My mom was diagnosed in 1992 and she had 6 positive lymph nodes. She had a lumpectomy and radiation followed by 5 years of tamoxifin. Five years later, she found a lump in the other breast. It was a new primary cancer. She had a lumpectomy and radiation. I went with her to every medical appointment she had over the years. She just passed away in 2021 at the ripe old age of 95. She basically just wore out and she had a wonderful life!
I just had an alarming mammogram and ultrasound that are necessitating two biopsies next week. I'm hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. Through my fright and anxiety, I keep reminding myself of her awesome life span.