CALLING ALL STAGE I SISTERS
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farmerlucydaisy: Welcome to BCO...sorry you are here but you will receive lots of comfort and support on this site.
It's hard to say what kind of treatment will be recommended. It depends on family history, age, location of tumor, oncotype score, receptor status, etc. I would ask for an immediate app't to discuss this with the MO.
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Farmerlucydaisy - I am so sorry you have to join us but hope you will find comfort in these boards as I have. Take a few deep breaths and take it day by day hour by hour if need be. The initial waiting & not knowing is the worst of this crap. Not sure what your treatment may be however I too had IDC about 1 cm grade 2. Based on the Oncotype test score and the fact that my cancer was staged at a Stage 1 due to size and no node involvement, I was able to avoid chemo. Taking Tamoifen for the next 5 years....Feel free to reach out or PM me if you want and I will try to help or just be a friend. HUGS!!!!
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Thanks ladies, it is a relief to have found you. I have been shaking like a leaf for two days.
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Unfortunately I think we all remember those days. I wish there was something we could say to ease your mind at this point & make you feel better but there just isn't. Just know you are NOT alone and we are here for you...
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Hi everyone!!!!
been gone for a few days and everyone shows up.....
Even Ducky in her thong!!!!!wow. And you are still avoiding me!!!!
Annette..sista friend..missed you and so glad things are coming together for you.Get it all out.You know we are here for you ALWAYS.
((((((((((((((Sheila JOJO Sherry)))))))and anyone I forgot smooches.
((((((((((((((((((((Val)))))))))))))))))miss you!!!!!!!!
Farmer---welcome.....take it nice and easy...breathe....we are holding your hand.
hugggggs to anyone I forgot.K
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Welcome Farmerlucydaisy. We are here for you and will try to answer any questions you have. Bewtween all the sisters there is a wealth of information.
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Welcome Farmerlucydaisy. I had a 1.6 cm grade 1 and was able to avoid chemo. But once you get the rest of your information and know what you plan will be you will feel better. Are they going to do an oncotype DX test on the tumor. That will help you make some decision. This is a great place for support we are here anytime.
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Welcome Farmerlucydaisy. This is a great place for comfort, support and lots of good information. Once you have your path report then you can work with your oncologist to come up with a treatment. In the mean time, just remember to breathe and take it one day at a time.
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Farmerlucydaisy (that is simply one of the BEST names on here:) sorry you had to join us but thank goodness you found us...Jo's advice is good about the whole breathing bit:) And exhaling comes in real handy. I am not being flip...I mean it. I felt like I was holding my breath the first couple of months.
I came here looking for answers, which I got. But what was even more important was finding FRIENDS....friends who get *it*.
Big hugs
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I to am new having been dx 2/17/12 after a routine mamo. I posted what I know from the biopsy path but still having test done before surgery, lumpectomy, so I'm still waiting for a lot of information. Had my MRI yesterday which I thought was a lot worse than either the mamo or biopsy because I'm so claustrophobic. I still have a brain and body CT sched next Thursday then back to the surgeon to determine surgical plan.
The first 48 hours were the worse as it felt like weeks rather than hours. Since then it seems like it has been 1 doctor's appointment after another. When I had to go and get more lab done today I thought I can't do this, this thing is taking over my life but then thought "no" you just do it with a different attitude cause I know this is just the beginning. Tomorrow my DH and I are planning to go skiing for the day as things seem to be moving so fast and I know I probably won't be able to go this season after surgery. I haven't had time to ski last year or so far this year because of starting a new job involving the night shift and started back to school to finish my BSN (I'm an RN for 26 yr with an AD) Going to step back from school this term so I can concentrate on this and not knowing what issues are in store.
I've only posted a few things here but I've read until my eyes are ready to pop out. I've learned so much from everyone and still know so little (I'm an ICU nurse at a small rural hospital, not onc) My family thought my computer activities were what was depressing me but quickly let them know that all I've gotten from reading the threads are encouragement, support, and knowledge that the not knowing is so much more frightening then knowing.
I hope to get to know each of you better and hope I don't graduate from stage I.
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Seabeal,
welcome to the group no one really wants to join but for which we are all grateful. Your stats and path look good, and lumpectomy recovery can be relatively fast. I had few problems and did not have chemo....little discomfort....radiation went OK....my advice is to keep doing what you are doing - get all the information you can....do not look far ahead....it will cost you unnecessary worry. Face each day with the tasks that are presented. You have already begun a journey down a path with no roadmap. Listen to your body and give it rest - we often try to prove to ourselves and the world that we are just fine and strong....even when we aren't.
I am wishing you a good outcome and hugs for today.
Joan0 -
Annette, retail therapy sounds awesome in NYC! You sound like you have squeezed through a painful bottleneck and on your way to bursting forth as YOU again. It's a good thing...something I shoulda done but have not been able to do....and now, BC..... I hope you learn to fly
and carry no baggage.
It's been a blah week end...Femara is beating me up. At work Fri. - physical labor changing out 24 computers; worked for 6 hours and wrenched a knee just as i finished up...red, hot spot on knee...same day my left (BC) arm had painful firmness above elbow....fearing LE. Was wearing underwires....working too much....I will never learn. Am resting in NJ at DD with DGds....baby doing fine.
BC just never stops giving....but it could be so much worse. Sorry to complain...just didn't expect this now.
Enjoy the rest of the week end...spring is coming!
Joan0 -
Sheila, love your new lead post 0
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farmerlucydaisy and seabeal - Welcome! You're probably going to hear this a few times, but you really are in the worst part of things right now. You're in shock and everything feels out of your control. Things really will get easier once all the info is in and you and your team have a plan in place. I highly recommend taking advantage of breast cancer navigation services if that is available to you. A navigator can give you very specific information, you'll be amazed at how much help is available to you.
For about 6 months after my diagnosis I would often say to my husband, "I don't want to do this" and his reply was always, "But you HAVE to". You will find that you are much stronger than you think. You CAN do this!!!
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Thanks so much ladies. I think I started to wrap my head around it last night. It was just so shocking to have it show up on my PBMX after every screening tool said it was not there. Thank God I had those dense breasts removed. It was there, it is outta me now, I'd be willing to bet my long term prognosis is good, and it is outta me! I will take it step by step now. I did not want this, but this is my new reality. Sucks, but true. This place saves me. Thank you again.
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You're getting there, Lucy.
FWIW, it's been 5 weeks since my diagnosis, and I'm still trying to wrap y head around it. A friend of mine said it's not linear. You don't get there in a straight line. You'll do well, then you'll stumble. You'll think you're on one path, but you'll find yourself on another. But the point is, you are moving forward even if you don't always feel like it.There is a surgery to test the nodes. It's very, very easy. Your arm will feel wierd for a while, but you can do this. You're already recovering from one surgery. This won't change much.
I think those of us who were dx'd after mastecomy have a bit of a mind f*ck. We get the horrible news that we have cancer. Or is it HAD? Was it cured before we even knew we had it? It's an odd place to be.
You'll probably find out more tomorrow. {{{hugs}}}
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seabeal: Welcome...we're here for you.
lucy: You made an excellent decision and now you can move forward.
Hugs and prayers to everyone!
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seabeal - Welcome to the club no one wants to be a member of but sure glad you found us. Joan summed it up nicely. There are many wonderful sisters here who will come along with information, support and encouragement of their own. Like I said to lucy - just take it one day at a time and remember to breathe. Post often with your questions, rant, rave, cry do whatever you need to do to feel better.
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welcome seabeal and crescent......truer words never spoken- there is nothing linear about life after a diagnosis of bc. It was such a maze of appointments and fear and swirling that I was shocked one day months later to just freak out and say WTF just happened? Ha- i thought i had it nailed and I was blown over like a leaf....but the good news is that it passes....i was outside the morning pulling weeds and trying to fix my pool skimmer....kinda feeling a little sorry for myself....why me, why do i have to do this, poor me woe is me....and then i just sat back on my heels and felt the sun....and i remembered the physical pain of last spring...of feeling so scared and incapable of doing anything physical...scared I would *break* something...scared I was dying....so i looked around and said to myself..ok, so you are on your own now doing maintenance...poor baby...that is a big honking swimming pool you are trying to clean that through god's grace you don't have to rely on a husband (dear or otherwise ) to pay for when so many others are struggling...you worked hard and maybe it is time you enjoyed it and appreciated it...when was the last time you really didn't know how to feed your family....you had the best medical care on the planet and the gumption to get out there and find out what you didn't know to help yourself....you have arms that can grasp those weeds and pull them out......you have new breasts that may not be real but look damn good in a shirt and anyway, you *grew* them so they are as real as anything....you have been scared and frightened but who hasn't? Breast cancer is scary but so is life and all the 1000 other things that can snatch away your life....why me? why not?....I can't mourn the past, or I can but it really won't do me much good....I have to be present today or i might miss the good stuff right now...you can feel the sun on your face and appreciate being alive....cherish this moment...other scary times will come but maybe they won't be so hard if right now I appreciate how good this one moment feels...
sheesh..there i go with some free form thinking....ACK!
went to the wedding last night and it was nice....I actually felt pretty in my sassy little dress....great venue in an old theater downtown Houston...felt good to hug the bride ...it was a good night....bittersweet but more sweet than bitter.
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Thank you Annette. I love your free form thinking. It feeds my soul.
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Annettek: Now that's what I'm talking about! Great attitude, and very well expressed. Can't keep a Texan down for long...you go girl!
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Annette - Love your free form thinking. You just got back up in that saddle and rode into the sunset. Good for you!!
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farmerlucydaisy and seabeal - Welcome. This is a great place for support. Ask as many questions as you need to and feel free to vent.
Annette - AMEN girlfriend!!!!
I finished a 5k this morning! It wasn't my best time ever but I finished!!! 7 more boosts to go :-)0 -
hawk: That's great! Wish I had your stamina.
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Hello Stage 1 Sister. . .
Hope you don't mind if I hang around for a bit - I'm new to this forum as well. Had to pipe in when I saw FarmerLucyDaisy's post. . . that's me too. PMX on 1/31 turned out to have 6mm IDC - really? Stage 1 - 1 "spot" (2mm - micro met but still node positive) in the 1 and only Lymph node they took - SNB. So, Farmer my new friend - you're not alone and boy, didn't we make a good decision? Yes. yes, we did.
I'm still sorting through treatment options too - waiting on Oncotype score for recommendations from my cancer center. Meetings with RO and MO on 3/14 . . . . every option is on the table . . . recent bone scan was negative and CT scan showed no def sits of cancer - couple of odd things unrelated - very happy about those.
Love the thoughts Annette K - just what I needed to hear! Thank you for reminding me to feel the sun!
This is a new route in my journey for me - I had one foot out of the door of the cancer center with am "unhealthy" breast at Stage 0 DCIS 0/3 UMX on 10/10/11 behind me. And boom! My route became a whole lot less linear. Hope you don't mind another one at the party . . . sure appreciate the sisterhood. . .
Happy Sunday. . .
kelleyod
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OMG Kelly I am so sorry to be in the same boat. What the hell. Do the screening miss everything! I should have taken the damn things off years ago.
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dx 12/8 with BC..surg was 1/13 and 1/20 to remove more margins..
was told my mammoprint report was high risk 22% recurrence within 5 yrs without chemo
go tomorrow for a muga scan
going 3/2 to chemo dr..
am 67 yrs old
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Welcome to all the new folks! Glad you found us, but so sorry you have to be here. All I can suggest that you haven't heard already is to get copies of everything, especially pathology reports, and have someone come to appointments with you, if possible. It seemed to me that the Oncotype was the "key" to determine chemo. As you can see below, I didn't have to do it.
Best of luck to all of you!
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Welcome to all the newbies - Sorry you have to been here with us but this is the best place to be. Ask all the questions you need to. You will also find lots of support and information here.
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Welcome new ladies; I have already learned some things from you....someone I know is having PBMX this week after negative gene test; but aggressive BC or OC in sister, aunt, cousins....after reading these posts, I am going to wish her the best and good path reports.
Much better day today for me....It was great for me to get away from home and gain perspective.
The one thing I did not mention in my recent posts is, as Annette said, to be present every day. That means good days and bad. If we allow ourselves to truly acknowledge our fears, our sadness, and disappointment in our BC situation, I believe we can, more sooner than later, leave the bad stuff behind. I am more and more reminding myself that the little stresses of the day are not "real problems"! It is OK to say how much BC sux and be scared or angry....we don't have to hold ourselves to what friends and family tell us ... "you are strong....you will be fine...." just be present and the days will pass and time will lead you on your path. And when it gets better, listen to the wind and enjoy the rain and feel the sun......0
