Just diagnosed
Hi my name is Stacey. I just got the results from my biopsy today. The doctor said it’s invasive ductal carcinoma grade 2 and as of right now it’s between stage 1 and low 2 with clear lymph nodes but that could change after surgery. I did talk to the patient coordinator and she is going to schedule me to see the oncology surgeon at Hopkins. Hopefully soon. Thank you for listening.
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oh and my lump is 2.2 cm
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Hello Stacey. Sorry to hear of your diagnosis; I know this is a scary time for you. It sounds like you have an early diagnosis and will likely have a very good outcome. Good luck with your treatment; it's not easy but you can do it.
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Hi Stacey, welcome to the forums. I hope you find some support here online, and wherever you are located. I found a lot of support from joining one of the weekly facilitated online meetings through this website. The next few weeks will be a blur! Know that you are in good company and support abounds if you look for it. Take care!
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iw422 thank you for responding ! I appreciate the kind words.
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girlnamedmaria thank you. I appreciate your response . Take care!
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I received my diagnosis yesterday. My lump is >10cm (they couldn't measure it on ultrasound because it was too big to fit on the screen to get measurements). It has more than doubled in size from when it was first measured in July and brushed off as fibrocystic changes. I never imagined being diagnosed with cancer with no family history. I was not aware that most people who are diagnosed with cancer, have no family history of cancer. My cancer is on my right side grade 2, ER+, PR-, HER2+. I don't know about staging yet. There is only mets to my lymph nodes presently. I do still need to have a bone scan to ensure there is no metastasis to bones. I'm anxious about the next steps, with the size of my lump, I'm praying for the bone scan is clear. I'm waiting on my appointments, as well.
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hi dovesong like you I have no family history of breast cancer in my family.I can understand your anxiety and I’m praying for good results for you. I got a consultation with a breast surgeon for next Wednesday. The waiting is the worst. I’ve heard on here many times that once we get a treatment plan that it gets a little better. I just found out yesterday that I’m ER+, PR+, HER2 Negative and grade 2. I have been writing questions down on a note book that I want to ask the surgeon when I see her. I’m told I won’t know the stage or treatment plan until after the mastectomy and sentinel node biopsy.
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Stacey and Dovesong
Glad you found this. It has been such a great source of information for me going through this whole journey. I have found out what to expect through each step and how to deal with side effects, etc. from people who have been there. The information has been invaluable.
The first few weeks after diagnosis are overwhelming. Hang in there.
I found it helpful to bring a notebook to all my appointments to write down information and to also write down questions for my medical team before each appt.
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ann5631 thanks for responding! Yes I agree I’ve been looking at older posts and it’s been a huge help.
If I may ask where are you currently at in your journey? Hopefully done or close.0 -
I was diagnosed 8/23. Started with chemo. Had a single mastectomy 1/31/24 with no reconstruction. Then did radiation, which was completed mid-April. Luckily my side effects from chemo were very tolerable and I had no issue with radiation.
I am taking Anastrazole (an estrogen blocker) for 5 years (or longer) and Verzenio (2 years) -both are used to help prevent a recurrence.2 -
ann5631 I’m so glad your treatments were tolerable and I’m glad you are doing well. Is the verzenio a pill that you take? Thank you for answering my questions. I appreciate it.
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yes the Verzenio is a pill that you take twice a day.
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ann5631 thank you!
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@ssales13 sounds like I'm you, about 6 weeks later. Same diagnosis, I had a lumpectomy around Thanksgiving. I was under the impression I would do radiation and hormone blockers after, but they have decided I should do 4 rounds of chemo first.
Have you determined the type of surgery you're having yet?
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hi bonkster, my diagnosis has changed since my post. I had a PET scan on 12/31 and found out I am stage 4 with bone Mets so surgery is off the table for me. I go to my first appt to see my oncologist on January 14th to find out what the plan is for me. I’m glad you have been able to have your surgery already and I’m sure you will do great with your chemo and radiation and hormone blockers. Take care.
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Oh gosh! I'm so sorry to hear that. Sending you strength.
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Hi Stacey, sorry you are facing this.
Are you in much pain or discomfort? If so, please be proactive about pressuring your doctor for a good pain relief medicine before your next doctor appointment.Having a strategy & plan will be a little easier. It has to do with feeling that you are in control of the cancer, instead of the cancer controlling you. I noticed your Grade-2 was not as aggressive generally as Grade-3 BC. You can look into genetic testing also.
Don't hesitate to get the ball rolling. Make your inquiries now on 2nd opinions, usually best before your oncology treatment begins. You can assess the wait times and then decide upon your strategy so if you ever look back, this way there will be fewer regrets later.
Navigating these new waters is never fun, but once you get your head around it, you will realize for the most part you can continue to lead a pretty normal life for a long time.
Meeting with your oncologist will give you some comfort in learning that many bone mets are treatable, so I've heard over the years. The shock of it all can be over-whelming, but the best way is to keep the fight in you. All BC patients need to always advocate for themselves, which you apparently are already doing.
This forum is a great resource for support, inspiration & info. You are clearly going to be one of the favorites on this forum.
Hoping you get to spend many years enjoying your family. We appreciate you taking the time to post. We hope you find good support on this board and from family & friends. Hugs!!!
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obsolete thank you for the advice ,kind words and encouragement. I appreciate them. Everything is so scary right now. I do have some lower back pain but it is manageable with Tylenol.I struggle mostly with anxiety and sadness. I started Lexapro about 2 weeks ago so I’m hoping that kicks in soon to help out. I pray for everyone on here everyday.
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Sorry to here about your diagnosis
I’m the same as you grade 2 had lumpectomy and lymph nodes out, just had radiotherapy ans will be going on a tablet for 2 years called abemaciclibI was wondering if anyone else has taken this drug and how they got on with is
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Hi. I received my IDC diagnosis yesterday after the MRI, ultrasound and biopsy. I just turned 40. I am still in shock, but know that I need to seek help and knowledge from women with more experience. I am still in the first hours of my research, reading through my results, and trying to understand all this new terminology.
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Hi mrudolf,
Sorry to hear that! It's a jarring thing, to say the least. I was 38 for my first diagnosis. Many of us are here and glad to help you feel supported along the way.
Some things I wish I had understood when I started:
- the initial diagnosis is really the beginning of the diagnostic process, which continues (at best) until after your surgery, final pathology, and genetic testing of tumor (if applicable). There is a lot of waiting and not knowing along the way, and it sucks. I wish I had got some anti-anxiety support sooner (can be whatever combination of lifestyle practices, complementary medicine like acupuncture/yoga, therapy, and meds that works for you).
- despite all that, the beginning is the hardest, and after meeting my surgical oncologist, I at least felt like I could start breathing again.
- being treated somewhere that you are comfortable and feel seen and valued as a human being makes a big difference. Even in a good scenario, most of us have a lot of doctors appointment and treatments (radiation, scanning, etc)., and going to a center that was a reasonable commute and where the staff seemed well trained about being kind, patient, etc., and to doctors I felt like I could ask questions of and really talk to) makes everything a lot more bearable.
- if you are one of the youngest in your friends group to go through this, on the one hand, friends may have more emotional energy to support you but may also not really know how, and some may be too spooked that if it could happen to you it could happen to them. You may have to guide your friends who want to be supportive - different people will probably be best suited for different tasks based on personality, geography, and time freedom, but some ways they could help might be coming with you to a dr's appointment to help take notes, coming with you for treatment sessions just to keep you company on the commute or to combine an unpleasant chore with friends time, checking in with you once a day or every other day by phone or text to help you feel connected, etc. And I recommend giving grace to friends who can't. They may be able to be great supports to you for other things, it doesn't mean they don't love and value you. Don't let it bring you angst.
- Use social work supports. Social workers can be amazing. They know both how to listen and how to corral resources. Your treatment center may have a social worker. If not, there are organizations like Sharsheret that can assign you a personal social worker that will talk with you on a regular basis and help you find find resources in your community, connect you to other women, or just listen and be an educated ear to talk things through with.
- do your best not to borrow trouble. Getting diagnosed with cancer can feel super unlucky, but there are still plenty of things where luck can turn your way.
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