Mar 18, 2023 11:11AM mountainmia wrote:

margo, I'm sorry you're here and have an IDC diagnosis. The first part is really hard, when you don't know anything but feel like you need to get mentally prepared, and you don't know for what. You will find out a lot more soon. When is your first doctor appointment? MRIs are really good at seeing things, but not very good at showing what they are. That's probably the reason for the next ultrasound. It's possible they'll want another biopsy, also, but maybe not. It's really hard to "go with the flow," but unfortunately until you have more information, you don't have much choice.

Let us know what you find out, and we'll help you understand what that means. Of course your doctors will be your best source of info related to just YOU, but people here can help you with what happens in general, given different scenarios.

Mar 18, 2023 03:44PM mountainmia wrote:

Okay, good. I'm glad those are scheduled. It probably feels like a really long time from now. See if you can find ways to stay busy and distracted from all of it. It actually doesn't help to "worry" because you don't know yet what to worry about!! If you're one who deals with anxiety in general, or if you feel anxiety spike now so you have trouble sleeping, you might check with your regular doctor to see if there is something that could help with that. (Different people have different preferences for anti-anxiety or sleep aids, so I don't mean to presume. But yeah, some people need the help and there's no shame in that.)

When the pathology is done, you'll likely get more info on the type and grade (not stage) from the first biopsy. If you need help interpreting that, let us know.

Are you in the US? Do you have a patient portal like MyChart for your medical information?

Mar 18, 2023 08:19PM salamandra wrote:

I'm sorry you're in this position with so many unknowns and no doctor to ask for even basic info. That's not right. The beginning is always hard and this makes it harder.

I'm not an expert so this is just my guesses based on what I've picked up over the years.

It sounds like they know you have at least one malignant tumor, and it's small. Usually the next info that comes is the pathology of the biopsy, which can tell you the hormonal status of the tumor and some info about the grade. But all of that is still preliminary and can change based on final pathology of the tumor or other later info.

It sounds like the MRI picked up some other suspicious stuff that they want a closer look at. Those lesions *could* be cancerous. In that case, it could either be the same cancer that broke or is breaking out of the duct in different places (if the genetic profile of the tumor is the same) or different cancers growing at the same time. They could also be absolutely nothing, or something that may need to be taken out but is not actually malignant.

Nothing that is in your breast would be considered metastatic. But if you do have multiple tumors or things that need to be taken out, I think it increases the chances that you will be recommended/required to have a mastectomy instead of a lumpectomy. Also if they were different cancers (like one was hormonal and one was not, or one was HER+ and one was not) they'd need to treat according to all of them. (Ie, if any one of them indicated chemo, you'd be recommended for chemo, even though the others alone might not have called for it).

During the early stages you're always waiting for another test result, and the next test result could always make things either worse, better, or stay the same. It makes it very hard because of the uncertainty, unknowns, and fear. But none of it means you'll necessarily have a worse outcome in the long term.

I had a really good experience with the organization Sharsheret. They'll match you to a social worker with experience with breast cancer. Social workers are the best. They have enough background knowledge and health resources that they can help explain medical things. They are a wealth of info for support programs, resources, funding, etc. They can also just be a listening ear or a supportive voice. I only spoke with mine a couple of times, but she helped me with understanding some test results and really made me feel less alone. It's all free. It's a Jewish organization but they work with everybody. I think there are other similar organizations, but this is the one I know and have personal experience with.

Hang in there. It WILL get easier.

Mar 20, 2023 12:21AM snm wrote:

Sorry to hear the news. The waiting game as results trickle in is rough and test after test. Ugh! Find someone or something to calm you or a distraction as the stress can be overwhelming. Time will seem to pass very slowly but you will know and will deal with whatever comes your way.

Trust and believe