Just Diagnosed? Start Here
If you have just been diagnosed here are a few places to start from the main Breastcancer.org site:
- Understanding your pathology report
- Before Treatment: Planning Ahead for Survivorship
- Breaking Research News about Planning Your Breast Cancer Treatment
Also, a great thread chock full of advice for those just diagnosed: Just Diagnosed - Get Prepared
And here some inspiring stories of Members For 10 Years or More.
Comments
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I have been just diagnosised with Invasive Carcinoma Breast Cancer. I'm scared but hopeful
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@random_123 we're sorry you find yourself here, but know you are not alone. We're here for you any time!
Also, we want to let you know we offer very supportive, moderated Virtual Community Meetups. There are a number of different groups and times, so if you're interested, please check them out here: Virtual Community Meetups.
Warmly,
The Mods
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good morning. I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Definitely nerve racking waiting on and finding oncologist.
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Same for you, @jsnpotter! We're sorry you had to join us for this reason but wanted to send you a warm welcome to the BC.org community. We know it is scary, and it's okay to feel a mix of emotions right now.
While you wait for further medical appointments, the following article from our main site may be useful for you as you search for an oncologist: Five Things to Look for When Finding the Right Doctors for Your Breast Cancer Treatment
Hope this helps! Please know that we're here for you every step of the way.
Sincerely,
The Mods
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Thank you so much!!! Look forward to using this site to talk thru those dark moments. And celebrate the victories!
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I had 3 needle biopsies done last week…the results were Grade2 in both breasts. Tomorrow I see a surgeon…I had a short discussion about my diagnosis with a hospital breast coordinator. I also had a short appointment with my primary care physician. I know that I am experiencing anxiety and my mind is racing, tonight I’m on the verge of crying. I can’t explain what I feel. My family is supportive (I am 70, married 47 years, 3 grown children, all married, 5 grandchildren), so are my friends. Somehow though I can’t wrangle my mind. I don’t know what is going to happen. I know there isn’t a quick fix. I did ask for help from both my primary care physician and the breast coordinator, I just wanted to talk with someone who has experienced breast cancer and what they learned, but nothing materialized and I feel alone. Any suggestions?
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@glammy005 we're sorry you had to join us, but really glad you found the BC.org community. Welcome!
We understand you're going through a scary and uncertain time, but you're not alone. Besides the discussion boards, and if you want to talk to others in real-time, we invite you to join one of our amazing groups of women who have all faced breast cancer, and they meet on Zoom to share their stories and provide support to each other. We thought it might be a wonderful way for you to connect with others who truly understand what you're going through. If you're interested, please check them out here: Virtual Community Meetups. There are different groups and times, and you can attend as many as you like. Let us know if you have questions.
Also, as tomorrow is your appointment with your surgeon, here is one of our articles that may help: Questions to Ask Your Surgeon
Hope this helps! We look forward to hearing more from you soon.
Warmly,
The Mods
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Hello,
I found this site tonight registered and looked around a bit. I'd like a combination of scientific information as well as connecting with others through shared experiences. I was diagnosed 6 days ago, have an amended lab report and scheduled for a lumpectomy/partial mastectomy on October 30.
My preliminary need is to download Understanding your Test Results Lab Report and the page continually shows it's unresponsive. This is frustrating, Can you alert IT for a fix please? Thanks.
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@maesie - Welcome to our community! We're glad to have you here, and sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis.
First of all, we're sorry for the technical difficulties you're experiencing downloading the booklet. We know it can be frustrating, especially when you're seeking crucial information. Before we reach out to the tech team, it might be worth trying the link again to see if the issue persists. Sometimes, technical glitches can be temporary, and trying it at a different time might resolve the problem. Please try the following link, and let us know if it works:
Download the booklet: Understanding Your Pathology Report
Besides this, you may also like to check out and join the conversation for those scheduled this month for lumpectomy, mastectomy, reconstruction, or other surgeries to gather and support one another
through treatment and recovery. Here is the link to the October 2023 Surgery Support group.Hope this helps! Please, let us know if you are able to download the booklet. And, if the page continues unresponsive, please use this form to report the issue directly to the techs. Thank you!
The Mods
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Thank you for the prompt and courteous reply. It is appreciated. It appears to download well now.
It's always good to know the process for technical issues and the form you provided does just that.
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Thank you for this supportive forum! I was just diagnosed with Stage 3 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma in my left breast and lympnodes under the left arm. Right now, I don't have any other information so it's a waiting game. I have my appointment with the Breast Cancer surgeon on Monday to get more information.
Since I don't have more information I'm keeping the information private until we have a treatment plan and then I can figure it out from there.
Definitely feeling a variety of emotions from scared to determined so trying to just focus on work and keeping normalcy as long as possible.
Open to any thoughts, advice, tips to someone on Day 1 and please let me know how I can hep you!1 -
Welcome, @lling777! We're so sorry you find yourself here, we know how overwhelming the first days and weeks can be after a diagnosis. Trying to maintain as much normalcy as possible right now is a great idea, and once you see your surgeon and have more info and a game plan, you'll start to feel a bit more in control. You've got this, and we're all here for you!
The Mods
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Hi, I was here in 2014 when I was diagnosed with DCIS. This forum was really helpful. Now I'm back, and finding myself frustrated with the length of time it's now taking, to get the ultrasound (5 weeks), the biopsy (12 days), waiting now to hear from the surgeon, (I'm told 8 days). The hospital app I have on my phone gives the biopsy results, invasive carcinoma NST. The birads code after the ultrasound was 4C. Given the questions they asked during the ultrasound it seemed they were quite convinced- who was my surgeon last time, any medications. I will say getting the results of the biopsy was a relief, the wait was the worst part, naturally. I do wish the surgeon I had last time hadn't retired, I liked him.
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We're so sorry you find yourself here again, @katiec12! But we're glad to still be here for you, as a source of support and information as you head down this road again. Hoping you hear from your surgeon soon, and you're able to start moving ahead.
The Mods
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The waiting is the hardest part. Surgical consult on Monday.
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Dear @nonentity, welcome to the community! We completely understand how difficult and stressful the waiting period can be. If you want to share more about your situation, we're here to support you!
Looking forward to hearing from you, and wishing you all the best for your surgeon's appointment on Monday.
Sincerely,
The Mods
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Pretty much everything I know is in my signature I think. We just went through this with a family member in her 70s who was diagnosed in the fall with a 1.1 x 0.6 x 0.8 cm invasive ductal carcinoma, and so far my path has been similar: over the past month it's been from routine screening mammogram with a "questionable focal architectural distortion," to a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound with "a 0.6 x 0.8 x 0.8 cm irregular antiparallel hypoechoic mass with indistinct margins which corresponds with the area of architectural distortion on mammogram," to an ultrasound guided core biopsy with an "Invasive mammary carcinoma with mixed ductal and lobular features, grade 2. ER positive, PR positive, HER-2/neu negative (1+)."
I'm in my 40s, not my 70s, and it sounds to me like mine is smaller but more aggressive if it's lobular and ductal vs only ductal. Hers was a grade 1, and mine is a grade 2. I remember there being multiple things (MRI, sentinel node sampling, etc…) that were available to her but not particularly beneficial due to her age, and she skipped everything that wasn't explicitly recommended.
I've been reassuring everyone that everything is fine, very small, very treatable, etc… because I'm the nurse (but nothing remotely oncologic or surgical) in the family who helps everybody navigate through their healthcare stuff and provides calm reassurance but inside I'm terrified. I don't know if they'll recommend lumpectomy or mastectomy, how long I'll have to wait, how much time I'll have to miss from work, etc…
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Sending hugs, @nonentity. The beginning is always the worst, while you wait for answers. But know that once you know more about what you're dealing with, the treatment path will become clearer, and you'll feel better about the path forward. In the meantime, we're all here for you!
We'd suggest you start a new thread in the Just Diagnosed forum where others can stop by to weigh in with their experiences, offer advice and support you — we're all here for you!
Let us know if there's anything at all we can do to help!
—The Mods
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Well, I didn't wait to hear from the surgeon, I called them, lady said I saved her a phone call. She gave me the apt for the next week, saw the surgeon, got the surgery date of June 3rd. Surgeon called my family to let them know clear margins, which was nice. Felt full of energy when I got home from the hospital! Started deadheading flowers in the garden! Took four days off work, plus a weekend. Then worked two days and took two weeks vacation. Post op apt was last Wednesday and now see the oncologist this Wednesday. Likely radiation treatment up ahead. I got proactive and booked my mammogram for next year. They say the wait will only get worse.
Sure hope things go well for you @nonentity
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Hey guys, well I am here after having had triple negative 17 years ago, same breast 7mm dont have all the pathology back yet, but my surgeon called yesterday and we are going to get this thing out Thursday or Friday of this week, she said you will be ok, we have got this, I trust her with my life sooo, here we go
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@pinkone501, checking in on you — how did your lumpectomy go? Hope you're healing well. Let us know when the pathology report is back. Thinking of you!
—The Mods
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Hey guys, it went well, surgeon said it was very small and she took 2 lymph nodes that she said look small and do not look like they are full of cancer, I have a follow up on Thursday with her, no status of the 7mm nodule yet tho, I really pray I do not have to do the chemo
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Just got the call all the tissue she took out and the lymph nodes are clear
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just diagnosed today with Invasive lobular carcinoma. I am confused about timelines and how fast this will happen. I am wondering what the average time is between diagnosis and surgery
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@pinkone501, that's good news! Thank you for sharing. 😊
@steelergirlrach, welcome! We're so sorry to hear about your new diagnosis. It’s completely normal to feel confused right now. A breast cancer diagnosis is a lot to process, but you’re not alone in this.
Time between diagnosis and surgery can vary depending on some factors, like your specific case, your medical team's recommendation, and the healthcare system in your area. Typically, it takes a few weeks to a few months between diagnosis and surgery. But we're sure your doctors will make sure things move as swiftly as possible while still giving you time to decide.
We're glad you found us. Taking steps to find information and support is a very important step. Keep asking questions and please, reach out if you need us!
Best wishes,
The Mods
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Found out my diagnosis beginning of August. 4 cm mass - Hrz, 2 cm mass + Hrz. A few cancer cells in one lymph node. I am just trying to cope. I want to go on anti-anxiety meds to help me. I am usually Miss Natural but not now. I go out in nature a lot. I have cleaned and organized my apartment three times. I am trying my best to sleep soundly, exercise, have a balanced diet— I sometimes like donuts. At the moment I do not work, I am a disabled veteran.
I have been through so much in my life, this news was like being punched in the stomach with full force. Thankfully, there are a lot of resources to help me cope. It does not make it easier, but it lessens the blow. My heart goes out to people with a more serious matter.
Right now nature, books, and stretching are my favorites. Not too much support but that has been my entire life, nothing new or different.
I am sorry I am here but glad for the support.
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Just got my report back today, report shows High-Grade ductal carcinoma in situ. I have no idea what is ahead for me just found this place to start and read about it, I see my family Dr tomorrow. I am suppose to see my Surgeon on Oct 31, Im calling tomorrow to see if I can get an earlier appointment
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Hi @stacdav1972, and welcome to Breastcancer.org! We're sorry for your new diagnosis, but glad you found us.
Seeing your family doctor and surgeon will help give you more clarity on the path forward. In the meantime, you might find it helpful to check out our DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ) section on our main site, where you can learn more about treatment options, what to expect, etc.
Hang in there. And remember that whether you need advice, information, encouragement, or support, our Community is here to help! Let us know how you're doing.
The Mods
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