Newly Diagnosed with Breast Cancer at 32

tjohnson2310
tjohnson2310 Member Posts: 168 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Please share your experiences with me on surgery, treatment,emotions, and self-worth. Thank you.
«13

Comments

  • Katz77
    Katz77 Member Posts: 598
    hello. I'm sorry that you
    hello. I'm sorry that you have cancer, but it's a great place to vent, ask questions and even tell jokes. lol
    What is ur diagnoses?
    I had stage 3 HER, ERand PR positive and 18/20 lymph nodes. Diagnosise last June 20thish. Surgery ( mastectomy) on the right side. Let us now how u are doing. What have you decided? Emotions are all over the place. lol Best to you.
  • Balentine
    Balentine Member Posts: 393
    Welcome to your support system/please give us more information
    Hello T Johnson and welcome to your new support system! Please post back with details....which type of breast cancer and stage do you have? What are the doctors saying as far as their treatment plan and options? I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma in December. They said it was stage 1/2. Lump was 2.2cm. Had a mastectomy in January. They removed 3 lymph nodes and found no cancer in the lymph nodes. I just finished 4 rounds of chemo on 5/17. Had to have cytoxan and taxotere once every 3 weeks. I did not get sick, just very fatigued and lost my hair. I am just now recovering from the last chemo and glad it is behind me. You can get through this and you will...and we all will be here rooting you on. Remember that God is a strength to you and to lean on and trust Him above all else. I will check back tomorrow to hear from you again. Be blessed and hang in there.
    Lorrie Balentine
  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
    A big hug welcome
    I think what any one of us here knows about surgery, treatment, emotions, and self-worth could fill a book.

    I read your page, and see that you were diagnosed just 5 days ago. All of us here know and understand how overwhelmed and scared you probably are right now.

    Give us a little more information about your diagnosis and what you know so far, and we'll be here to help you through this.

    Traci
  • Boppy_of_6
    Boppy_of_6 Member Posts: 1,138
    Right place
    You have come to the right place, I have not been on here very long but it has been a great help. I was diagnosed Jan. 2010 invasive ductual carcinoma stage 1 grade 1. Lumpectomy on Mar.22-10 clear margins no lymph nodes involved.
    I had my 2nd, of 4 chemo treatments today, cytoxan and taxotere. I have done really well, tired but nothing terrible. I will follow up with rads.
    It is very scary and upsetting when you find out. Trust in God he will bring you through this, please keep us posted. God Bless
    (((Hugs))) Janice
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    TraciInLA said:

    A big hug welcome
    I think what any one of us here knows about surgery, treatment, emotions, and self-worth could fill a book.

    I read your page, and see that you were diagnosed just 5 days ago. All of us here know and understand how overwhelmed and scared you probably are right now.

    Give us a little more information about your diagnosis and what you know so far, and we'll be here to help you through this.

    Traci

    Welcome tjohnson
    Sorry for the reason you here, but it is really a good place to come. Your at the beginning of your journey and there is going to be soooo much information that your going to have to take in. It's very scary and overwhelming. I was Dx a year ago April and I have come through surgery,( lumpectomy ) chemo, Rads and continue doing herceptin and tomaxifen. My advice to you is to make notes of all your questions you want to ask your doctors. Have someone with you at your appointment,because you won't remember a lot of what they tell you. I think my brain went on shut down, I had my husband and a best friend with me.What the husband did not get the girlfriend did. Day at a time. As hard as it is that is what I had to do. Ask questions, get answers. I know your scared, but it is all doable, and we will be here to help you through. Hugs
  • greyhoundluvr
    greyhoundluvr Member Posts: 402
    Hi, T!
    Welcome to the board - I have found it a blessing and hope you do, too! There are so many variations of this disease so if you are comfortable sharing information as you go along and are facing decisions, we can probably give you more feedback. In the beginning, I recommend seeing an oncologist even before or at the same time as your surgeon. I found that is where I got a lot of understanding of the disease, possible treatment options, the process, and it helped me make decisions along the way. I was stage I, grade I going into surgery but they found 2 positive nodes so I came out stage 2, grade 2. Because of a positive family history of bilateral breast cancer, I opted for a bilateral mastectomy, just finished my 5th out of 6 chemo rounds with cytoxan/taxotere (which hasn't been bad) and then have 33 rounds of radiation.

    Ask all the questions you need to ask, I encourage taking family/friend with you to doc appointments as we are often a bit numb at all the info coming in, take notes, check out your doctors on-line, and if you are not comfortable with them, get a second opinion. Trust in your providers will make this journey a lot easier. And always, you can come here to ask questions, vent, or just get moral support. Good luck!

    Chris
  • Mama G
    Mama G Member Posts: 762

    Hi, T!
    Welcome to the board - I have found it a blessing and hope you do, too! There are so many variations of this disease so if you are comfortable sharing information as you go along and are facing decisions, we can probably give you more feedback. In the beginning, I recommend seeing an oncologist even before or at the same time as your surgeon. I found that is where I got a lot of understanding of the disease, possible treatment options, the process, and it helped me make decisions along the way. I was stage I, grade I going into surgery but they found 2 positive nodes so I came out stage 2, grade 2. Because of a positive family history of bilateral breast cancer, I opted for a bilateral mastectomy, just finished my 5th out of 6 chemo rounds with cytoxan/taxotere (which hasn't been bad) and then have 33 rounds of radiation.

    Ask all the questions you need to ask, I encourage taking family/friend with you to doc appointments as we are often a bit numb at all the info coming in, take notes, check out your doctors on-line, and if you are not comfortable with them, get a second opinion. Trust in your providers will make this journey a lot easier. And always, you can come here to ask questions, vent, or just get moral support. Good luck!

    Chris

    Welcome to the group nobody wants to join....
    Please let us know a little more about your cancer so we can help. I can say the first thing in this battle, which is the surgery was no where near as bad as I thought it would be. I had basically very little "pain". More like what I would call discomfort.
    God bless,
    Lorraine
  • aisling8
    aisling8 Member Posts: 1,627 Member
    Mama G said:

    Welcome to the group nobody wants to join....
    Please let us know a little more about your cancer so we can help. I can say the first thing in this battle, which is the surgery was no where near as bad as I thought it would be. I had basically very little "pain". More like what I would call discomfort.
    God bless,
    Lorraine

    sorry
    Sorry you're here, but welcome.

    Sending you positive thoughts and energy,

    Victoria
  • tjohnson2310
    tjohnson2310 Member Posts: 168 Member
    Katz77 said:

    hello. I'm sorry that you
    hello. I'm sorry that you have cancer, but it's a great place to vent, ask questions and even tell jokes. lol
    What is ur diagnoses?
    I had stage 3 HER, ERand PR positive and 18/20 lymph nodes. Diagnosise last June 20thish. Surgery ( mastectomy) on the right side. Let us now how u are doing. What have you decided? Emotions are all over the place. lol Best to you.

    Thank U Katz77
    My diagnoses is invasive ductal carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ of the right breast. It is believed to be stage 1.I was diagnosed on May 17,2010. So i am just beginning. When I first got the diagnosis I was in disbelief, its starting to settle in now. But still hard to wrap my head around.
  • tjohnson2310
    tjohnson2310 Member Posts: 168 Member
    TraciInLA said:

    A big hug welcome
    I think what any one of us here knows about surgery, treatment, emotions, and self-worth could fill a book.

    I read your page, and see that you were diagnosed just 5 days ago. All of us here know and understand how overwhelmed and scared you probably are right now.

    Give us a little more information about your diagnosis and what you know so far, and we'll be here to help you through this.

    Traci

    Invansive ductal carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ
    As it stands now my doctor tells me it is less than 2 cm or stage 1. I will have a PET scan of the body this Friday. Since my diagnosis I contacted MD Anderson Cancer Center. I am awaiting their call on Monday or Tuesday.
  • lanie940
    lanie940 Member Posts: 490

    Thank U Katz77
    My diagnoses is invasive ductal carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ of the right breast. It is believed to be stage 1.I was diagnosed on May 17,2010. So i am just beginning. When I first got the diagnosis I was in disbelief, its starting to settle in now. But still hard to wrap my head around.

    I had invacive ductal
    I had invasive ductal carcinoma in the right breast in July of 2009. I had a lumpectomy and Radiation. I had the Oncotype dx test and oppted not to have Chemo. The surgery went well, no lymph node involvement, it was caught early I'm taking Arimidex, no problems except for some ankle swelling occassionally.
  • tjohnson2310
    tjohnson2310 Member Posts: 168 Member
    TraciInLA said:

    A big hug welcome
    I think what any one of us here knows about surgery, treatment, emotions, and self-worth could fill a book.

    I read your page, and see that you were diagnosed just 5 days ago. All of us here know and understand how overwhelmed and scared you probably are right now.

    Give us a little more information about your diagnosis and what you know so far, and we'll be here to help you through this.

    Traci

    Thanks for the hug
    Thanks for the welcome. I am grateful I came here.
  • tjohnson2310
    tjohnson2310 Member Posts: 168 Member
    Mama G said:

    Welcome to the group nobody wants to join....
    Please let us know a little more about your cancer so we can help. I can say the first thing in this battle, which is the surgery was no where near as bad as I thought it would be. I had basically very little "pain". More like what I would call discomfort.
    God bless,
    Lorraine

    Oh yes........
    Pain is definitely a concern.....I have stage 1 ductal carcinoma of the right breast.
  • KayNYC
    KayNYC Member Posts: 495 Member

    Oh yes........
    Pain is definitely a concern.....I have stage 1 ductal carcinoma of the right breast.

    sorry you are here but welcome
    Dear Tjohnson,
    I had my lumpectomy of left breast on March 17, 2010 with removal of six nodes, no nodes found to be cancerous- Margins clear- mass was very small, 3mm.Changes on my yearly mammogram resulted in follow-up with CT scan and biopsy that revealed Invasive ductal Ca. I have completed seven radiation treatments with fourteen to go.MedOnc recommends starting five years on Arimidex (I was positive for estrogen and progesterone hormone receptors).
    Glad you found this site. There is a lot of useful information, as well as great pink sisters to support you here.
    Keep us posted.
    Hugs, K
  • tjohnson2310
    tjohnson2310 Member Posts: 168 Member
    Balentine said:

    Welcome to your support system/please give us more information
    Hello T Johnson and welcome to your new support system! Please post back with details....which type of breast cancer and stage do you have? What are the doctors saying as far as their treatment plan and options? I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma in December. They said it was stage 1/2. Lump was 2.2cm. Had a mastectomy in January. They removed 3 lymph nodes and found no cancer in the lymph nodes. I just finished 4 rounds of chemo on 5/17. Had to have cytoxan and taxotere once every 3 weeks. I did not get sick, just very fatigued and lost my hair. I am just now recovering from the last chemo and glad it is behind me. You can get through this and you will...and we all will be here rooting you on. Remember that God is a strength to you and to lean on and trust Him above all else. I will check back tomorrow to hear from you again. Be blessed and hang in there.
    Lorrie Balentine

    Thank U
    Thanks for the words of encouragement.
  • tjohnson2310
    tjohnson2310 Member Posts: 168 Member
    KayNYC said:

    sorry you are here but welcome
    Dear Tjohnson,
    I had my lumpectomy of left breast on March 17, 2010 with removal of six nodes, no nodes found to be cancerous- Margins clear- mass was very small, 3mm.Changes on my yearly mammogram resulted in follow-up with CT scan and biopsy that revealed Invasive ductal Ca. I have completed seven radiation treatments with fourteen to go.MedOnc recommends starting five years on Arimidex (I was positive for estrogen and progesterone hormone receptors).
    Glad you found this site. There is a lot of useful information, as well as great pink sisters to support you here.
    Keep us posted.
    Hugs, K

    Thank U
    Thank you for the hugs.
  • MyTurnNow
    MyTurnNow Member Posts: 2,686 Member
    Tjohnson, I also just wanted
    Tjohnson, I also just wanted to shout out a "welcome" to this amazing group of caring, supportive, knowledgeable and loving individuals. We'll be your pink sisters and provide whatever you need to get through your treatments. You've come to the right place. Take care.
  • mjjones453
    mjjones453 Member Posts: 155
    staging and treatment
    I was diagnosed in January with BC. Stage 1; the size of the tumor in my left breast was 1.5 cm. When my gyne told me I had breast cancer, I asked him if he could recommend the surgeon that he would send his wife to. He gave me his choices. I was appreciative of that. I had many people give recommendations of which Oncologist to go to, I trusted my primary care physicians advice, when I told him the recommendations. You may be put in contact with a Breast cancer navigator, they are very helpful in answering questions, giving advice on Dr.s. on when to do things next etc. I had a Lumpectomy and sentinal node biopsy on Feb. 4, of this year, saw my Oncologist about a month later, after giving me the prognosis, my nodes being clear, I am Er/pr+; the Dr suggested for me to take the oncotype test to find where I stood with my cancer reoccuring. My score was 8 which was good. The treatment for me was 33 treatment of Radiation, the last 5 being to the scar area, and then after that to go on Tamoxifen. I finished my radiation treatments on May 5th. I am larger breasted, so I had painful sores that developed under my arm, and breast and experienced fatigue. After I finished my treatments, I was amazed at how quickly the sores went away. Fatigue still hits me at times, but you deal with it by resting when you can. I will be on Tamoxifen for 5 years, I started that medication on May 6.
    Do make notes and ask questions. So many of us have different diagnosis, and treatment. Be encouraged, even though it is very scary, you will get through this, take one day at a time. Mary
  • tjohnson2310
    tjohnson2310 Member Posts: 168 Member
    MyTurnNow said:

    Tjohnson, I also just wanted
    Tjohnson, I also just wanted to shout out a "welcome" to this amazing group of caring, supportive, knowledgeable and loving individuals. We'll be your pink sisters and provide whatever you need to get through your treatments. You've come to the right place. Take care.

    Thank U
    Thank you so much.
  • tjohnson2310
    tjohnson2310 Member Posts: 168 Member
    Katz77 said:

    hello. I'm sorry that you
    hello. I'm sorry that you have cancer, but it's a great place to vent, ask questions and even tell jokes. lol
    What is ur diagnoses?
    I had stage 3 HER, ERand PR positive and 18/20 lymph nodes. Diagnosise last June 20thish. Surgery ( mastectomy) on the right side. Let us now how u are doing. What have you decided? Emotions are all over the place. lol Best to you.

    LOL cut back on caffeine (Katz77)
    I read your about me page LOL.In 2008 I noticed a bloody discharge, so immediately went to my PCP. I was nervous because my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at 41. My PCP then sent me to a surgeon specializing in breast care. I had ultrasounds, mammograms and galactagrams(ouch) all showing benign cyst. I was told fibrocystic breast and to avoid caffeine. But still I visited with the surgeon every 3 months then every 6 months for clinical breast exams. In the most recent visit he said he felt something different. Now its cancer. I think back now and say I should have known better than just "avoiding caffeine". Maybe it was there all along..But no use in crying over spilled caffeine.I really missed Dr.Pepper.LOL