New to this Board...

Laurie, what a wonderful friend you are!!!
And, Tigger is my FAV!!!! I LOVE his attitude!!!

As far as questions...I think the first thing to do is listen. Take a notebook, write EVERYTHING the doctor says down. Has she seen her onc yet? If so, ask for a copy of all labs, paths, etc...

That first appt, at least for me, was to decide if I could accept my onc as the head of my team and my surgeon as my cutter (I googled him on the internet to see what he had done, etc...he was world famous...and, BTW not bad on the eyes! *smile*)...and, sort of like kindergarten, do the social stuff first. Unless it is a very aggressive form of breast cancer (which her doc will tell her...again, listen) you do have a bit of time for all the other questions, etc...

BIG hugs to you, dear Tigger!!!

Hugs, Kathi

roseann4 said:

I'm sorry your friend is facing this.
She is blessed to have a good friend like you. The surgeon is usually the first stop. At this point they don't usually know much except the size, the type, and how it grows (hormone receptive, triple neg., etc.). Unless there is an enlarged lymph, they won't know if her cancer has spread to the lymph nodes until after the surgery. It is less painful if they inject the dye and check the nodes during surgery so I would ask if that is possible. If she is node negative ask about the OncotypeDX test. That will help her decide whether chemo is necessary. If even one node shows cancer cells, they will recommend chemo.

Tell your friend that I am 2 years out and doing great. I had a partial mastectomy which is a little more tissue taken that a lumpectomy. My breast looks slightly smaller but the scare is not bad. I had 33 radiation treatments but no chemo. I take a preventive drug for 5 years. Tell her not to think the worst. Take one step at a time. She'll get through this.

Last, direct her to this site show she can get the comfort and support from us as well as from you. Thanks for being there for her.

Roseann

Book recommendation
When I was first diagnosed I read the book, "Just Let Me Get Through This". It gave me s step by step guide as to what to ask and what yo expect. It is helpful and hopeful.

Roseann

Marcha Louise said:

I agree with Kathi
Diffently check out the surgeon. My Radiologist refered me to a surgeon after my PET scan results were back and a good report. They wanted to get the surgery done ASAP so I could start mammosite radiation. I did not like his nurse the first time I was there, she was obnotxious, making sexual comments to the Dr. I used the surgeon anyway. We live 172 miles from my treatment center in west Texas and I was to see the surgeon a week after my surgery, his nurse called early that morning to tell me he was sick, but to come anyway because he was going by the hospital to get a shot of something and he should be able to see me, they were to insert the mammosite that day. Well we went and he could not see me, so we had to come back on Friday. I had to ask about nodes, etc. he did not once sit down with me and have a consult about my pathology. When I first went in my copay was to be $40.00 and they charged me $100.00. Now I have my bill and only $60.00 of the $100.00 is showing. I was to go back the end of May, but did not. My RAD Dr. looked me over after my mammosite Rads and said everything was fine. I looked the surgeon up in Rate a Dr.after the fact and the news was not good.

We should all have a friend like you, Laurie
The first information your friend needs to know (which will be on the biopsy pathology report, and should be explained to her by the doctor) is

- Estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor status, called ER/PR. Most (not all) breast cancers are ER positive/PR positive.

- HER2 Neu protein status, either HER2 positive or HER2 negative

- Is the tumor invasive? If not, it will be called ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). If it is, is it ductal or lobular (invasive ductal carcinoma or invasive lobular carcinoma)?

- What is the tumor grade (scale of 1 to 3)?

These factors, plus tumor size and whether or not she has any positive lymph nodes (which, as Roseann said, she won't know until after surgery), are kind of the basic ones in starting to determine a treatment plan.

Laurie, I don't know anything at all about uterine cancer, so I may be telling you things you already know. But I hope it helps some?

Traci

I did not get a lot of
I did not get a lot of 'info' from surgeon the first time I saw him but then the first thing that had to be done was get neo-Adjunct Chemo going as fast as possible. Yes he did talk ith me and answer my questions as I'm IBC neo-Adjunct had to be done before he would even discuss doing surgery. My Chemo Dr (that I saw on the Thursday - was a mistake made by VA and they scheduled the Rads Dr first and that was on Wednesday but the next day I saw Dr T. following the Monday appt with surgeon) is the one that actually gave me the most information.

Take a notebook with you with questions written in it and write down the answers. Remember that there may not be answers to some questions yet.

Ask about

Type - (IBC, IDC, DCIS, ILC, LCIS)

Status - ER/PR positive, Triple Negative, HER2 positive

Stage - may not be known at this time

Anticipated surgery - lumpectomy, unilateral Mastectomy, bilateral Mastectomy - why is that the suggested surgery

(These make for a difference in the TX and the speed needed to get in TX, the type of surgery that will be needed and the order in which TX is done - sometimes Chemo comes before surgery sometimes not - sometimes before and after - sometimes Chemo is not needed - also what needs to be done with Rads.)

None of my tests/scans were ordered by my surgeon - my Chemo Dr ordered them all

Something that the Radiologist, who did my biospy, told me was to be sure to get a file to keep copies of every test/scan/everything that is done.

Thoughts an prayers to your friend and you in your journey with her.

Susan

roseann4 said:

Book recommendation
When I was first diagnosed I read the book, "Just Let Me Get Through This". It gave me s step by step guide as to what to ask and what yo expect. It is helpful and hopeful.

Roseann

You are such a good friend
You are such a good friend Laurie. I wish your friend all the best. Keep us posted on her.



♠♣ Susie ♠♣

KathiM said:

Laurie, what a wonderful friend you are!!!
And, Tigger is my FAV!!!! I LOVE his attitude!!!

As far as questions...I think the first thing to do is listen. Take a notebook, write EVERYTHING the doctor says down. Has she seen her onc yet? If so, ask for a copy of all labs, paths, etc...

That first appt, at least for me, was to decide if I could accept my onc as the head of my team and my surgeon as my cutter (I googled him on the internet to see what he had done, etc...he was world famous...and, BTW not bad on the eyes! *smile*)...and, sort of like kindergarten, do the social stuff first. Unless it is a very aggressive form of breast cancer (which her doc will tell her...again, listen) you do have a bit of time for all the other questions, etc...

BIG hugs to you, dear Tigger!!!

Hugs, Kathi

We took a notebook as we
We took a notebook as we could never remember everything. We had our own questions written down also.

And, be sure she asks lots of questions, any question that she might have.

Good luck to your friend and to you,


Noel

grams2jc said:

Friend
All of these ladies have given you super advice, I can't think of anything more other than to wish your friend well and advise her to get to this board ASAP. It will make her feel sooooo much better.

What a super friend you are .. your friend is so lucky,

Jennifer

Lots of good advice from the
Lots of good advice from the pink sisters to you for your friend. I am wishing your friend the best of luck and will be praying for the both of you.



Sue

Double Whammy said:

You scared me, Laurie!
I saw the topic and your screen name and thought "Oh no, not breast cancer, too!". I'm on the uterine board, too. I'm sorry about your friend and hope she does well. You've received some good advice. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, I thought breast cancer was breast cancer. I've learned so much and most of it is from this group. You really don't know what to ask about and although I got all the information from my health care team, it didn't really register. My additional advice is to ask your friend to join us.

Suzanne

I'm sorry to hear about your
I'm sorry to hear about your friend. How lucky she is to have you for a friend!

Looks like the pink sisters have all helped with your questions. Please know that both of you will be in my thoughts and prayers.


Hugs, Leeza