Recently diagnosed. What do I do?

GG40

carkris said:

listening toyour gut
Definately listen to your gut, I had BC 15 years ago, no family history and /gene testing negative. I had a mastectomy, and CMF then had a local recurrence and radiation. All for 1cm and node neg cancer, I had in situ and that was the reason for the mastectomy. scant but scattered.age 34. had been well but dealt with scares and biopsies. Recently was seeing surgeeons for a propholactic mastectomy, saw amny docs, had my mammos, did everything. felt alump where I had a biopsy a year and a half before. MRI cancer or scar tissue-cancer. I had decided benign or cancer the boob was going. had reconstruction, but now found will need rads so keeping that is in question. will start chemo next week. dont do pet here bone and CT scans neg. Long story, wish I had listen to my gut, but was doing the college thing and told It is not an emergency, I know they would hve found the cancer anyway but perhaps smaller and not node positive.
Anyway was relctant to post as I know I may be unusual. I have a friend who had apartial mastectomy 2 nodes 5cm tumor 18 years ago and is fine. It all just works differntly in everyones body. But make your decision not on a knee jerk reaction but well thought out and researched and how you personally feel. For me the loss of m breasts is not the big thing its the threat on my life so whatever helps you -do it.

Surgery is scheduled
I saw the thoracic surgeon today and he scheduled the surgery to remove the thymoma for Monday, the 31st. I will get back in touch after that is over. Thanks for your support and prayers. GG

aztec45

GG40 said:

Just a quick update.
Went to the specialist last week and she was awesome. I am so lucky to have such a great network of doctors in my area. She wanted her pathologists to look at all my tissue and since she had no experience herself with thymoma, she was going to talk to several of her colleague at the Medical Center and get back to me. They called today and told me that she wants me to have the thymoma removed before I start chemo. SO no chemo starting this week which I have to admit I'm not sad about....BUT want to get this all done. Anyway I have an appt with a thoracic surgeon on Wednesday. Will keep you posted when my surgery will be.

Again thanks for your support. This sure is dragging on, but I really am glad for them getting the best treatment plan for me instead of just diving into chemo on two different cancers. From everything I've read and hear, once they get the thymoma out that's it...I don't "think" I have to have any further treatment on that. We'll see what the surgeon says, however.

Later.......GG40

OMG
GG,

You have really been through hell. But it is good that they have spotted all of the tumors and can deal with them. We are all here for you. Good luck with surgery.

Pat

survivorbc09

GG40 said:

Surgery is scheduled
I saw the thoracic surgeon today and he scheduled the surgery to remove the thymoma for Monday, the 31st. I will get back in touch after that is over. Thanks for your support and prayers. GG

Good luck with your surgery
Good luck with your surgery GG! Please let us know how you are doing when you can.

Sending you lots of prayers!

jnl

survivorbc09 said:

Good luck with your surgery
Good luck with your surgery GG! Please let us know how you are doing when you can.

Sending you lots of prayers!

GG, wishing you the best on
GG, wishing you the best on Monday for your surgery. Praying for you!

Keep us updated on you!

Leeza

Kristin N

GG40 said:

Surgery is scheduled
I saw the thoracic surgeon today and he scheduled the surgery to remove the thymoma for Monday, the 31st. I will get back in touch after that is over. Thanks for your support and prayers. GG

GG40
You will be in my thoughts and prayers! Have a successful surgery and post to let us know how you are doing!

Kristin ♥

VickiSam

My story ..
I too have invasive DCIS .. along with Her2. My general surgeon who broke you have 'Breast Cancer' news told me that 5 to 7% chance of getting bc in my good breast. This turned out to be 'untrue'. My sister in law had bc 20 years ago ... had 1 breast removed, and 5 years just about to the day .. had another mastectomy. Fact. Went to a breast cancer specialist for a 2nd opinion, his rates are much higher than general surgeon ... 60% to 70% chance. Also, now that I have bc, my 2 sisters have a 50% higher chance of getting bc.

My gut and heart tell me to proceed with my initial decision to have a bilateral mastectomy. My breast cancer specialist is not happy with my decision, however, it is my decision. Tumor removed 11.0 x 7.0 x 4.0 cm. I also have 2 children .. 18 years, and 22 years.

Breast cancer is scary and confusing. Please research, read and post ..

You are not insane .. Breast cancer is INSANE.


VickiSam

mimivac

GG40 said:

Surgery is scheduled
I saw the thoracic surgeon today and he scheduled the surgery to remove the thymoma for Monday, the 31st. I will get back in touch after that is over. Thanks for your support and prayers. GG

GG,
Thinking of you today as you have your sugery. My hopes for the best possible outcome and that this is all the treatment you need to deal with the lung tumor. We'll be here for you as you recover.

Mimi

jikaras

early diagnosis
I too found my cancer during my yearly mamo. I had biopsies done and was told that I had cancer in my left breast. I immediatly got in with a surgeon, and we discussed a lumptecomy vs. mastecomy and she left the decision up to me. Before going futher, she wanted to do more tests though to see where the cancer was and if there was anything suspicious on the other side.

Sure enough, my cancer was in the sac attached to my nippple, and further tests revealed cancer in the other breast too, so my decision was already made up for me.

I can tell you that I did have the bilateral mastecomy in January; I had implants put in in May. Having the mastecomy wasn't hard at all - the hard part is NOT feeling ANYTHING in my breast/armpit area. I suspect it will take awhile to get use to it.

Keep a positivie attitute and you'll do fine.

Jill

survivorbc09

mimivac said:

GG,
Thinking of you today as you have your sugery. My hopes for the best possible outcome and that this is all the treatment you need to deal with the lung tumor. We'll be here for you as you recover.

Mimi

Praying that your surgery
Praying that your surgery went ok today GG. When you can, please post and update us!

Hugs!

lynn1950

GG40 said:

Surgery is scheduled
I saw the thoracic surgeon today and he scheduled the surgery to remove the thymoma for Monday, the 31st. I will get back in touch after that is over. Thanks for your support and prayers. GG

Thinking of you
GG - and praying for you. I hope all went well today and that you are resting as I type this. Best wishes for a quick recovery. Lynn

GG40

jikaras said:

early diagnosis
I too found my cancer during my yearly mamo. I had biopsies done and was told that I had cancer in my left breast. I immediatly got in with a surgeon, and we discussed a lumptecomy vs. mastecomy and she left the decision up to me. Before going futher, she wanted to do more tests though to see where the cancer was and if there was anything suspicious on the other side.

Sure enough, my cancer was in the sac attached to my nippple, and further tests revealed cancer in the other breast too, so my decision was already made up for me.

I can tell you that I did have the bilateral mastecomy in January; I had implants put in in May. Having the mastecomy wasn't hard at all - the hard part is NOT feeling ANYTHING in my breast/armpit area. I suspect it will take awhile to get use to it.

Keep a positivie attitute and you'll do fine.

Jill

Good News - FINALLY got some
Hello everyone. I am sitting here in the hospital waiting for the doctor to come and release me to go home today. YAY.

Surgery went well, and I have recovered quickly and fairly easily. Got the chest tube and epidural out yesterday. Had an xray this morning to make sure all okay and home I go.

The good news that I have looked for for two months now finally came...the thymoma was non-invasive and completely removed - all margins clear ... so considered benign. So I just recover from the surgery and can get back to just going after the breast cancer.

The oncologists of course were in to see me while in here and I told them about how I've been suffering with my hip...they said they might consider doing radiation on it (HELLO)to get me some relief. So I go in to see them next week.

Thanks for all of your prayers. I'm so blessed.

Vicki......all I can say is GO WITH YOUR GUT. I am SO glad I did and it totally paid off for me. I don't have the numbness you describe from my mastectomies, but I've heard they can take up to a year to come out of being numb. Hang in there. I'm praying for you all.

GG

Noel

GG40 said:

Good News - FINALLY got some
Hello everyone. I am sitting here in the hospital waiting for the doctor to come and release me to go home today. YAY.

Surgery went well, and I have recovered quickly and fairly easily. Got the chest tube and epidural out yesterday. Had an xray this morning to make sure all okay and home I go.

The good news that I have looked for for two months now finally came...the thymoma was non-invasive and completely removed - all margins clear ... so considered benign. So I just recover from the surgery and can get back to just going after the breast cancer.

The oncologists of course were in to see me while in here and I told them about how I've been suffering with my hip...they said they might consider doing radiation on it (HELLO)to get me some relief. So I go in to see them next week.

Thanks for all of your prayers. I'm so blessed.

Vicki......all I can say is GO WITH YOUR GUT. I am SO glad I did and it totally paid off for me. I don't have the numbness you describe from my mastectomies, but I've heard they can take up to a year to come out of being numb. Hang in there. I'm praying for you all.

GG

YEA!
Great news GG! I am so happy for you! Now you just recover and feel great again!

♥ Noel

jnl

GG40 said:

Good News - FINALLY got some
Hello everyone. I am sitting here in the hospital waiting for the doctor to come and release me to go home today. YAY.

Surgery went well, and I have recovered quickly and fairly easily. Got the chest tube and epidural out yesterday. Had an xray this morning to make sure all okay and home I go.

The good news that I have looked for for two months now finally came...the thymoma was non-invasive and completely removed - all margins clear ... so considered benign. So I just recover from the surgery and can get back to just going after the breast cancer.

The oncologists of course were in to see me while in here and I told them about how I've been suffering with my hip...they said they might consider doing radiation on it (HELLO)to get me some relief. So I go in to see them next week.

Thanks for all of your prayers. I'm so blessed.

Vicki......all I can say is GO WITH YOUR GUT. I am SO glad I did and it totally paid off for me. I don't have the numbness you describe from my mastectomies, but I've heard they can take up to a year to come out of being numb. Hang in there. I'm praying for you all.

GG

You got the surgery behind
You got the surgery behind you now GG! And, I hope you are at home even by now, resting in your own bed comfortably. Radiation is totally doable. Still going to pray for you to have a speedy recovery. Keep us updated GG!

Leeza

aurora2009

jnl said:

You got the surgery behind
You got the surgery behind you now GG! And, I hope you are at home even by now, resting in your own bed comfortably. Radiation is totally doable. Still going to pray for you to have a speedy recovery. Keep us updated GG!

Leeza

That is really great new!!!!!!!!!
Here to yet another HUGE mile stone!

God Bless,

Aurora

peggypeggy

gg40
im very glad your surgery went well hope you recover quickly god bless love peggy

jk1952

peggypeggy said:

gg40
im very glad your surgery went well hope you recover quickly god bless love peggy

I just caught up on

I just caught up on everything that's happened to you in the last few months. You've had more to deal with in this short period of time than many people have in a lifetime. I'm so glad that the result from this surgery was good, and that you have a strong faith in God. It's such a relief to hand over your medical issues to God and say He's in control.

Joyce

lolad

jk1952 said:

I just caught up on

I just caught up on everything that's happened to you in the last few months. You've had more to deal with in this short period of time than many people have in a lifetime. I'm so glad that the result from this surgery was good, and that you have a strong faith in God. It's such a relief to hand over your medical issues to God and say He's in control.

Joyce

GG
Im glad that your surgery went well and that parts over with. Keep up on that positive attitude you have. I admire you. You are in my thoughts

take care
laura

GG40

lolad said:

GG
Im glad that your surgery went well and that parts over with. Keep up on that positive attitude you have. I admire you. You are in my thoughts

take care
laura

Finally a Plan
Hallelujah we finally have a plan. Since God so graciously removed my thymoma from the mix, we are back to dealing with the breast cancer only. Thank You Lord. I saw my oncologist yesterday and below is the plan we have:

Monday I will go in for a consultation for radiation on my hip (which just seems to be getting worse) and hopefully my treatments will start then...if not, then Tuesday. I will go in every day for about 10 minutes and get radiation on the cancer in my hip bone. The treatment plan is for 10 treatments, so two weeks.

Then once I am healed from my thymoma surgery I will begin chemotherapy. The first treatment is scheduled for October 2. I will have one treatment every three weeks for 6 treatments (or 18 weeks). Then we will run tests to evaluate the success level of the chemotherapy. I admit I am really not looking forward to the chemo but I am so grateful to have a plan and to begin to move forward on my journey to beat this cancer.

I am so grateful to God for a wonderful network of loved ones and friends who have supported and ministered to me over the last months. I count you all among them. I praise God for each one of you.

Moopy23

GG40 said:

Finally a Plan
Hallelujah we finally have a plan. Since God so graciously removed my thymoma from the mix, we are back to dealing with the breast cancer only. Thank You Lord. I saw my oncologist yesterday and below is the plan we have:

Monday I will go in for a consultation for radiation on my hip (which just seems to be getting worse) and hopefully my treatments will start then...if not, then Tuesday. I will go in every day for about 10 minutes and get radiation on the cancer in my hip bone. The treatment plan is for 10 treatments, so two weeks.

Then once I am healed from my thymoma surgery I will begin chemotherapy. The first treatment is scheduled for October 2. I will have one treatment every three weeks for 6 treatments (or 18 weeks). Then we will run tests to evaluate the success level of the chemotherapy. I admit I am really not looking forward to the chemo but I am so grateful to have a plan and to begin to move forward on my journey to beat this cancer.

I am so grateful to God for a wonderful network of loved ones and friends who have supported and ministered to me over the last months. I count you all among them. I praise God for each one of you.

A Plan for Battle
GG40, very glad for the good news earlier about the thymoma removal and now the concrete plan for beating the beast.

I completed 6 rounds of chemo over 18 weeks, TAC. It is do-able. Some of us actually come to appreciate the low-maintenance hairstyle:-) Any questions or concerns or just to vent? Someone is always here, and usually many, to support and inform you throughout the journey. You'll find lots of useful tips and encouragement.

Again, you have my admiration for your unwavering spirit and continued best wishes. Thank you for updating us!