Understand what is happening

doglady
doglady Member Posts: 2
in Breast Cancer #1
I was diagnosed with 2 types of cancer after what we supposed to be surgery to remove 3 interductal papillomas. they are gone and cancer (Infiltrating ductal carcinoma and DCIS seems to have arrived. I feel like I am lost in a field of white nose and can't seem to understand it all. I have a partial mastectomy and sentinel node biopsy on the 29th and we go back on the 4th to learn whats to follow.

Could use someone who is going through breast cancer to talk with.


doglady

Comments

  • sweetvickid
    sweetvickid Member Posts: 459 Member
    #2
    Wow! That must have hit you
    Wow! That must have hit you like a ton of bricks. YOu can ask anything here on the board and get answers. If you want to talk you can try the chat board or give me a call. My number is 417.742.4542
  • Frankie Shannon
    Frankie Shannon Member Posts: 457
    #3
    I'm sorry to hear all your
    I'm sorry to hear all your news but welcome i don't understand what you mean by a partial mastectomy.I had a bilateral mastectomy and sentinel node biopsy on both sides.The biopsy was negative it had not traveled.It's alot to take in at first.Do you have some one to go with you on your DR. appointments it helps to have some one with you to take every thing in.There's always some one to talk to on here.Strength,courage and love.Frankie
  • laughs_a_lot
    laughs_a_lot Member Posts: 1,368 Member
    #4
    Welcome
    Welcome!! What a way to get initiated into this group. Sounds like you being baptized with fire. You will however be able to make sense of all of this. More importantly you will survive and perhaps even thrive one day.

    So is a partial masectomy the same as a lumpectomy? I am thinking that this is the case. Of course the less nodes involved the better for you. I got a lot of education about breast cancer when I first arrived on this site by going to the Cancer information part of this website and putting in breast cancer. What I liked about the videos is that if I missed a part of what was said I could just replay it. It helped me understand what was being told to me by the doctors.

    I also took my laptop in when I went to each doctor's office with a list of questions. So I typed the answer in right behind the question. That way if I forgot what was said I could go back to it and see what the doctor said. I typed in key phrases as he answered the questions and then cleaned up the typing by making whole sentences when I got home. My surgeon said it was the first time he had had anyone do this. I told him it was my way of remembering really important information.
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #5
    Frankie Shannon said:

    I'm sorry to hear all your
    I'm sorry to hear all your news but welcome i don't understand what you mean by a partial mastectomy.I had a bilateral mastectomy and sentinel node biopsy on both sides.The biopsy was negative it had not traveled.It's alot to take in at first.Do you have some one to go with you on your DR. appointments it helps to have some one with you to take every thing in.There's always some one to talk to on here.Strength,courage and love.Frankie

    I am very sorry to read
    I am very sorry to read this. Please know that you are surrounded with all of the pink sisters on this board now. Keep posting to let us know how you are doing.


    Hugs, Lex
  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    #6
    laughs_a_lot said:

    Welcome
    Welcome!! What a way to get initiated into this group. Sounds like you being baptized with fire. You will however be able to make sense of all of this. More importantly you will survive and perhaps even thrive one day.

    So is a partial masectomy the same as a lumpectomy? I am thinking that this is the case. Of course the less nodes involved the better for you. I got a lot of education about breast cancer when I first arrived on this site by going to the Cancer information part of this website and putting in breast cancer. What I liked about the videos is that if I missed a part of what was said I could just replay it. It helped me understand what was being told to me by the doctors.

    I also took my laptop in when I went to each doctor's office with a list of questions. So I typed the answer in right behind the question. That way if I forgot what was said I could go back to it and see what the doctor said. I typed in key phrases as he answered the questions and then cleaned up the typing by making whole sentences when I got home. My surgeon said it was the first time he had had anyone do this. I told him it was my way of remembering really important information.

    Hope you're doing well
    I had pretty much the same dx except I knew I had breast cancer before surgery. I also had a partial mastectomy and sentinel node biopsy along with oncoplasty. This, too, was planned before surgery and did a good job of reducing the size of the breast that was larger than the other. It was in hindsight a very good plan because the margins around the tumor were not clear and the big chunk of tissue removed avoided a second breast surgery to get clear margins.

    So, what do you want to know? My treatments have been over for 1 year now. I had partial mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation for Stage 1, Gr 2, ER/PR+, HER-2 negative breast cancer. I also had DCIS but I don't think of it as 2 cancers because (I think) it began as DCIS so there were remaining cancer cells within the duct as well as outside. Hmmm, think I'll ask about that at my next visit.

    You've come to the right place to ask questions. There's always someone here who has experienced what you'll experience. Welcome.
    Suzanne
  • RE
    RE Member Posts: 4,591 Member
    #7
    Hugs
    I am truly sorry you have cause to be here but since you do I am glad you found this board. Here you can vent, ask any questions, get support from those who have been down a similar road. We are here for you, please be sure to come back and let us know how you are doing!

    I would highly suggest you get a note pad and start writing down all your questions because as you said there is a lot of white noise going on right now. Chances are you will not recall all the questions that come to mind when you finally get to see the doctor/surgeon/oncologist. Every time something comes to mind write it down and take it with you to your appointment. Be sure to ask your doctors any concerns that you have and if you do not understand their reply ask them to explain it to you again. It is also helpful to bring a loved one with you to your appointment as you may not hear all that is said due to the stress of the situation. Keep that notepad handy throughout your treatment.

    Hugs,

    RE
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #8
    laughs_a_lot said:

    Welcome
    Welcome!! What a way to get initiated into this group. Sounds like you being baptized with fire. You will however be able to make sense of all of this. More importantly you will survive and perhaps even thrive one day.

    So is a partial masectomy the same as a lumpectomy? I am thinking that this is the case. Of course the less nodes involved the better for you. I got a lot of education about breast cancer when I first arrived on this site by going to the Cancer information part of this website and putting in breast cancer. What I liked about the videos is that if I missed a part of what was said I could just replay it. It helped me understand what was being told to me by the doctors.

    I also took my laptop in when I went to each doctor's office with a list of questions. So I typed the answer in right behind the question. That way if I forgot what was said I could go back to it and see what the doctor said. I typed in key phrases as he answered the questions and then cleaned up the typing by making whole sentences when I got home. My surgeon said it was the first time he had had anyone do this. I told him it was my way of remembering really important information.

    We are here for you, so,
    We are here for you, so, don't ever forget that! Always take someone with you to your appointments. My hubby and even family and friends went with me. My mind just couldn't focus and maintain all that was being said.


    Wishing you good luck and sending hugs,


    Sue :)

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