Breast Cancer

Sorry to hear about your mom but I know she is glad you are arouund to comfort her! Its hard the "not Knowing" but I always try to Not claim anything until Im told otherwise! I know its hard but I find worring does not help, we all do it but I have learned to focus on positive things and not stress on things I cant control. Its a hard road!

tell your mom prayer and blessing to her with the scans. I have a lot of lymph nodes removed too over a year ago that were positive..did scans and testing all were good.

Hugs  

Beepositive!

roamingasia said:

Hi. I've recently been diagnosed with Stage 0, DCIS Breast Cancer. While it is an early stage, I am still scared and really confused as to how I am to proceed. I have scheduled a Lumpectomy for 9/11 (I just want it out!).  I understand that I need to wait on the Pathology Report before a confirmed Treatment Plan will begin. After endless reading, I am more confused as ever and even more nervous and scared. I just can't grasp on to the idea that I need Radiation and Meds afterwards... the same as someone with Stage I, II, III, IV. Has anyone decided NOT to have Radiation Treatment afterwards? Or NOT to take the Meds afterwards? When I first had a discussion with my Breast Surgeon, I was overwhelmed and didn't really know what to ask, with the exception of a few obvious concerns that most have. Having said that, now, after reading I now know what the heck she was talking about and now I have more question. So I will schedule another consultation to discuss. However, in my readings, I have found info such as (1) Accelerated Radiation Treatment, which is just as effective and less side effects and (2) Arimidex - an aromatase inhibitors - that works by slashing the body's production of estrogen; and it has considerably less side effects. Can anyone give me any advice? Btw, I am 57, so seriously thinking about the quality of my years ahead... Thank you!

 

First of all, take a deep breath and relax.  Getting a diagnosis of any cancer, no matter the stage, is shocking.  The best advice that I can give is to continue to discuss YOUR diagnosis with your team.  You will have tests that will enable them to create the best plan for you.

Anyone on this wonderful site would tell you that each of our cases is different.  While there is a wealth of information on the internet, and I agree that I became much better informed, until you reach each step of your treatment, you will not know what is exactly next.

Once your tumor is removed in September it will be tested.  If you had a biopsy already, the results give your surgeon some guidance, but the testing of the tumor when removed will determine what treatment may be suggested.

waiting for results and treatment is very difficult.  Once you have the plan for your surgery set, enjoy the rest of August!  Like you, I thought I had my entire treatment plan decided on the Internet 2 days after getting my results. . . Needless to say, some treatments were necessary and others were not.

i hope that your team brings you trust and comfort.  Come here if you have questions as you progress, but for now, concentrate on understanding your DCIS diagnosis and what to expect from your surgery, and leave the treatment plan for later.

Accelerated Radiation is not for everyone - I could not benefit from it.  Aromatase inhibitors are used post treatment for hormonal receptor tumors.  Mine was estrogen positive, so I was placed on an AI for 5 to 10 years to prevent a recurrence.

peace and prayers,

Kathy

Prayers and hugs to all with your testing etc.   

beepositive

Jdasilva said:

I was recently diagnosed with stage 1 triple negative breast cancer. As I write that it doesn’t seem real. As of now I have a lumpectomy scheduled in 2 weeks. But I’m still waiting I’m the genetic tests to come back to see if I have brca1 and/or 2. The waiting part is really hard! Like everyone I’m reading as much as I can about my diagnosis. I’m trying to stay positive and hope for the best!

Anyone else have triple negative?

Jdasliva,

my sister was diagnosed with Stage 1b, 7mm tumor. she had lumpectomy. they suggested chemo (any kind-CMF, TC or ACT) and radiation. What did your doctors suggest? She has not decided yet what to do.

Why did they do a lymph resection in her left arm?  I do not understand? Did she have cancer on both breasts? 

roamingasia said:

Hi. I've recently been diagnosed with Stage 0, DCIS Breast Cancer. While it is an early stage, I am still scared and really confused as to how I am to proceed. I have scheduled a Lumpectomy for 9/11 (I just want it out!).  I understand that I need to wait on the Pathology Report before a confirmed Treatment Plan will begin. After endless reading, I am more confused as ever and even more nervous and scared. I just can't grasp on to the idea that I need Radiation and Meds afterwards... the same as someone with Stage I, II, III, IV. Has anyone decided NOT to have Radiation Treatment afterwards? Or NOT to take the Meds afterwards? When I first had a discussion with my Breast Surgeon, I was overwhelmed and didn't really know what to ask, with the exception of a few obvious concerns that most have. Having said that, now, after reading I now know what the heck she was talking about and now I have more question. So I will schedule another consultation to discuss. However, in my readings, I have found info such as (1) Accelerated Radiation Treatment, which is just as effective and less side effects and (2) Arimidex - an aromatase inhibitors - that works by slashing the body's production of estrogen; and it has considerably less side effects. Can anyone give me any advice? Btw, I am 57, so seriously thinking about the quality of my years ahead... Thank you!

 

Hi;  I hope you are doin* well roamingasia. I’m just getting a diagnosis and was wondering if you could assist me in the most important questions to ask. I have a 6 mm mass and the radiologist said it would most likely return as cancer. I’m just getting started on this journey and I’m feeling overwhelmed. 

roamingasia said:

Hi. I've recently been diagnosed with Stage 0, DCIS Breast Cancer. While it is an early stage, I am still scared and really confused as to how I am to proceed. I have scheduled a Lumpectomy for 9/11 (I just want it out!).  I understand that I need to wait on the Pathology Report before a confirmed Treatment Plan will begin. After endless reading, I am more confused as ever and even more nervous and scared. I just can't grasp on to the idea that I need Radiation and Meds afterwards... the same as someone with Stage I, II, III, IV. Has anyone decided NOT to have Radiation Treatment afterwards? Or NOT to take the Meds afterwards? When I first had a discussion with my Breast Surgeon, I was overwhelmed and didn't really know what to ask, with the exception of a few obvious concerns that most have. Having said that, now, after reading I now know what the heck she was talking about and now I have more question. So I will schedule another consultation to discuss. However, in my readings, I have found info such as (1) Accelerated Radiation Treatment, which is just as effective and less side effects and (2) Arimidex - an aromatase inhibitors - that works by slashing the body's production of estrogen; and it has considerably less side effects. Can anyone give me any advice? Btw, I am 57, so seriously thinking about the quality of my years ahead... Thank you!

 

Hi,

Given the date on your post, this may not help you. I had my radiation treatments in 1996 - 38 treatments. I am told the technology is a lot better not and they have better treatments. If I had known then, what I know now, I may have opted out. But radiation could have saved my life. Not sure as I had a re-occurence of cancer in the same breast 5 years later. I opted out of chemotherapy after 1 injection. 

For me, what I did was read all of the information. In the mid 90's and 5 years later in 2001 with the reoccurence, there was no Google. I went to the library and studied articles in the archives. I had Stage 1 cancer and decided not to do both radiation and chemo and I am glad I didn't do chemo (at least for me). I had small children and if I had a higher stage of cancer, I may have done both.

But what I did was research and then talk with family members, and then I prayed. That is how I came up with my answer(s). Obviously I am still alive today - after 17 & 22 years of survival. The thing about breast cancer, or any cancer diagnosis for that matter, is the fear one feels when the diagnosis is still given. And most of us don't know much about cancer. Even though my father died of lung cancer in the late 80's, I didn't even know what chemo was.

I said all of this to tell you that information, support and prayer is what got me through. And after years of fearing I would get cancer again (after the 2nd time), I finally realized I was wasting the gift of life that I was given. We are not promised a long life. It is what we do with the life we are given that matters.

Hope this helps.

Hello this is my first chat.  I recently had a lumpectomy going on 5 weeks now.  The surgery itself went better than I had expected, pain and swelling tolerable.  However, 2 weeks after I started having pain on my side in ribs.  Is this normal because it seems to be getting worse.  Has this happened to anyone?  Carol