New here Stage 2 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma

Hello it is terrifying to hear that cancer is inside your body! I hope and pray that the stress and fear lessens as you learn more and start treatment. All the best wishes to you.

I hear you! I have heard my share of “You’ll be fine!”, as well as “Oh my god, my aunt had that and she died!”.

I was diagnosed in April. I had my bilateral modified mastectomies with breast lift, (Yay! Free boob job!), and I am now in my second week of radiation.

All I can say is, take EVERYTHING you hear as if it comes from a good place, because it almost always does. People don’t know what to say and are acting out their own fears. If you are ok, then they will be too. You are already heading in the right direction by reaching out for support!

Take time to breathe. Study up on what you have. Get your head around the worst case scenarios and then pray for the best. Ask questions, demand answers and get a consensus of opinion before treatment if you dont live in a place that offers a Team Approach to treatment as I am lucky enough to. It is hard. It is scary. It is overwhelming. You will learn so much about yourself, your strength and the people around you. Cancer is a beast, but it can be lived with and often beaten.

Good luck to you! You can do this! One step at a time. There are a ton of us out here if you need us!

MK

Oh, do I hear you! I have stage 1 IDC and DCIS, and I feel like I shouldn't say I am terrified because my diagnosis is so "good." NO! It is CANCER, and I don't know what else it will do in my body. I am frightened about the surgery -- I walk with a rollator and use a cane in my right hand. The lumpectomy and sentinal node biopsy will be in the right breast. I will be putting much of my body weight on that arm every time I have to go to the bathroom or go to get a drink in the kitchen or just try to sleep. I have slept on my right side due to arthritis in the left knee for a good 10 years. I am going to do my best to sleep on my back, but what about getting out of bed? I have no idea how I am going to manage these simple tasks. I got myself a grabber to help with bending over (I'm also overweight and my boob gets squished against my stomach bending down). Hubs will be putting on socks and shoes for awhile. I feel like I am whining but these are real fears. Then I start thinking, "This is just the START of the cancer journey. I'll likely get chemo, and definitely will get radiation and aromatase inhibitors for 5+ years. This is going to be a long haul." The worst part is that due to my arthritis I have been essentially disabled for nearly 10 years, and over that time most of my friends have drifted away. I have an extremely limited support system in terms of helping with physical things -- driving me places, helping do laundry, that sort of thing. I HATE that all of this is falling on my husband. I did a post asking for ideas for how to show appreciation and give support to him, and I will see what people suggest.

I wish you all the best in your cancer battle, and I'll pray for you. You are not alone.❤️

To the original post….how are you hanging in there?? I’m 1 week post op stage 2 same as yourself, 15 lymph nodes removed, 1 affected.

Its totally overwhelming!! The. They say these are the options what would you like to do… um, is there a “live” box to check with the treatments! Totally get your fears, I was the same way! You become a self advocate and you absolutely have to!! Break this down into project pieces and tackle one at a a time!

keep us posted ❤️

I was always told to ignore negative statistics. Remember, they are predictions for a GROUP, not for you as an individual. I have cancer in both sides of my family, and both parents beat the "odds" and lived way beyond what the statistics said. My dad in particular had pancreatic cancer in around 1978. At that time it had a 1 year survival rate of 2%. He lived until 2009. My mom had esophogeal (?sp) cancer -- 5% 5 year survival rate at the time. She lived another 10 years. Nobody knows your particular cancer stats. You are unique and may live another 40 years like my dad did. Or more!

However, if you make the personal decision that you don't want to spend time going through what you have found out is nasty treatment for what you feel are too poor odds, the choice is yours. No one should badger you for your decision. I do recommend talking to people in similar situations, though. Nothing helps like sharing common experience.

I'm praying for you! 🤗❤️🙏

Thanks for your prayers !!!! Arlene