Another newbie...introducing myself

Welcome to the club...
...that nobody joins by choice. My beloved wife Moopy was diagnosed in November 2008 with what turned out to be stage 3a BC. We were relieved to hear that it was treatable, and terrified about everything else that could be in store for us. This board - that is, the wonderful people who post here - was a Godsend to Moopy and me. If you're looking for compassionate advice based upon personal experience, this is definitely the place to be.

Please come back often. Ask questions. Tell your story. Vent. Shoot the breeze. Whatever you want, you will find it here.

Good luck and God Bless,
Joe

jarsam said:

Thanks
Just wanted to thank you for the nice welcomes.

Hi Jarsam!
Glad your surgery is over. They will recommend chemo for sure if it is found in a lymph node. They want to be sure that if a cancer cell escaped the breast it is destroyed. Chemo has a great shot at doing that because it destroys the fast growing cells. Radiation handles any cells that are missed in the breast during surgery. So, it is a local treatment.

I would want to know the type of breast cancer (estrogen receptive, progesterone receptive, HR2 receptive or triple negative). I would ask your oncologist to check your Vitamin D3 levels as low levels are common in women diagnosed with breast cancer. I would ask about the types of chemo and the length of chemo treatment. They will tell you about potential side effects. I would ask about the sequence of treatment. Usually it is chemo then radiation. I would ask whether or not you will be given anything after radiation. Many of us are on tamoxifen, arimidex, etc. for 5 years. That will depend on the type of BC you have but worth asking.

Bring someone with you to have a second set of ears. Ask the oncologist what you should avoid during your treatments.

Please keep us posted on your progress. You will do fine.

Roseann

Lynda53 said:

jarsam,michelle> sorry you are going thru this
You are onto a great site! friendly, informative and most supportive.

I too am in treatments (IBC) the chemo was scarey but far easier then I had thought.My mastectomy will likely be in the new year, followed by radiation. Reconstruction will have to be later if it all.
I suggest you take someone w/you to the onco, or a pad of paper. The ACS and many other sites have lists of questions to ask.
If you need help making a list, repost the question for some.
The information can be overwhelming and quick, but with paper you wont forget to ask, and you will be able to check the responses later.
Be careful what you read on the internet, a great deal is wrong, and not pertaining to you.
Best wishes and Peace

Welcome, Michelle. Glad that
Welcome, Michelle. Glad that your surgery is already over. I was dxed in Sept. with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, 3 tumors plus lymph node involvement. On Femara to reduce tumors with Masectomy scheduled in Feb. Then I will have radiation and possibly chemo based on path. report. So you're already ahead of me and soon you'll be an expert and us newbies will be asking you about your experience. Sorry I can't help you but others have and will. Just wanted to wish you the best and pray for a good recovery from all this. Be sure and take real good care of yourself.

Christmas Girl said:

Warm welcome, Michele
Many here - like I - will say that this is the very best online support group. Glad to have you amongst us, while sorry for the reason.

Your surgeries were a very big first step. Good to have them behind you now. Final post-surgery pathology results will definitively determine your next steps.

Whatever they may be, we'll be here for you - all along the way.

Hi and Welcome Michele! You
Hi and Welcome Michele! You have found a great group of supporters in these bc survivors here. Good luck to you!

Debby

taleena said:

Michele... I'm so sorry to
Michele... I'm so sorry to hear the reason you had to find us, but so glad that you did...You will find an amazing group of genuine individuals here.. for support, information, friendship...and did I say support??

It's normal to be scared, allow yourself your feelings... and hang in there.. we are all here for eachother... and that means you too... all the way.

Hugs,

~T

Welcome to a great site
Welcome to a great site Michele with lots of bc survivors support and encouragement.

HUGS

jarsam said:

Thanks again
Wow thanks again everyone! I should know tomorrow if the lump in my other breast is cancer or not. I sure hope not, but I will let you all know as you all seem to cheer each other up here. I am really trying to be strong so my kids don't worry so much. I am not hiding it from them but it helps me to show them that I can handle this. They are 18 and 15. My sister just had her last radiation (no chemo needed)treatment a couple of weeks ago. Ironic that we had to do this together. Thanks for the advise about questions to ask when I go to the Onco next Monday.
I wish you all luck and good health!
Thanks again for your warm welcomes.
Michele

More advice
I would also add to make sure and take someone with you as you might not hear everything said, and, even take a tape recorder if you think you may need it. My husband and I get home from appointments and neither of us can remember everything. Good luck!

Debby

sausageroll said:

Welcome.
Welcome jarsam. We do all have different stories, but there will always be someone on here who understands what you are going through and we are always around to lend a shoulder. If you trust your doctors, then believe what they tell you...but if you have any hesitation then get a second opinion. Let us know how it goes. take care.

Hi Jarsam!
Hi Jarsam! I just wanted to welcome you to this great site too. We are open 24/7, so, if you need help, someone is always here.

♠♣ Susie ♠♣

tasha_111 said:

Michele
Welcome, sorry you had to find us but so glad you did..... You did better than I did, I didn't find this site until I was through all treatments........It still helped, but I sure wish I had stumbled across it earlier. Good luck and healing thoughts to you Hun.... Jxxxxxxxx

Welcome Michele. I am
Welcome Michele. I am sending you positive thoughts! This site is a godsend for most of us as you will find.

KYLEZ ♥

jarsam said:

Thanks again
Wow thanks again everyone! I should know tomorrow if the lump in my other breast is cancer or not. I sure hope not, but I will let you all know as you all seem to cheer each other up here. I am really trying to be strong so my kids don't worry so much. I am not hiding it from them but it helps me to show them that I can handle this. They are 18 and 15. My sister just had her last radiation (no chemo needed)treatment a couple of weeks ago. Ironic that we had to do this together. Thanks for the advise about questions to ask when I go to the Onco next Monday.
I wish you all luck and good health!
Thanks again for your warm welcomes.
Michele

Hi Michele. I hope you get
Hi Michele. I hope you get the news that the bc is not in your other breast. Wishing your sister good luck too!

♠♣ Susie ♠♣