nopeaq
Junior Member
Posts: 89
Jun 27, 2014 12:15:06 GMT
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Post by nopeaq on Oct 10, 2016 10:58:29 GMT
UPDATE IN THREAD AND AT BOTTOM OF THIS POST
Mammogram then biopsy and two days later (Friday) I got the news that it is cancer. This was just a routine mamogram. No lump or any indication of a problem.
I made it calmly through the weekend and have my first appointment this morning. It's with a general surgeon. They told me that's the first step for getting more information. I'm anxious about not knowing...anything.
Do people usually see a general surgeon first? What will her recommendation be? Why does she look to be only 12 years old? (Hospital website photo) What's next? How will my job be affected? SO. MANY. QUESTIONS.
I've been searching and reading threads here for others' experience. I like having facts, opinions, data.
I haven't told my two teenage kids yet. Telling them tonight. And dreading it.
Thanks for reading. I just wanted to say it somewhere.
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UPDATE 10/11
Oh my gosh. Peas! Thank you so much for all the support, kind words, advice, and shared experience.
My appointment yesterday went really well. I feel a deep sense of relief. Stage 1A. At this point, the plan is a lumpectomy followed by radiation with the understanding that this may change if anything new is learned. I have an MRI scheduled. My current hope is that no unknown bad stuff shows up on there!
My dh is my loving and scared other "set of ears" and I have told him that this level of nice he has ramped up to is going to wear him out and make him resent me. (Not that he isn't usually nice but seriously -- I keep teasing him that he can't maintain.) He is taking the news hard.
Our kids did well yesterday. DD said, "Mom, I didn't want to say anything but I already figured you had breast cancer because of that biopsy." DS was shaken but reassured when I told him that it was the best news I could be telling him given the situation.
I told all of my immediate family yesterday and will let my workmates know today. For me, it's just easier to have it out there. Plus, who knows? Maybe someone else will do something to take care of themselves as a result. I am a doctor-reticent person who is healthy overall and am really glad that I had a mammogram like I was "supposed to .
Thank you so much for all of these posts. I can't explain how touching it is that so many of you reached out to a stranger with reassurance and support.
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Post by gar on Oct 10, 2016 11:06:01 GMT
Oh no! Hugs to you!! That's scary but thank goodness you went and found out! I'm sure there are a few frightening days to come but I wish you all the very best for a full recovery. I'm sure you'll get lots of great advice here. ETA - on a light note briefly...I love your pea name, when I said it out loud
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J u l e e
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,531
Location: Cincinnati
Jun 28, 2014 2:50:47 GMT
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Post by J u l e e on Oct 10, 2016 11:22:46 GMT
That had to be a huge shock after a routine exam. So glad you went! I don't have any facts or opinions for you. Just a big hug and best wishes.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Oct 10, 2016 11:23:08 GMT
(((hugs)))
I'm sorry you are facing this.
Like the previous poster said, thank goodness you did find out. Now you have a plan. You'll go to the GP. They'll refer you to a specialist.
Take a notebook and an empty folder. Take notes. And have them print out all the information they can. All the test results, etc. All their recommendations.
(()hugs))) again.
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MDscrapaholic
Drama Llama
Refupea #146
Posts: 6,343
Location: Down by the bay....
Jun 25, 2014 20:49:07 GMT
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Post by MDscrapaholic on Oct 10, 2016 11:24:10 GMT
I'm so sorry this has happened to you. ((HUGS))
When they found the mass on my DH's pancreas, we went directly to a surgeon. Proceeded to outline a course of action to remove the mass. Saw an oncologist after the surgery (whipple) and then planned the course of action based on the results of the tests on the tumor.
I hope you have a full recovery and that you caught it early.
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Post by scrappintoee on Oct 10, 2016 11:27:15 GMT
Lots of ((( hugs )))) !!!!
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nopeaq
Junior Member
Posts: 89
Jun 27, 2014 12:15:06 GMT
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Post by nopeaq on Oct 10, 2016 11:31:42 GMT
Thank you for the kind words of support. They are appreciated!
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Oct 10, 2016 11:41:29 GMT
I'm sorry you were blindsided by this after your first mammogram, but thank goodness it was discovered. I wish you well as you get further information and a treatment plan.
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Post by miominmio on Oct 10, 2016 11:42:34 GMT
No advice, but I'm sending lots of hugs your way.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 2, 2024 6:24:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2016 11:43:31 GMT
I'm sorry that you're faced with this just sending big (((hugs))) I have no advice but in a way it's a good thing that it was found on a routine mammo, that way there's hope that they have got it very early. Positive vibes on their way to you, take care.
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anniebygaslight
Drama Llama
I'd love a cup of tea. #1966
Posts: 7,394
Location: Third Rock from the sun.
Jun 28, 2014 14:08:19 GMT
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Post by anniebygaslight on Oct 10, 2016 11:44:55 GMT
Sending best wishes x
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scrappinmama
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,864
Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Oct 10, 2016 12:05:08 GMT
I'm so sorry to hear this. It's good that they caught it. Now your medical team can figure out a game plan. Praying that all goes well with treatment.
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Post by utpea on Oct 10, 2016 12:07:15 GMT
Mammogram then biopsy and two days later (Friday) I got the news that it is cancer. This was just a routine mamogram. No lump or any indication of a problem. I made it calmly through the weekend and have my first appointment this morning. It's with a general surgeon. They told me that's the first step for getting more information. I'm anxious about not knowing...anything. Do people usually see a general surgeon first? What will her recommendation be? Why does she look to be only 12 years old? (Hospital website photo) What's next? How will my job be affected? SO. MANY. QUESTIONS. I've been searching and reading threads here for others' experience. I like having facts, opinions, data. I haven't told my two teenage kids yet. Telling them tonight. And dreading it. Thanks for reading. I just wanted to say it somewhere. I went through the steps I was told (see the surgeon, the oncologist, etc...), but I also went to two other doctors and got their opinions. Once I had the information compiled, I made the decision about my treatment. Do not go online and start sifting randomly through the Internet (like I did). As my oncologist said, the info is about everyone in general and no one in particular. I really scared myself by looking up everything. Anybody can put info on the Internet and it may or may not be true. Just be careful. I know you must be frightened out of your wits, but just take each day at a time. They have made (and continue to make) so much progress in the treatment of breast cancer. You can do this. Feel free to pm me anytime. :hugs:
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Post by Zee on Oct 10, 2016 12:09:12 GMT
There's been a number of us lately I'm so sorry to hear it. I just got diagnosed myself a couple weeks ago. You will see a general surgeon first, yes that's normal. The surgeon will help you pull together a team including a plastic surgeon for reconstruction, possible genetic testing, and an oncologist to recommend how to treat the cancer. Does your hospital have a breast health or cancer navigator? Mine does, and she's been just wonderful. She schedules all my appts and answers any questions or finds the answers if she doesn't know right away. The surgeon might want you to have an MRI to see if there is lymph node involvement. I had that, and genetic testing (I'll get the results later today, takes 2-3 weeks usually). I've met with my plastic surgeon and oncologist and will meet with my surgeon today to finalize plans for surgery. I'm having a double mastectomy and a port implanted with tissue expanders in the breasts, then will get to heal for about 4 weeks before starting chemo. Eventually the tissue expanders will be replaced with gel implants. That's the last step, for me. Actually the very last step is nipple reconstruction but I might just get tattoos on my breasts. I've been looking at mastectomy tattoos online and I have some unique ideas I'm considering. Anyway, take some time to cry but try not to let fear take over. You have a lot coming at you and it feels overwhelming at first. Then it gets easier to just sort of take one day at a time (well, for me, anyway). Please feel free to PM me if you wish. Sending many blessings your way for a full recovery! As to your kids, it can be hard for them to process. My DD is 22 and she cried and cried. DS 18 was sympathetic but showed little emotion. But each was actually similarly worried, DS just couldn't deal at first so he shut down a bit. They may take a while to come around, or might be great immediately. Now we're all making jokes about it, which I welcome.
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Post by Zee on Oct 10, 2016 12:18:27 GMT
Also want to agree with utpea don't Google to try to figure out what will happen, because everyone's situation is different. I went from "lumpectomy with radiation" to "mastectomy" to "mastectomy with immediate chemo, maybe radiation" to "mastectomy, but don't need immediate chemo and probably no radiation" in a couple weeks' span. Things may change with each phase of testing or expert you see. That's another reason I try to just take one day at a time. Each day seems to bring me some new information. Keep a notebook and a calendar handy at all times, you never know when someone's going to call with something new.
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Post by monklady123 on Oct 10, 2016 12:21:01 GMT
Almost 17 years cancer-free now. Mine also was found from a routine mammogram. Personally I would go to a breast surgeon, not just a general surgeon. Unless that general surgeon has a lot of experience in breast cancer surgery. That's just my opinion though. One day at a time, the worst part is WAITING. omg I remember feeling like the medical people had said "hurry up and wait" -- they wanted me to come back for a second mammogram very quickly and then it felt like forever before we started any treatment. I had surgery (lumpectomy), then chemo, then radiation. My oncologist said that for my type and staging she wouldn't always recommend chemo, but since my kids were so young she did. It wasn't a piece of cake, but really in the end it wasn't awful. They have great drugs nowadays (and probably even better ones in the past 17 years!) for nausea and when it's done you know you've done everything you could. Even if you don't have chemo you'll probably have to have radiation. That's not bad, except it's a pain in the neck to go there every day. It only takes a few minutes though and I know my radiation place was open early in the morning and then in the evening to accommodate those who were working. The worst part of radiation treatment for me was that my center was located near a Container Store. sigh... Hopefully you'll be able to meet with all the doctors soon and get things rolling! Oh, and the reason the doctor looks 12 is because they're all babies. That's how I know I'm getting old -- when the doctors and teachers and others like that look like they could be my kids! eta: Oh yes, keep a notebook. (I saw Z*G mentioned it). Take it with you and write EVERYTHING down. Everything. You never know what bit of info you'll need down the road and you might not remember well anyway. Funny story about my notebook -- I went through the Georgetown Hospital cancer center which is in DC. But I live in Virginia and luckily for me there was a Georgetown satellite chemo center right near me. My oncologist was in DC, and I had gone to see a radiation oncologist once there. I had written her name and phone number down at the time we saw her. So one day I was sitting in the chemo center hooked up to IVs and just randomly listening to the nurses talk. They were complaining about Georgetown's phone system -- they were trying to get in touch with Dr. Radiation Oncologist and couldn't get through because the numbers they had were old. lol. So I spoke up and said "aha, I have it right here." Pulled out my handy notebook, turned to the radiation oncologist page and there was all her info.
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melissa
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,912
Jun 25, 2014 20:45:00 GMT
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Post by melissa on Oct 10, 2016 12:22:22 GMT
Yes, you start with a surgeon who may actually be a breast surgeon. Does her bio indicate that? It is not a true specialty, but many places have surgeons who decide to only do breast surgery.
Breastcancer.org is a reliable site with an active message board that offers support.
We have many survivors here and, it seems, many newly diagnosed lately. I am 10 years out. Once you get through these initial stages, it gets easier. You will have a plan and will understand what is ahead. It is all doable.
A diagnosis from a routine mammogram is likely to be an early stage and more likely to be a small tumor. I was also diagnosed from a routine mammo, long ago in 2006.
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Post by peasapie on Oct 10, 2016 12:24:37 GMT
How terribly shocking. Thank God you had the mammogram, and wishing you the very best as you sort through. You will receive very good advice here, and lots of support from all of us.
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Post by Zee on Oct 10, 2016 12:26:00 GMT
Excellent point about the surgeon having lots of breast experience, didn't think of that because I was automatically referred by my GP to a surgeon with lots of breast experience though he's not called a "breast surgeon".
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Post by librarylady on Oct 10, 2016 12:29:05 GMT
I'm sorry to hear this.
I send best wishes.
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anniebeth24
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,544
Jun 26, 2014 14:12:17 GMT
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Post by anniebeth24 on Oct 10, 2016 12:33:30 GMT
Sending hugs.
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Post by quinlove on Oct 10, 2016 12:36:44 GMT
((( hugs ))) I hope that you find some comfort in all the love and support you will receive from the peas.
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Post by Marina on Oct 10, 2016 12:40:54 GMT
So sorry you have to go through this! Hugs to you! Take it moment by moment. Write all your questions down and take someone with you to your appointment as you may not hear everything.
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huneyb
Shy Member
Posts: 41
Jun 29, 2014 18:00:53 GMT
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Post by huneyb on Oct 10, 2016 12:46:12 GMT
I totally agree with the breast surgeon only! You do not want to go to a general surgeon who is doing a hernia repair, gall bladder today and your breast tomorrow. I was diagnosed 8 years ago 9-11with a routine mammogram. I had bilateral breast cancers. Big shock! These ladies have had good advice. Take a deep breath and tackle it head on. Make a plan. Do your research. Breastcancer.org was a huge help. I decided to go to Moffitt Cancer Center. Best decision we made. Best breast surgeon and plastic surgeon that I could have hoped for. My breast surgeon told me "you are a survivor the minute you are diagnosed because you didn't die from the shock". It's not easy but most certainly doable. I wish you all the best!
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Post by tiffanyr on Oct 10, 2016 12:58:11 GMT
nopeaqSo sorry you have joined the club! I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in April. You will learn so many new words and terms they will be swimming in your head with no organization!! It is mind boggling! My suggestion would be to take someone with you so that you can listen and they can take notes. All cancers are different and require different protocols. Because mine was advanced and the tumor was quite large I was referred to my medical oncologist first. I had chemo first (neoadjuvant), then surgery (double mastectomy)and am currently waiting to be released from my surgeon to begin radiation. The odds are you caught yours early...not knowing is the worst part! Once my oncologist gave me the plan I was much more calm about the entire situation! We have 3 teenagers and sitting them down to tell them was one of the hardest parts but they took it better than we expected. We just told them that for the next year life was going to be different and probably going to suck (we had to cancel a vacation) but at the end of it all we would come out of it a stronger family. We made sure to tell them to come to us if they had any questions or fears and we would answer honestly and if we didn't know the answer we would find the answer. Everyone's experience is different but my experience with chemo and surgery has been positive (haven't started radiation so the jury is still out). I had 6 rounds of chemo (once every 3 weeks). I had visions of being laid out on the bathroom floor with my head in the toilet but that never happened! I was in the bathroom but diarrhea was my enemy! My surgery went very well and recovery went much smoother than I expected. Once you get your plan of action feel free to PM me and we can compare notes!! Good Luck to you and your family as you start this journey! I will keep you in my prayers!
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Post by genny on Oct 10, 2016 13:00:22 GMT
Oh no! I'm so sorry you got this news, how terrifying for you! Hopefully you caught it early.
Having not experienced this I don't have any answers, but I would suggest taking someone with you to your appointments - DH, a sister, your mom a friend. Not just for moral support, but someone who can be a second set of ears and to help ask questions. When my MIL was diagnosed we made sure one of us was with her at every appointment - she was so overwhelmed that sometimes the information that the drs were telling her didn't alway sink in and she would forget to ask pertinent questions as well. Make a list of your questions and def keep a notebook or folder like another pea suggested.
Best of luck, you'll be in my thoughts. Please update when you can.
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maurchclt
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,617
Jul 4, 2014 16:53:27 GMT
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Post by maurchclt on Oct 10, 2016 13:03:58 GMT
sending HUGS!!! lots of good advise here. Please keep us posted.
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scrappert
Prolific Pea
RefuPea #2956
Posts: 7,759
Location: Milwaukee, WI area
Jul 11, 2014 21:20:09 GMT
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Post by scrappert on Oct 10, 2016 13:17:55 GMT
Sending hugs and prayers of good thoughts to you!
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Post by KikiPea on Oct 10, 2016 13:23:34 GMT
I have no words of advice, but I am sending many prayers, and hugs your way for, strength, peace and a full recovery!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 2, 2024 6:24:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2016 13:24:23 GMT
Hugs and prayers
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