Aa
Need some encouragement and direction
Today I was diagnosed with brest cancer. I have a 3cm infiltrating ductal carcinoma tumor, rt breast. So far I have 1 lymph node under the same arm that tested positive for cancerous cells. I meet with my surgeon on monday followed by an MRI on tuesday and the oncologist later in the week. This is soooooooo overwhelming that my head is spinning!! I am only 40 years old. Please, if anyone has had a breast cancer diagnosis please send me some words of encouragement and also any advice you may have!! I thank you in advance.
Hey Lady,
I am sooooooooo sleepy I never took a nap because my sister who talks so loud I think she may be tone death stopped by with my niece and 7 mos old nephew. It was so nice to see them but I really wasnt up for the visit.
Now I really am gonna lay down before I pass out. I am so lookin foward to reading your message something tells me it's gonna tug at my heart and make me cry in a sweet way. Our friendship is a special sisterhood. How cool is that!
Well I will be talkin to ya tomorrow.
Love ya really mean it girlfriend!!!
I am sooooooooo sleepy I never took a nap because my sister who talks so loud I think she may be tone death stopped by with my niece and 7 mos old nephew. It was so nice to see them but I really wasnt up for the visit.
Now I really am gonna lay down before I pass out. I am so lookin foward to reading your message something tells me it's gonna tug at my heart and make me cry in a sweet way. Our friendship is a special sisterhood. How cool is that!
Well I will be talkin to ya tomorrow.
Love ya really mean it girlfriend!!!
Thank you so much for the kind words. Every positive word gives me hope and strength and it makes me feel stronger.
I will most definately ask my surgeon about a skin sparing mastectomey. I am really leaning towards a double mastectomy. My tumor was 3 cm. My doc says the tumor has gotten soft sense starting chemo so we are not exactly sure how much smaller it's gotten. I still have 2 more rounds of chemo before the surgery.
Thanks for the wise words. I am in a young support group called beyond boobs and it has really helped to talk with women within our age group. This site has also been a HUGE help in this journey. My prayer is that this journey will carry me to wellness along with the best person I can be. I want to hold my hand out to the next sister who comes along.
Again thank you so much for caring enough to respond. I am posting every step of he way and I hope to hear from you again.
God bless you and goodnite!
I will most definately ask my surgeon about a skin sparing mastectomey. I am really leaning towards a double mastectomy. My tumor was 3 cm. My doc says the tumor has gotten soft sense starting chemo so we are not exactly sure how much smaller it's gotten. I still have 2 more rounds of chemo before the surgery.
Thanks for the wise words. I am in a young support group called beyond boobs and it has really helped to talk with women within our age group. This site has also been a HUGE help in this journey. My prayer is that this journey will carry me to wellness along with the best person I can be. I want to hold my hand out to the next sister who comes along.
Again thank you so much for caring enough to respond. I am posting every step of he way and I hope to hear from you again.
God bless you and goodnite!
Hi...
I was 45 when I was diagnosed in October '06. My tumor ended up being 2cm, invasive ductal carcinoma *and* ductal carcinoma in situ. It was 2 on the aggressive scale (moderate) and estrogen positive. I had 0 lymph nodes involved - the sentinel node biopsy was negative in all pathology. This all said - I was shocked... there isn't any recent history of breast cancer in my family (recent as in the last 3 generations... no one knows if the great-great-great generation had any instances of bc). I felt as if my life suddenly were taking place in some other time and being lived out by some other person. My medical team - surgeon, reconstructive surgeon and oncologist - all urged me to enter treatment within 4 weeks of diagnosis. I chose to have a mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, thus I did not have radiation as part of my treatment plan. If any of my nodes had been positive, the plan would have chanaged and I would not have had immediate reconstruction.
I want to encourage you on so many different levels. One thing that is very important for you to know about is a new surgical procedure known as Skin Sparing Mastectomy. This is what I was able to have and let me tell you - my reconstructed breast is very, very attractive. The surgeon removes the nipple and then removes all the breast tissue. the reconstructive plastic surgeon then places a silicon implant under your pectoral muscle and sews up the area where your nipple was using what looks like a beggar's purse closure. It is smooth, evenly balanced with your other breast, has a very small scar, and depending on the size of your areola, you can see a hint of a nipple. It is as natural looking as we who have had mastectomies can get. Please ask your surgeon about it before making any decisions about reconstruction.
I also want to encourage you on a spiritual and emotional level. Every cancer journey is different. My doctor's each told me this, and I would still compare mine to others trying to find something that I could apply and then understand. But the reality is this: your cancer journey will be your cancer journey. The good news is you have sisters in survivorship to cheer you on along the way and to share our stories to help you cope. You're going to have some really confusing and crummy days... and you're going to have some truly heroic and celebratory days. Listen to your medical team. Ask questions. Join a support group. And be certain to find women within your age group who you can talk with - because one thing I did learn is that at 45, my cancer expectations were very different from women in their late 60's or eary '70's. I needed to talk with women who still had active careers and children to be raised. At the same time, the older women had great life wisdom to share in general.
You and I share the same name... we now share breast cancer. I've made it - you will too.
I was 45 when I was diagnosed in October '06. My tumor ended up being 2cm, invasive ductal carcinoma *and* ductal carcinoma in situ. It was 2 on the aggressive scale (moderate) and estrogen positive. I had 0 lymph nodes involved - the sentinel node biopsy was negative in all pathology. This all said - I was shocked... there isn't any recent history of breast cancer in my family (recent as in the last 3 generations... no one knows if the great-great-great generation had any instances of bc). I felt as if my life suddenly were taking place in some other time and being lived out by some other person. My medical team - surgeon, reconstructive surgeon and oncologist - all urged me to enter treatment within 4 weeks of diagnosis. I chose to have a mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, thus I did not have radiation as part of my treatment plan. If any of my nodes had been positive, the plan would have chanaged and I would not have had immediate reconstruction.
I want to encourage you on so many different levels. One thing that is very important for you to know about is a new surgical procedure known as Skin Sparing Mastectomy. This is what I was able to have and let me tell you - my reconstructed breast is very, very attractive. The surgeon removes the nipple and then removes all the breast tissue. the reconstructive plastic surgeon then places a silicon implant under your pectoral muscle and sews up the area where your nipple was using what looks like a beggar's purse closure. It is smooth, evenly balanced with your other breast, has a very small scar, and depending on the size of your areola, you can see a hint of a nipple. It is as natural looking as we who have had mastectomies can get. Please ask your surgeon about it before making any decisions about reconstruction.
I also want to encourage you on a spiritual and emotional level. Every cancer journey is different. My doctor's each told me this, and I would still compare mine to others trying to find something that I could apply and then understand. But the reality is this: your cancer journey will be your cancer journey. The good news is you have sisters in survivorship to cheer you on along the way and to share our stories to help you cope. You're going to have some really confusing and crummy days... and you're going to have some truly heroic and celebratory days. Listen to your medical team. Ask questions. Join a support group. And be certain to find women within your age group who you can talk with - because one thing I did learn is that at 45, my cancer expectations were very different from women in their late 60's or eary '70's. I needed to talk with women who still had active careers and children to be raised. At the same time, the older women had great life wisdom to share in general.
You and I share the same name... we now share breast cancer. I've made it - you will too.
I am glad you are doing better this time. I am not surprized you didn't get much sleep. I never slept the night before chemo. I understand your tireness. Do whatever you have to do to get your rest. The posts can wait. Just take care of yourself. I have been running myself ragged lately too. It really catches up with you and knocks you down. you have even a bigger reason to be more tired.
Take it easy and don't push yourself too much.
Love ya more than ya know :) And that's the truth girlfriend:)
Take it easy and don't push yourself too much.
Love ya more than ya know :) And that's the truth girlfriend:)
Hi You,
I forgot to tell you that the reason that I have to have radiation is because my tumor was 3 cm and also the calcium in breast was positive as well. But the thank for all the info on the expander becuase implants is DEFINATELY the way im goin.
Let me know how your surgery goes Im sure everything will be fine.
Take care
I forgot to tell you that the reason that I have to have radiation is because my tumor was 3 cm and also the calcium in breast was positive as well. But the thank for all the info on the expander becuase implants is DEFINATELY the way im goin.
Let me know how your surgery goes Im sure everything will be fine.
Take care
Hi there sister!
Well I cant even begin to tell you how tired I am. But I thank God that I am not sick like I was the last time. My belly was just a little upset but I am NOT complaining I just thank God that he answers prayers!! I thank I am so tired because I only slept a few hours last night and I was running around all morning when I should have been resting!
I feel so blessed to have a friend like you!!!!!!! Everything happens for a reason doesn't it Tami. You have helped me more than you can imagine. I saw that you left me a message when I finish my nap I will read it and quickly respond.
Love ya more than pizza!!!! And thats the truth girlfriend :)
Well I cant even begin to tell you how tired I am. But I thank God that I am not sick like I was the last time. My belly was just a little upset but I am NOT complaining I just thank God that he answers prayers!! I thank I am so tired because I only slept a few hours last night and I was running around all morning when I should have been resting!
I feel so blessed to have a friend like you!!!!!!! Everything happens for a reason doesn't it Tami. You have helped me more than you can imagine. I saw that you left me a message when I finish my nap I will read it and quickly respond.
Love ya more than pizza!!!! And thats the truth girlfriend :)
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