Recent Diagnosis

[sosh1986]

Im 45 and recently found out that I have cancer in both breast, noninvasive in one, the other is invasive.  I'm still in shock and so overwhelmed with all the information and decisions.  If anyone wants to talk please message me.  I believe that knowledge is power.  And I need all the knowledge I can get.

[SueYoung55]

Please get tested for the BRCA genetic mutation. What were the findings of your biopsy? This could make a huge difference in any choices you make going forward.
ER positive or negative?
PR positive or negative?
Tumor size and grade?
HER2 neu positive or negative?
What type of breast cancer and what type of non invasive cancer were you diagnosed with?

[maggiemae1944]

Hi Sosh,i am so sorry to hear that you have breast cancer as it is so very hard on a woman mentally and physically.I did not have to have my breast removed but had 2 lumps in my right breast that they had to remove.Then i had to have long term radiation and now on tamoxifen for the next 5 years.My neighbor who had breast cancer had to have one of her breasts removed and she is going on 4 years now since her surgery and she is doing fine.She lost her hair when she went through the chemo and now that she is also on tamoxifen it is not growing back very well but i assume that once she is off it ,then her hair will come back.My aunt had radical surgery years ago and had to have both breasts removed when she was 45 years old and she went on to live till she was past 85 years old.She was a widow and had 1 child at home and she never let it interfere with her social life.You have many decisions ahead of you but i think one of the most important ones is not to listen to all the bad reports that people will tell you.Our doctors have come a long way with cancer and anyone can get it.We are all here to help you with any uestions you might have and i will try to answer the best i can.I myself have lived through pancreatic cancer(2001)lung cancer(2005) and now breast cancer and i am 65 years old.You can not believe all the people who called me to tell me that they knew someone who died from pancreatic cancer.They were not intending to hurt me they were concerned and worried but that kind of stories only scare you when you are going through treatment.My oncologist told me to listen to my body and that chemo is a lot in the mind.Breast cancer is very hard on a woman mentally, so try to listen to people who have good stories to tell.If you want you can email me anytime. Lots of love maggiemae1944

[Cheerpul]

I am very sorry that you have been diagnosed with breast cancer.  I began my journey on this road almost a year ago and had a mastectomy and chemo (TCH - taxotere, carboplatin and herceptin) and will be taking Herceptin for a year, Zometa for 3 years and Tamoxifen for 5 years. Like the other women on this site, I am here to support you and offer what I can from my own experience to help you.

I have a friend who is 5 years out from her mastectomy and she remarked one night, "Hair doesn't matter.  Breasts don't matter.  The important thing is doing everything that you can to knock back the cancer.  You can adjust to everything else."

I agree that knowledge is power.  Ihave worked through my fears by researching breast cancer, treatment options, all the terms on my lab reports, drugs, and so forth.  I felt more able to be comfortable with my decisions and keep unproductive worry at bay.  You will be amazed at both what we know about cancer and also, how much there is to learn.  

You are going to be proceeding step-by-step.  First tests and diagnosis, more tests and more details will be revealed about the nature of your cancer.  Then you and your doctors will determine a treatment plan and implement it (most likely including surgery,and/or chemo/ radiation.)  When I started all this almost a year ago, I made a motto to live by and focus on to get me through the rough times:  To adjust and/or endure; with laughter.  Take each step, ask questions, and do what you need to do.  We are all far stronger than we ever thought we would be.  

We are here to help you through and can offer you support and share stories as you go through the process.  You are not alone and many amazing ladies have walked this same road and inspire us all.  I am thinking of you.