Newly diagnosed and confused

[JerseyGirl]

Soccer Mom

As Cheryl and MaryJo said, we're not alone here. I'm new myself, now recovering from a double masectomy after chemo. I live in NJ too and there's a bunch of us that are getting together for lunch; feel free to PM me and we'd love to have you join us next time. It's gets easier the farther you get from the diagnosis, believe me!

Julie

[KathyH]

Hi Friend,

I am one year and 2 months into this process. I was stage 3c at diagnosis, but after chemotherapy and Herceptin, I had surgery and they found no cancer cells! There is much to be excited about in terms of current treatment, much of it so new that statistical information doesn't reflect what is true for today. The only thought I can offer is try to turn the WHAT IFs into WHAT NOWs. If you can concentrate on the fact that you have great methods of treatment on your side and that this IS a curable disease, the what nows are doable. God has never given me the grace for the what ifs, but he had given me abundant grace for the what nows.

Blessings to you, Kathy

[suzan w]

Hi SoccerMom! Welcome! You will find great strength, courage and information here. I, too, was dx'd triple positive, node neg.invasive lobular carcinoma..had bilateral mastectomy 6/05, followed by A/C (adriamycin/cytoxan) and I have just finished (10/4/06) a year of herceptin-3 week intervals. I am taking Arimidex (an AI) for 5 years (4 to go!). Looking back: scariest times-waiting for test results.Chemo sucked-I had lots of side effects-but I did it and am so glad I did! Scans I had: bone scan (at start and end of treatment), CT scan, liver ultrasound, MUGA heart scans every 3 months. I also had the Oncotype DX test done to help me decide on a course of chemo. Herceptin has some lingering side effects but all in all they are very tolerable and have lessened with time. Again, side effects are nothing compared to the benefits of these treatments. I feel very fortunate to have received top-notch care, in an age of cutting edge technology and treatments for breast cancer. Believe it or not, sometimes 5 or 6 hours pass in a day that I don't think about breast cancer!!! It used to be a constant thought/worry. Will be thinking about you tomorrow as you wait for your test results.

[SusanV]

Dear Soccer Mom,


Great advice posted by everyone above..Stay connected here, and when questions come up in your mind. Post them here. The information from everyone is so valuable. When you meet with your oncologist, be sure to take a notebook with questions prepared in advance, which will aslo allow for a place for you to write down what he says. It is difficult in the beginnig to focus on the information overload, and I have found taking notes that I can look at later really helped.

I wish you well tomorrow at your visit, and I will be thinking of you

[tousled1]

Soccer Mom,

Welcome to the board, but sorry you had to find yourself here. Sounds to me like all you are waiting to hear regarding the pathology report is whether they got clean margins or not and if the lymph nodes are positive.

And please do write your questions down as you think of them and take them to your doctor's appointment. That's what I did because everytime I left her office I would think of questions I should have asked. Now before she even leaves the room, she asks me if I have my list of questions! It is so hard in the beginning even knowing what to ask let alone remembering everything that the oncologist will tell you. I like to call it selective hearing - we only hear as much as we are willing to accept.

Any time you have any questions, or just need to vent or need some support this is the place to come. The women on this board are extremely knowledgeable and compassionate.

[TriciaK]

This is not a club anyone would wish to join, but it is one of the best in the world for the love, support and information you will need to join us as amazon warriors fighting the battle of our lives. You will find that you will gain strength you never knew you could. At first it all sounds so scary it seems overwhelming, but you take it one bite at a time and you will be surprised how manageable it all can be. I think I am probably the oldest survivor on the board---21 years fighting BC--and I am still going strong after 3 rounds with the beast, the last one 2 years ago being her2. I am NED now after 15 months of herceptin and femara (with navelbine the first 6 months, too). I only found the cancer mets to my lungs 2 years ago because I had a heart attack. My oncologist said I wouldn't have lived 3 months if they hadn't found them, but with herceptin I have had 2 good years + 4 months and still going strong. I had a triple bypass for my heart this May and am doing great at age 76. If I ever need to I can go back on herceptin again or perhaps tykerb. There is greater hope and resources now than there has ever been, and more coming out every year. Ignore the old statistics---this is a new ball game now and it is winnable. My one word of advice is to stay positive. Never say "I have cancer" but "I am fighting cancer". Learn all you can---this board is a goldmine of information. You can come here anytime, day or night, for love, prayers, support and knowledge. We will cry with you, rejoice with you and support you in every way! You can go back into the files and read everyone's past entries. There are some sad ones, but lots of joyful ones too. God bless you and your family, and remember we are all here for you! Hugs, Tricia

[MJo]

I was stage 1, node neg, er-pr-her2+. Got my diagnosis one year ago. Got lumpectomy, dose dense AC, Taxol & Herceptin, radiation and am taking Arimidex. Chemo was no walk in the park, but the memory has really faded. I was terrified first few months after diagnosis. I went to a support group at Wellness Community, got on this website and eventually lost some of the fear of this disease. On the positive side, I made some changes in my life that needed changing. I learned awe and respect for the human body -- everybody's tumor and treatment experience is unique. Please try to take it one day at a time -- one hour at a time if you must. I remember trying to look ahead and it was like looking into a fog. I had no idea what was in store and there was no way to predict or control. So I took it one day at a time. That helped. And I got through it. You will too....MJO