Newbie: diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) triple negative

Make sure to ask ALL types of healing for you, including natureopath. Make sure you ask what you can expect. My onco just asked if I had any questions. Of course I didnt, I had never had cancer before. Ask her if she will still support you if you cannot handle side effects of the drug. Make sure she is ok woth you trying all options. Mine was not and walked, leaving me to go thru my dr, who knows nothing about breast cancer and keeps telling me to call thecancer center. You need to be in charge.

Thank you for the advice. I was not really thinking about naturopathic. That is awesome. I will definitely think about that. Thank you for sharing your story.

I agree with syska @syska that even though genetic testing is expensive, it is helpful for your diagnosis and knowledge to share with relatives. Mine was covered by insurance. Check with your facility about charges and ask your insurance company about coverage.

I have 3 sisters and including myself 3 out 4 have been diagnosed with breast cancer, all caught very early. My sister and me both did genetic testing (10 years apart) and neither showed any genetic cause. Odd, but I think it is probably some genetic trait that has not been found yet. Or may be environmentally. May never know.

Laurie

Hi all! I have found these sites very informative and thought I would share my story. Firstly I am from Calgary Alberta Canada. Back March 14th of this year I was diagnosed with invasive ductal cancer of the right breast. I was 5 months shy of my regular mammogram. Because of covid everything thereafter was done by phone. I was given my diagnoses over the phone. I had my preop with the surgeon over the phone and was booked for surgery 31 days after diagnosis. My preference would have been to have a bilateral, I was 70 at the time. Because elective surgery was cancelled because of covid that would have been elective so couldn’t do it. I entered the hospital alone and I met the surgeon and anesthetist 5 minutes before being wheeled into surgery. The tumour was 2 cm stage 1 grade 3 with no lymph node involvement. All this was once again given to me over the phone. I have never seen the surgeon since. Met with the oncologist face to face and determined that they wouldn’t take my age as the determining factor for the next steps. Because of my need to do research I found the oncotype testing. When meeting my oncologist it was me that suggested we do this test to determine the next steps. He agreed and 2 weeks later found out that my score was 51 which determined that I was at a high risk of recurrence and that chemo would benefit me.

I am now just about 3 1/2 months from chemo. I am on an AI and My symptoms so far have not been extreme but monitoring the changes as it seems everyday there is something new. From this site I now know I need to determine what my risk factor is if I don’t take it and there are options I have also just booked an oncologist psychologist appt. I have taken everything in stride up to now. Have not been angry never said why me and haven’t shed a tear. I liken this experience to training for a race and raced and crossed the finish line and then ask the question Now What! Not sure if any of this makes sense but I am feeling like there is isolation with this darned covid but there is also isolation in a cancer diagnosis. Thank you everyone for sharing and thank you for listening.
Oma

@roch @syska @hkc9890
Hi, Laurie.
I had genetic testing for breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and ovarian cancer (as they share many similar genes), and it was paid for by my insurance. The results were negative. My oncologist is of the opinion that my breast cancer was caused by taking hormone replacement therapy when going through menopause which is likely, considering that my pathology report showed high levels of estrogen and progesterone.

@roch @syska @hkc9890
Hi, Laurie.
I had genetic testing for breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and ovarian cancer (as they share many similar genes), and it was paid for by my insurance. The results were negative. My oncologist is of the opinion that my breast cancer was caused by taking hormone replacement therapy when going through menopause which is likely, considering that my pathology report showed high levels of estrogen and progesterone.

elizm @elizm

The HRT cause could of been a contributing cause to my breast cancer. Never considered before. I had surgical induced menopause at age 40 due to non-cancerous reason. So seeing I went thru menopause at an early age, I was on HRT for over 10 years.

Laurie

Hi all! I have found these sites very informative and thought I would share my story. Firstly I am from Calgary Alberta Canada. Back March 14th of this year I was diagnosed with invasive ductal cancer of the right breast. I was 5 months shy of my regular mammogram. Because of covid everything thereafter was done by phone. I was given my diagnoses over the phone. I had my preop with the surgeon over the phone and was booked for surgery 31 days after diagnosis. My preference would have been to have a bilateral, I was 70 at the time. Because elective surgery was cancelled because of covid that would have been elective so couldn’t do it. I entered the hospital alone and I met the surgeon and anesthetist 5 minutes before being wheeled into surgery. The tumour was 2 cm stage 1 grade 3 with no lymph node involvement. All this was once again given to me over the phone. I have never seen the surgeon since. Met with the oncologist face to face and determined that they wouldn’t take my age as the determining factor for the next steps. Because of my need to do research I found the oncotype testing. When meeting my oncologist it was me that suggested we do this test to determine the next steps. He agreed and 2 weeks later found out that my score was 51 which determined that I was at a high risk of recurrence and that chemo would benefit me.

I am now just about 3 1/2 months from chemo. I am on an AI and My symptoms so far have not been extreme but monitoring the changes as it seems everyday there is something new. From this site I now know I need to determine what my risk factor is if I don’t take it and there are options I have also just booked an oncologist psychologist appt. I have taken everything in stride up to now. Have not been angry never said why me and haven’t shed a tear. I liken this experience to training for a race and raced and crossed the finish line and then ask the question Now What! Not sure if any of this makes sense but I am feeling like there is isolation with this darned covid but there is also isolation in a cancer diagnosis. Thank you everyone for sharing and thank you for listening.
Oma