Newbie & scared

On hearing I had breast cancer, I was also frightened and shocked. I don’t recall making a conscious decision, but I just went with the flow without thinking about it. It became easier for me, mentally and I trusted the good oncologists, nurses and technicians. They all support you and care for you. I understood what was happening, but, I trusted them and allowed them to heal me.

I just got the pathology report from my surgery today and am so thankful to get good news. 4/4 lymph nodes were without cancer and margins were clear. I still may do some treatment and will talk to my oncologist in 2-3 weeks. (I am triple-negative which creates some additional risk of recurrence.) But I want to share this with everyone, especially those feeling scared. It is less than two months since my diagnosis and a blessing to have good news so soon. No matter what we tell ourselves, it is hard not to be scared by the word "cancer", but it doesn't always end up being as bad as we fear.

Hi, I received my diagnoses just over two months ago and joined this group shortly after, on the advice of my surgeon's nurse. Like others, I am still in shock about the big 'C' and I, as well, am the only one in my family with Cancer. I will have a lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy on August 16th, as scheduled and 3 weeks later will receive the pathology report. For the 3 weeks, awaiting my diagnoses, I did not talk about it - at all. You will hear a lot about positive thinking, because it works. I gave my attention to the flowers on my deck, good music. In conversation with friends , my health is not a topic of conversation. Listen to the professionals ! Get 2nd opinions if you feel you need to. Listen to YOU. I am a metaphysical healer, having training in different forms of hands on healing, but I know when our medical doctors are needed. This is that time. You have connected with a powerful group ! Do things that make you feel good, but cry if you must - it is cleansing and healing. Sending Much love from Newfoundland Canada

@mkb4435 I read an article cautioning surgeons not to say "we got it all." It is definitely great that margins were clear and lymph nodes were negative, and as you say, you have a really good shot at being cancer free so yay. It is also very possible that you will have some sort of treatment- so let us know.

@auntiephil it is nice to have a trusting attitude, but I got 4 opinions after the first oncologist told me I had HER2+ and would have chemo (from biopsy) and next one said I was HER2-. I was grade 2 or 3 depending on hospital lab and had a low Oncotype which was also confusing so my last opinion retested everything.

@mkb4435 with triple negative you won't have an Oncotype, which is only for ER+, and you won't have tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors. Let us know if you don't have a treatment or, again, if you do, what it is! When do you see the oncologist?

I’m in Canada. From the mammogram to biopsy to surgery to radiation was within a months timespan. I’m so thankful. I knew the surgeon from previous experience and appointments, I should have probably mentioned that. All in all I am beyond grateful that my treatment was swift, the oncologists took plenty of time to explain everything to me and answer any questions. I just decided not to stress over it and rely on them. It’s the way I got through it, it worked for me. Perhaps not for everyone. I’m usually asking a million questions, and experiencing high anxiety, but for some reason, I just let it go this time.

I already met the oncologist - the same week I met the surgeon, as they decided on a recommendation of what to do first. They decided on the surgery first which was fine with me. I'm now recovering from that, as noted elsewhere. I am now scheduled to return to the oncologist in 2-3 weeks. I like her a lot. She is a fellow, having practiced as a pathologist first and now getting additional training to work as an oncologist. Thus she has a sharper knowledge of the pathology behind it all than the average doctor. I am low on most risk factors with the glaring exception of being triple negative.

If the team should recommend against doing chemo, I will seek out a second opinion. (I think they will, BTW, but you never know.) I really don't cherish the idea of having chemo at all but I have read that 40% of triple negative patients have recurrence in the first few years. Even more importantly, IMO, is that the recurrence might not make its appearance in a relatively harmless location like the other breast. It could be in my liver, my brain, my bones. This is the stuff that can kill you in addition to making you suffer a lot in the process. I would rather go through shorter term suffering now, if there's a chance it will protect me later. I know there's no guarantee about anything, including my lifespan, but I would hate to forego the treatment now and possibly finding myself in stage 4 next year, wondering why I didn't do it.

Thanks for caring. I'll keep you posted. It helps to have others who speak the language.

I agree with this thought, it has been a day or two (19 years) but I took every single treatment they said to take because I knew I had a very aggressive cancer and I never wanted to reg giving it my all.
It was a year of pretty hard things, it wasn’t easy but it was do able and I have had no regrets.
Triple negative research has made a few strides lately in treatments, so there are more tools to treat with.

You are SO right about a year of difficult things! Surgery,recovery, chemo,recovery, radiation,recovery,occupational therapy and then it was “see you in 6 months but call if you have a problem”. Oh! Haha! I took the planning calendar off the fridge. Still new enough where a little voice in the back of my head whispers to be
“On guard” but sort of back to normal, even if it is a new normal

My experience was a good one. Although I'm sure most would say I am taking too much risk but I chose surgery (lumpectomy, SLNB and breast reduction) only. I was stage 1 ER/PR+ and HER2 negative, IDC, low grade, 1.3 Cm tumor, clear margins no lymph node involvement. And I also waited 6 months from diagnosis to surgery so I would be covered under medicare.
Having such a positive report makes adjuvant therapy decisions tougher. For mine there was very little benefit for radiation and hormone therapy. The side affects of those treatments far outweighed the tiny benefits so I chose to go without them. Making those decisions which I am 100% confident with now were probably the most painful part of this process. Also finessing the medical system to not be totally ticked off at me not following medical direction was also quite tricky. I don't have a radiation oncologist or medical oncologist anymore. However I do exercise now and am up to 2.5 miles a day and swimming as well. My diet has not changed it was never terrible but I enjoy all the usual foods and am not obese nor do I drink.
What I did learn was that there really are a lot of super nice caring people in the medical community and in this forum as well.
Best to you and wishing you a speedy recovery!

@mkb4435 - I too am TNBC but I'm also BRCA2+ I chose to throw everything at it now while I'm healthy and able to mentally and physically handle things. I had chemo first to shrink the lump, then surgery (bilateral and I went flat) and since the margin wasn't clear I had radiation - it was 18 months of treatments, lots of scans and tests and I'm now considered "in remission" and the only thing left for me is to now start Lynparza which was approved for BC with BRCA+ patients. Hopefully that is only for a year.

I've been told that TNBC is more aggressive so that is why I chose to do everything. But as you said there is no guarantees.