Just diagnosed with breast cancer. Not sure what to say or expect

How do they know treatment already? Did you have a biopsy and get the pathology back today? Sometimes pathology results are different after surgery. Do you know if you are ER- or PR- or HER2+?

How do they know treatment already? Did you have a biopsy and get the pathology back today? Sometimes pathology results are different after surgery. Do you know if you are ER- or PR- or HER2+?

So sorry you are dealing with this. It is a shock at first then you just follow the plan, one foot after the other. Many of us are doing fine years later. This is the hardest part.

The beginning of this journey is a biopsy to find out what type of cancer you have then you will have an MRI, cat scan, bone scan. This way they can really see what the cancer looks like and what it is doing. After the biopsy a pathology report will tell them what type cancer you have so they can form a plan for your treatment. You will talk with an oncologist all through out chemo and a surgeon as well. When you are undergoing chemo the nurses are great if you have questions or need information. Dress comfortably, bring a book with you or what ever you find enjoyable. Bring water with you, our clinic had water and offered lunch if you were getting chemo around lunch time. I brought snacks with me, wore slippers and brought a lap blanket with me. I wanted to be comfortable as it takes time to go thru chemo treatment.
Unfortunately we usually lose our hair , our clinic didn't have cold bonnets to help not lose as much but it is quite a process, I found cute chemo caps from Amazon. I bought a wig but only used a few times, the caps were much more comfortable, they have some cute styles. Our clinic also had donated chemo caps.
It is all such a shock at first but you will get thru this I am 2 years out now and going strong. Surround yourself with family and friends they can give you great comfort.
Sending hugs.

Hey there!
I’m 17 years out now. The pathology report will direct your treatment.
Be sure to read up on your specific type of breast cancer. Come prepared with questions to your doctor appointments.
All the best 🙏🏻

It’s a dreadful feeling. We all will have felt like you are today. But it will get better. Won’t b easy. And it will take time. But it’s better to have been fishy than have it lurking inside of you. Take the weekend to try and relax and if you like wine, have s few glasses and try to relax. There time enough niw till treatment-operation etc, starts. I was in your position on 18 March 2021 when I found lump, was diagnosed 2 weeks later, had lumpectomy 21 April, git results 5 May and cancer hadn’t so read to my lumpy idea. Started chemo end June .only did 2 of the 4 sessions as I was very I’ll, had radiotherapy in oct fir 5 days and rang the bell 15 oct. Was started on meds then but that’s for another day. ☘️☘️☘️☘️

I am so sorry. It will be a new journey for you. I hope you will be in god's hands the entire way!

I didn't have an MRI, CT or bone scan.

This may be unusual but my biopsy results indicated HER2+ which meant chemo. My post surgical HER2 was equivocal then negative. My ER and PR were high, but I had lymphovascular invasion. I had a low Oncotype and did not have any chemo, just hormonal meds.

My friend had the opposite situation. Initial biopsy looked like no chemo would be needed but post surgery her Oncotype was high so she had chemo.

If you are ER+ (estrogen responsiveness of the tumor) and HER2-, the genomic Oncotype test will usually guide treatment.

This has been an excellent website with meetings you can join and blogs.
Also printout/form for pathology report.

Breastcancer.org

Biopsy should give them a good idea of plan. But the pathology report after surgery will ultimately guide them. There are lots of appointments: keep a log and daily journal. Do research!!

missi66 @missi66

You may want to check out this discussion thread, similar situation to yours.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/newly-diagnosed-with-lots-of-questions/
Laurie

Hi! Welcome to a community of wonderful women brought together by less than wonderful circumstances 🙃
I love your picture! You look like a vivacious, fun lady. Did you fly that tiny plane (glider?!)
So, breast cancer. It sucks. Someone else said getting the news is the hardest part, and it was for me! The news was a huge shock, and I cried alone in parking garages after appointments a few times, because I didn’t want anyone else to feel the sadness and fear. I realize that’s probably not the best or healthiest thing to do. It’s clearly not something I could keep secret for long, and telling my kids (ages 8 and 11) and my mom and brothers was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
I had the same order of things as you might have; surgery, chemo, radiation. Now I’m 1.5 years into ten years of endocrine/hormone therapy (trying to get rid of estrogen that my cancer used to grow, in order to reduce my risk of recurrence).
***Your treatment plan will depend on a lot of different factors. I previously thought that breast cancer was one beast, and that you tried to slay it with one sword. Turns out there are many types/variations of breast cancer, with many weapons used against them!***
You will probably learn a whole new language. My cancer was Stage 2A, IDC and DCIS, ER/PR+, HER2-, grade 3, Oncotype DX 20, one lymph node positive, high KI-67%…TBH, I enjoyed (? sounds weird) leaning as much as I could about this stuff. A note about staging; there is clinical staging and pathological staging. Based on my initial imaging and biopsy, I was thought to be Stage 1 (clinical dx); after my lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy, I was upgraded (ha) to Stage 2A (pathological dx, based on tumor size, grade, and lymph node involvement, things impossible to know with certainty before surgery). That change in stage was a huge blow to me! I guess I didn’t realize it might be worse than originally thought.
There will be so many appointments in the beginning; after my routine mammogram and callback mammo, ultrasound, and biopsy, I got the news, then an appointment with the breast surgeon, an MRI, back to the breast surgeon, Magseed placement, genetic testing…I’ll have to look back in my calendar to see what else!
After healing up from surgery (lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy), I started chemo (4 treatments of taxotere/cytoxan, one every three weeks). Then onto radiation; 33 treatments, every day Monday through Friday. Now the hormone therapy. There’s a lot more in there; for chemo, there’s meeting with the oncologist, port placement, blood testing, injections to boost white blood cell count, check-ins with the onc…For radiation, there’s meeting with the rad doc, rad “simulation” and getting a body mold made, tattoos (!), check-ins with rad doc…It’s a lot.
Now, two years post-diagnosis, I can’t believe how fast it all went! Yes, it’s terrifying and you don’t know what the heck to expect, but like someone said, you just follow the plan, one step at a time, and then you’re out on the other side of it.
Everybody, I’m so sorry to be so long-winded! Missi66, keep us posted! There are lots of great threads here that have been super helpful to me.
Best to everyone 😘

Sarah