Re: newly diagnosed with stage 2

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

Well I can't give you advice or help but I can empathize. I am right there with

you, starting my radiation Oct 30th. We're waiting because my breast is so

swollen that they want it to heal more before they get their machines set up.

Hang in there. I've heard that Moffett is an excellent cancer center - my

parents wanted me to go there, but I opted to stick it out here.

[Guest guest]

:

The human brain is an amazing machine...just when

you think it will finally explode - it adapts. I couldn't even

say the " C-word " for the first couple of days without

wigging out. And now I am literally wigged out (bad pun,

sorry...I couldn't help myself : ) and making jokes about

things that are really not supposed to be funny (this is

how I cope best).

The Sunday I went to church after my diagnosis, I had

managed to pull myself mostly together but was still one

step away from waterworks. Sometimes it just amazes

me how awesomely God makes things work (no matter

what, He gives us what we need at the right time).

Anyway, I remember thinking right after church that if one

more person hugged me and told me they loved me I

was going to boo-hoo and flood the sanctuary (and I really

didn't want to cry anymore) when an older woman came

up, gave me a big hug and proceeded to list every person

she'd known that had DIED from breast cancer. Her

mother, her oldest sister, then the next sister, and then

her sister-in-law who " fought a good 6 years before she

finally died " ...Oh, and let's not forget the terrible time her

sister had with hemorrhaging....she went on and on and

everything was so AWFUL it got to be funny (I'm a little

bent, sometimes : ) I kept waiting for the " silver lining " in

her stories but there just wasn't one and by the time she

wandered off I was bent over a pew laughing; after all, she

was doing her VERY BEST to cheer me up...

I highly recommend you go get something chocolate (lg)

and watch a really stupid, silly movie (anything that makes

you laugh) while you eat your 50lb Hershey Bar - it'll be ok!

- Jen : )

> Ellen - thank you so much. YES! I feel like I am drinking

> > from a firehose ....so much to learn, so much to do, so much

> > to know, so overwhelmed. Yet, while all of this, my life has

> > totally been pulled out from under my feet as I knew it and

> > changed instantly. I no longer look at anything the same.

> > What happened? How can this be? Why me?

> > I am so scared about possibly needing chemo. Will I lose

> > my hair? Will my skin change? Where do you all get the

> > strength through all of this? I admire each and everyone of

> > you. I really just don't know if I can do it.

> > Oh my - so much, so much. Well, thank you so much for

> > keeping me in your prayers. My surgery is scheduled for

> > Friday, Oct. 20. Until then - I guess I just wait and have

> > faith and trust in God.

> >

> > Hugs,

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I just joined this group a few minutes ago. In June, I was

diagnosed at Moffitt as well. I underwent a lumpectomy and then

another surgery to find out about the nodes. My sentinel node was

positive, but the Dr. () suggested only radiation and tomoxifen,

no chemo. When I got back to L.A., my oncogolist thought I should

begin chemo. I have been back and forth between Drs. to determine

what I should do. I have since decided to just do radiation and

tomoxifen. Since I am in the " shock phase " as well, it is very

confusing, but I am confident with my decision. I am 42, in great

shape, have a high profile career (so trying to keep the diagnosis

under wraps for now),etc, you know the drill. Anyway, you are the

first person I am writing and happy to have joined this group for

support. I wish you the very best!

>

> Hello all. I am a 43 year old professional active, healthy, busy

> business woman and mom and wife and have just been diagnosed with

> stage 2 breast cancer (3.6cm lump in my right breast) at Lee

Moffitt

> Cancer Hospital. Needless to say, I am scared to death. Never

> thought this possible with me since i am in such good shape. I

just

> had my " yearly " back in February and all was good. I discovered

the

> lump in August. How could this thing get there that quick? And

it

> hurts! I cried all weekend - now on a mission to talk to as many

> people as possible and find out as much as I can. My surgeon has

> recommended a lumpectomy with sentenial mapping of the lymph

nodes.

> Then to follow 28 days of radiation. Possibly chemo if it spread

to

> my lymph nodes but he doesn't think it has. He told me to stop my

> birth control pills - thinking maybe that is why it hurts - so of

> course i did. It is right at the surface and he said when he

> biopsied it, that it was " rubbery " - which was a little unusual he

> said. I also have silicone breast implants which he said can

remain

> in tact and should not be affected by the radiation. Is there

> anyone out there who has gone through this similar situation?

And,

> of course, the problem is, I haven't had my surgery yet so we are

> only guessing at this point. We don't know how bad it is, how

> aggressive, or even what type. Can anyone please give me any

advice

> or help? Thanks much.

>