I am glad you caught this early!
Sending positive vibes to you and yours !
Very best wishes. On the bright side, have some fun looking at all the outrageous wigs you’ll be able to wear.
I’m sorry to hear the news. /hugs
I recall your posts about making sure to go get your tests done and a friend of mine is turning 40. She and some of her other friends were complaining about it as well and I just kept thinking about your post urging everyone to go get it done!
I still have quite a few years to go until that ‘special’ age, but in the meantime I should be more dilligent about the monthly checks as well.
Keep us updated!
You and Ivylad and your families are in my thoughts, Ivylass! Sending hugs and healing vibes…
Sorry to hear it, ivylass. My boss just went through that last year. They caught it very early, and though the lumpectomy and radiation treatments weren’t exactly fun, she’s fine now. I’m glad you have a supportive family helping you through it.
Hi, ivylass. Just wanted you to know that someone I work with very closely went through this a couple years ago. Since we work in a very small office, I sort of went through it day by day with her. The treatment is rough, but she is FINE now, and that is the important thing…they caught hers early, just like yours, and you will be fine, too!
I’m sorry this had to happen to you. As everyone has said, they caught it early you’ll be okay. You might have a couple rough months ahead but you can do it!
Not that you’ll need one of these but maybe it will make you feel better to knit some of these for those that didn’t catch their’s as early?
My mother-in-law just finished radiation last week. Chemo and radiation weren’t fun, but they were doable, and so far it looks like she’s come through with flying colors.
Yeah, it all sucks right now, but I want you to know that there is a far side to come out on, and you’ll get there.
Ivelass, my mom survived breast cancer 22 years ago and is now in chemo for a second occurrence. I say that not to make you feel worse or draw attention away from your situation but to convey this:
Mom says that the treatment for BC is much, much better than it was 20 years ago. Not just more targeted surgeries and more choice with lumpectomy v. mastectomy, but in chemo and radiation as well. She has had chemo and is gearing up for radiation; the chemo was a bitch, no question, but they now give you better drugs to deal with the side-effects. The radiation is much more targeted so they are only radiating the part that needs it and the machine can save your personal settings so that it is automatically tailored for you every time you come in. I’m not sure what radiation you’ll be doing of course, but they tell her that hers will only take about 10 minutes a day: Get in, get zapped, get out.
Breast cancer sucks, no question, and I am in no way minimizing the diagnosis. But it is also highly, highly treatable. You’ve been given a dragon to slay, but you will also have the tools to slay it and I’m sure you will.
You’re in my prayers. 
My mom is a 15-year breast-cancer survivor. My step-mom is a 10-year breast-cancer surviror. My MIL is a 20-year breast-cancer survivor. I’m pulling for you. And I’m near enough to drive up and give you a hug, clean your house, or buy your groceries if you need me.
I have enjoyed your posts many times, and I must say that this board kept me going when I was up at night, sweatin’ through the prednisone that went with my chemo. I was diagnosed with cancer a year ago, and I’m in remission. I kept teaching all through it, because you can’t worry about cancer and keep 14-year olds in line at the same time. Let us know what you find out, and we will be praying for you here in the midwest.
I’m so sorry, Ivylass. I wish you the best of luck, and I’m glad to hear the “very small, very early” part.
Don’t get caught up too much in this. There may be changes to your treatment plan as you go, and not everyone ends up with the same treatment plan.
Moreover, not everyone reacts the same way to treatment. You may discover you feel great and can do radition on you lunch hour - or on the way home from work. You may discover that your white cell count is low, you are bone tired, and someone drives you to radiation, takes you home and you sit in bed trying to get the energy to change the channel from the Home Shopping Network. (I’ll hope for the first for you - more and more people have relatively ‘normal’ lives during treatment).
My sister did five days a week of radiation for, as I recall, five weeks - it did hit her hard. She had an hour drive each way to the hospital (my mother or her husband did the driving) and two little kids (1 and 3) at home. But she did manage to work part time through it.
Originally, she thought she was on the masectomy and chemo plan, and her tumor didn’t require radiation after chemo. A new study came out during her chemo that said reoccurance rates went way down if they did the radiation as well, so just as she could see the finish line - it moved on her. But she still crossed it - just two months later than she’d hoped and with better chances for no reoccurance.
You’ll make it through this. I’m rooting for you.
hugs
Those are hysterical! I’m leaning toward no wig, if it gets that far, and just grabbing a scarf or something. But from what I’ve read, it’s definitely surgery and most likely radiation. Chemo and/or hormone therapy are also a possiblity.
Hypno, I don’t know when the treatment starts. The nurse is supposed to call me today with the appointments for the MRI and oncologists. The doctor did confirm with all the women participating in clinical trials, treatment has come a long way, as **Jodi’**s mom can attest. I think they’re also more concerned with tailoring the treatment to each patient, and giving you meds to counteract some of the unpleasant side effects.
I told people at work, and fortunately, I have four weeks of vacation time and may not have to go on short term disability. My boss and I did talk to HR, and she gave me the paperwork in case I need STD (boy, that’s an unfortunate abbreviation!)
Again, I can’t thank everyone enough for their kind words. Hugs to everyone, and you’ll make my day if you get your mammograms scheduled!
Eight years ago I was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer and only offered palliative care, they offered me no hope at all. Today I’m cancer-free. Surprise! lol
So, if I can do it you can do it. Seriously, they’ve learned so much about cancer in this decade.
You might not lose your hair, it depends on which chemo they give you, if any.
And be sure to talk to your nurses. Doctors are great, but those ladies know everything! Any ill-effects from your disease/treatment, chances are they can alleviate them. Don’t suffer needlessly.
Well, frickadoo.
I have to have the MRI right around the start of my period. Something to do with hormones. And Aunt Flo just left, so it’s going to be early June before I get the MRI!
I also have to get my films to the hospital three days prior to the scan, so they can study them. And no, hospitals don’t courier the records…the patients have to do that.
Dammit. I wanted to get this started.
Wha???
Tell them that dammit, none of us can WAIT that long! (I’m sure their opinion will be swayed by the anxious nerves of several hundred women they’ve never met, right?).
I know, I know, I guess it’s something to do with things getting engorged at that time of the month and maybe that showing things up better… but dayum, it sucks for you to have be on tenterhooks for that much longer!.
Well, maybe some DoperDocs will wander through and explain all this medical stuff…grrrr…
Okay, I misunderstood about the hormone thing…they need do to it 7-14 days before the start of the next period, so I’m getting it done on May 15.