Not mundane or pointless but:
My wife of 14 years was just diagnosed with breast cancer.
It appears they caught it early, so hopefully the prognosis will be good.
Tomorrow she talks to the oncology department to discuss her treatment.
I’m sorry she got this diagnosis. I (and others here) know first-hand how scary it is to hear those words. The fact it was caught early is excellent. I found the hardest part was not knowing the prognosis, options, etc. Knowledge is power, and you two will have a greater sense of control once you know more precisely what she’s dealing with and what the options are.
I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for her.
I got the same news on October 3, 2017. Fortunately, mine was caught early on a mammogram and was a type that grows slowly; after two excisions, 20 radiation treatments, and a monthly hormone blocker injection that I was supposed to have for 2 years but the doctor said I could stop after about 18 months, I am cancer-free and my life expectancy is the same as if this never happened.
Hugs to all of you. The word “cancer” is so terrifying.
I’m a 2 year cancer survivor (prostate). My thoughts are with you and spouse, OP.
It’s a shitty situation, and I know there’s nothing I can say that’s going to make the feelings of fear and uncertainty and anxiety go away, but I will say I know a LOT of women who are breast cancer survivors, and…they survived it. I think it’s one of the more survivable types of cancer if it’s discovered early, and luckily, in your case, it was. So - hang in there, give her whatever support you can, and I think in the end it will be resolved. Peace.
Hugs to both you and your wife.
I’m celebrating my 20th year in remission from breast cancer. My oncologist says that, after all this time, I am as good as cured and my life expectancy is unchanged. I had a less-than-optimistic prognosis but I"m still here. Yes, it’s very scary but having discovered it early is very good. Treatments are even better now than they were 20 years ago. You can beat this.
Best wishes for a speedy and successful treatment and recovery for your wife. My mother, aunt and one sister have had breast cancer and all have survived. This is a very survivable thing.
StG
I was diagnosed with breast cancer five+ years ago. Had a lumpectomy and three weeks of radiation, no chemo. That’s it. I took an estrogen-blocker for five years, as my cancer was estrogen-positive. Finished with that a month ago. It certainly can be a devastating and life-changing (or life-ending) diagnosis, but it can also be a walk in the park. A good friend of mine got the diagnosis and went into a tailspin-- “The C-Word!”-- but her experience turned out to be the same as mine-- lumpectomy and three weeks of radiation, no chemo. Your wife’s could very well turn out that way-- I hope so.
When you get this diagnosis, whether it turns out to be a disaster or a (sorf of) nothingburger, you will be plunged into a roiling cauldron of new terminology and acronyms. There are different kinds and stages of breast cancer with alphabetic names. Suggest you get familiar with your wife’s specific diagnosis and all the descriptive details. Get to know everything you can, and you will need those details when you research. I know women who have had breast cancer and when I ask them what kind, they don’t know-- never bothered to find out. That may work for some people, but I like to know everything about a thing. Let me direct you to breastcancer.org, a website with vast amounts of information as well as a message board that is immense. But it is a great place to ask questions. You will need to know your acronyms to navigate there for sure!
Ask her doctors lots and lots of questions and research their answers. I hope you will go with her to appointments. I always went with my late husband to doc appointments because two people hear better than one. I also went with a friend when she got her breast cancer diagnosis, little knowing I’d be in her shoes a few years later (I took a friend to my first visit, as my husband had died by then).
Do not panic. For many (possibly most) women today this can be managed.
I’m sorry to hear it, and glad they caught it. Come on back with questions and for support–there are many of us here. I was not diagnosed as early as one would wish, and at 5.5 years out from surgery, I’m fine.
This is good advice: two people listening to crucial information from a doctor catch things that each of them might miss, or think of questions the other might not. I took a friend (a breast cancer survivor) to my conversations with doctors re my cancer and it really helped.
Don’t forget that men can get breast cancer too. It’s diagnosed about 1,000 times a year in the United States.
One more thing: my oncologist told me the odds are always better than you see online. He said the stats online are based on studies started a few years ago; in those few years, diagnosis and treatment improve. I thought I’d mention this in case you and/or our wife research online.
One thing I was told was not to consult Dr. Google, because it will terrify you. So, what did I do? You guessed it: Went to Dr. Google, and was terrified.
I would like to, but I think they aren’t allowing anyone to accompany the patient nowadays because of COVID-19.
Thanks so much for everyone’s good thoughts and helpful advice.
They very well might let you go with her. Chemo brain is a real thing. Also, there’s so much thrown at a cancer patient that the doctors realize they need a second person to catch things they miss.
My sister (not the breast and thyroid cancer sister, the rhabdomyosarcoma sister) had her husband with her through everything, and that was just in these last few months.
StG
Don’t simply give in, try hard to go together. In the office you might find someone who says No you can’t go together, and then another person who says Yes you can.
It happened to my wife and me just the other week (at a standard check-up), first a No and then later a Yes when we asked again (different person), and we were allowed to go together.
@suranyi I’m pulling for your wife and you, sending good healing energies your way. And to all here dealing with the C-word.
Reasonably good information on breastcancer.org.
So much good advice for you~the advice to take someone in to appts with you is very important. Fight for that-it can be made safe by wearing a mask and social distancing.
I’m 10+ years post cancer myself. I agree with all the advice. All I would add is to take care of yourself so you can take care of her. Your nutrition, rest, doing some things that bring you joy will bring you strength that you can loan her.
You will both be in my thoughts from afar 
I hope they let you go in with her, but if that’s not possible, could your wife put you on speaker phone? I’m sure your wife won’t be the first patient to ask about this, and oncologists understand how important it is to have someone there to ask questions and get answers.