Newly Diagnosed

[Shanayi]

I'm so confused. I was diagnosed with breast cancer on January 22. The doctor called it invasive ductal positive. My doctor ordered an MRI because the cancer must had started in another area of my breast. I'm feel like this cant be happening.

[Presence1]

I was where you are a year ago. I have had ups and downs “but the downs have been few.” Disbelief is normal, it is the not knowing how this is all going to play out that gets me. Some of the women have survived...continue living...for many years and their posts amaze me. Will I be one of them or will my voice go silent one day?

Sometimes I feel like if I knew how it all ends I could endure. But I know that faith is the substance of things unseen and my walk must be a daily one. It is confusing and frustrating. I send my love and support to you as you find your way, and you will.

[loridevall68 in reply to Presence1]

You helped me more than you know

[Hidden]

So sorry about your diagnosis, it is overwhelming things happen so fast. Try and stay positive!

[anrean]

It is scary to get the diagnosis. The best thing now that you have had a few days to digest the news is to talk to your doctor or oncologist and get answers to your questions. I write the questions down so that I don't forget them and when possible have someone with me because we all get overwhelmed to some extent. I had invasive triple negative bc in 2009 and am doing fine now. The good news is that treatments have changed so fast and advancements have been so great that you can't depend on what you find on the internet - things are happening too fast for the internet to keep up. You didn't share a lot of information, so can't say much else. Talk to your doc or onc and ask for everything you should know and want to know.

[Mmnyc]

My doctor told me not to focus on the word ‘invasive’ when I met her. When I first heard that word I thought that’s it for me’ but it doesn’t have to be.

My breast surgeon assured me my cancer was treatable and my tumor was small and operable.

I know that you are afraid right now but hopefully you’ve found a good surgeon and oncologist who will put your fears at ease.

Wishing you all the best!

[Farfalucia]

I am 9 months into all the cancer treatments for stage 3 invasive ductal breast cancer

I hear what you all are saying 🙏🙏🙏

Sometimes I needed to know about future treatments and details and then always needed to come back to the now, this baby step here and now🙏. It’s all I can do, I can do this moment and the rest feels too much to take on if I think about all of it at once.

I think it’s very important to honor your feelings, your questions, your options in how best takes care of you.

This way I am finding that, again, I am more in the present. I can’t change the past, don’t know the future but if I do this moment to the best of my ability, then I have the peace of mind that I am doing/being my best

Also, if I’m present I don’t feel like this cancer takes any more from my future...cry today as I need vs holding onto those uncried tears.

I’m wishing you well🙏

[marianrita]

Hi. So sorry to welcome you to a club where the sisterhood is great, but not the illness. Your doctor doesn't sound like he/she explains things very well. Go back and ask what about mammo indicates that the primary tumor is elsewhere in your breast. The word invasive basically means that you have cancer, that the mass is invading the regular tissue of your breast, rather than being encapsulated, or what is called DCIS, ductal carcinoma in situ. Did you have a biopsy? Doesn't sound like this doctor is an oncologist. Probably would be good to see one, as you are more likely to get explanations than with a surgeon or with your primary care doc. Glad to to talk more. I was a hotline volunteer for several years.