Discussions

Hello to you all,  I am so glad that I found this website.  I was diagnosed with breast cancer June 2, 2009 and will have surgery on July 15, 2009.  I am 44.  The surgeon has recommended a lumpectomy with radiation after the surgery ( if the lymph nodes are negative)  My cancer is in the left breast and is 1.3cm in size.  The scary part of it all is that I am afraid it has spread (I am having pain in my left arm and an unusal feeling in my left armpit)  I am trying to stay positive and seem to most of the time.  I think I will feel better after we know for sure if it has spread.  The not knowing is hard.  I found that reading the discussions helped me and comforted me.  If anybody has advice I am listening.  God bless you all.

pinkcorgie    

Good morning pinkcorgie, welcome to our little trying to stay sane club, so sorry you had to join, but we are happy to have you. You will find the worst thing about having breast cancer is the waiting. You have to wait on doctors appointments, tests, results of tests, if it's not one thing it's another. Just know you can come here with your questions, your fears, to cry on our shoulders, it doesn't matter we are always here for you. Let us extend our hand in friendship and walk you through all of this, it can be quite mind boggling some time. Did you tell your doctor about this pain in your arm and armpit? If not I would call him, three weeks is a long time to hurt, he may want to check it out and at least give you something for pain to get you through the next 3 weeks. You are going to be wired up till then anyway, no use hurting too. OK sweetie just let us know if you need something, like I said we are always here. I will keep you in my prayers.

Cajun Lady 

I hope you find this site as helpful as I have. The women are so insightful and really able to set your mind at ease.  Iam also newly dx(DCIS) and have been having more unusual feelings in my affected breast since having my biopsy. It does make me feel unsettled and the waiting for surgery( mine is set for July 1st) has to be the hardest. During the shock phase my mind would just conjur up the worst. I struggled with taking any relaxants but after many sleepless nights even after excersizing like a fiend I asked my Dr. for a prescription. You know now that I have them available I have only taken 4 pills total. I don't know how you are coping with all of this but believe me reaching out has been the best thing and the most rewarding. Being able to hear that other women have gained perspective and inner peace through this disease has really been inspirational.

 Thank you for the great advice, I did call the surgeon 's office 2 days ago but have not heard back from them.  The pain is manageable, it is just scary not knowing why I am having it.  I did notice the feelings in my arm after my biopsy.    I will definetely keep in touch.

Pinkcorgi    

Honey if they haven't called you back, call them again. This is your body and he is working for you, you need to be able to talk to someone when you call. Remember the weekend is coming up and you know you won't nothing then. You need help from him, and he needs to get in touch with you. This could be a little complication from the biopsy, so don't let it go. Try calling again. Hope you feel better.

Cajun Lady 

An unfortunate welcome to our sadly not so small group here. We are here to help you with whatever you need. There are women on this journey at all points of the path. Some ahead of you to pull you along, some behind you to give you a push, and a lot of us walking right alongside of you who will pick you up and carry you when you need it. I had the same surgery that you're having, except that my lump was bigger than yours, 3.2cm. Once I knew it was there, all of a sudden I started feeling all kinds of twinges, pains, etc. that turned out to be nothing, probably things that we have all along but as busy women don't really pay attention to. Once you have the diagnosis, you notice every minor thing.

That being said, it is something that you need to follow up on diligently. Call them continually until they call you back. You don't want to be going through the weekend with this hanging over you. The waiting will be the hardest. Once you have all the results of everything, you will be able to come up with a definite plan of action and will feel much more in control. And when your emotions get you down, come here, and we will help. Also, you will get to a point where you can help other women, and you will get great satisfaction in that.

Robin

 Yes, you both are right, I called the office and left the lady I spoke to a message to call me back.  Hopefully, she will call today and if not, i will call again.  This support is wonderful and deeply appreciated.  

Let us know what happens. 

 I am hoping and praying all will go good for you.  I, too, had a lumpectomy.  It was not bad and after the surgery I felt very little to almost no pain.  I had two lymph nodes taken and because they did not have cancer I was lucky.  I did have a total of 2 non cancerous tumors and one small cancerous tumor about 1 cm in size.  I had a second surgery to clear the margins around the tumor with cancer.  I underwent radiation, and that went well.  I was extremely tired but managed to work full time.  I am now on Arimidex which I started this past week.  The only thing I notice these past few days is a sharp pain in the affected right breast in the area where the cancerous tumor would have been.  I don't know what is causing this sharp pain but it is not severe nor does it last long.  There  probably are nerve endings that are mending there.  I am up for a mammo on July 15th.  It is not so bad and in fact it is very tolerable and not scary at all.  The stress is waiting for testing and for the results and worrying about every little pain you get.  I offer you my best wishes and prayers so that everything turns out great for you.

Stay positive and try not to worry too much.  Everything will be fine.

Zena