Guest guest Posted December 20, 2002 Report Share Posted December 20, 2002 Hi, I am sorry to hear your news. But I am Stage ll, had one node involved and my margins were not clear. I had decided on a mastectomy so did not need further surgery. I will celebrate my 13th yr in May. I had 6 mo of chemo. If there is anything I can do please let me know. I would be willing to talk to you but would want to send my phone number through email. Hugs marianne Breast Cancer Patients Soul Mates for Life http://www.geocities.com/chucky5741/breastcancerpatients.html Check out my breast cancer ornaments at: http://www.geocities.com/chucky5741/bcornament.html Not so good news - please respond! I came back from my appointment with the surgeon today. He told me that my cancer has spread to my lymph nodes (at least the one they initially disected - which is full of cancer) and he doesn't have the full pathology report but told me that I'm at least a Stage 2. He told me that there is a possibility that it has spread to other parts of my body, and that I will probably have a CT Scan and a bone scan done to find out. He told me my margins were good and I thought that was a good thing, because I thought he was talking about the chances of DCIS and all, but he said they needed to test for that yet, and if the margins weren't negative then I'd have to have a mastectomy. I need to hear from others out there who have been in this boat and are doing OK. My doctor isn't a big one for bedside manners, and wasn't able to give me any reassurances that I would come out of this alive. He pretty much told me that his part is about over - he had the " local control " part of the job, in that he took out the tumor. Now the oncologist and radiologist are doing their part, coming up. My parents are here, and they are from Minnesota - they are insisting that I go to the Mayo Clinic for anything more. I'm certainly not opposed to this. Also, I need more people to talk with about what's going on with me. Do any people on this list exchange phone numbers? I'd sure appreciate being able to talk with some folks in " person " . Anyway, please let me know what your experiences have been - thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2002 Report Share Posted December 20, 2002 I wanted to offer my support. I'm not there yet, am still waiting for a biopsy. My mom went through it all this year. I don't know where you're located or how you feel about your doctor and hospital facilities, but I highly recommend a 2nd opinion at a recognized cancer center. They may tell you the same thing as your local doctors, but that may be enough for you to make a well-informed decision without any second guessing. I know that some ladies in this group can offer the specific info you are looking for, so I will leave that to them. Hang in there and I'll be praying for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2002 Report Share Posted December 20, 2002 Hi there, " myfurkidsmom " . I'm so sorry your answers weren't what you wanted and expected to hear. But, although I know it's hard, try not to freak out. Your surgeon sounds, from his bedside manner, like he should have been a vet. Almost all breast cancers have spread by the time of detection to at least one lymph node, if not more. I think on this entire list I've only heard of one woman who had zero lymph node involvement. Yes it is theoretically possible that your cancer has spread to the rest of your body and you could die, but it is highly unlikely. I was diagnosed at Stage III and the cancer hadn't spread beyond my breast. Most likely yours hasn't either. I'm glad you're done with that particular surgeon because he sounds about as empathetic as a pet rock. All cancers have the possibility to spread and that's probably why your surgeon said what he did. And all cancers have the *potential* to kill you eventually. Had you asked him the percentage of your cancer having already spread to the point of endangering your life, he'd probably have said about one in a thousand, or less likely. Even after the CAT scan and the bone scan, you might not know for absolute certain. My first CAT scan showed an inconclusive liver thingie that, after six months, hasn't changed so it's most likely not cancer. My second CAT scan (last week) showed an inconclusive lung thingie that is too small to test further so I will go ahead with my surgery and be rescanned in three months, at which point the lung thingie will probably be fine and the scan will show yet ANOTHER inconclusive something or other. My oncologist said these tests are too accurate for their own good. We all have " thingies " in our bodies and most of them aren't cancer. And although all cancer *can* theoretically spread and kill us, most of the time, with early detection breast cancer, it doesn't. I know how hard it is, because I'm going through the same thing myself right now with my lung thingie, but try to remember that the odds that are your cancer has not spread beyond the lymph nodes. There's a reason why everyone who has bc has at least some lymph nodes removed. We almost all have cancer in at least one node. And most of us do NOT have cancer anywhere else in our bodies. I'm sorry for your scare, and all I can say is try to ignore it, as it seems highly unlikely it's anything worse than an inconsiderate jerk of a doctor telling you something that, while theoretically possible, is most unlikely in your case. If you want to email me offlist to talk more about this, feel free. I'm at merrillcat@.... Since we're in exactly the same boat at the moment, maybe I could help? Try to relax and enjoy the holidays. Very best wishes, Jill p.s. I'm not much of a phone person but I'd be glad to talk to you if you think it would help. Please email me offline for my phone number, though; I don't feel comfortable posting it on the list. Not because of us legitimate members, but who knows who might be lurking out there. At 03:12 AM 12/20/2002 +0000, you wrote: >I came back from my appointment with the surgeon today. He told me >that my cancer has spread to my lymph nodes (at least the one they >initially disected - which is full of cancer) and he doesn't have the >full pathology report but told me that I'm at least a Stage 2. He >told me that there is a possibility that it has spread to other parts >of my body, and that I will probably have a CT Scan and a bone scan >done to find out. He told me my margins were good and I thought that >was a good thing, because I thought he was talking about the chances >of DCIS and all, but he said they needed to test for that yet, and if >the margins weren't negative then I'd have to have a mastectomy. I >need to hear from others out there who have been in this boat and are >doing OK. My doctor isn't a big one for bedside manners, and wasn't >able to give me any reassurances that I would come out of this >alive. He pretty much told me that his part is about over - he had >the " local control " part of the job, in that he took out the tumor. >Now the oncologist and radiologist are doing their part, coming up. >My parents are here, and they are from Minnesota - they are insisting >that I go to the Mayo Clinic for anything more. I'm certainly not >opposed to this. Also, I need more people to talk with about what's >going on with me. Do any people on this list exchange phone >numbers? I'd sure appreciate being able to talk with some folks >in " person " . Anyway, please let me know what your experiences have >been - thanks! > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2002 Report Share Posted December 20, 2002 i would be willing to talk to you over the phone......just let me know healing hugs and prayers carol from michigan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2002 Report Share Posted December 20, 2002 I would be more than happy to talk on the phone with you but I had stage almost 0 and no node involvement and therefore no chemo after my mastectomy. If you want to talk to me, e-mail me at mkayla38@... and I will send my number. There are probably others here, however who have a closer diagnosis than mine. As for your doctor...if he was not encouraging, I think you should be happy to be rid of him and going to the new help. We need encouragement along with any bad news. I will continue to keep you in my prayers. doris > I came back from my appointment with the surgeon today. He told me > that my cancer has spread to my lymph nodes (at least the one they > initially disected - which is full of cancer) and he doesn't have the > full pathology report but told me that I'm at least a Stage 2. He > told me that there is a possibility that it has spread to other parts > of my body, and that I will probably have a CT Scan and a bone scan > done to find out. He told me my margins were good and I thought that > was a good thing, because I thought he was talking about the chances > of DCIS and all, but he said they needed to test for that yet, and if > the margins weren't negative then I'd have to have a mastectomy. I > need to hear from others out there who have been in this boat and are > doing OK. My doctor isn't a big one for bedside manners, and wasn't > able to give me any reassurances that I would come out of this > alive. He pretty much told me that his part is about over - he had > the " local control " part of the job, in that he took out the tumor. > Now the oncologist and radiologist are doing their part, coming up. > My parents are here, and they are from Minnesota - they are insisting > that I go to the Mayo Clinic for anything more. I'm certainly not > opposed to this. Also, I need more people to talk with about what's > going on with me. Do any people on this list exchange phone > numbers? I'd sure appreciate being able to talk with some folks > in " person " . Anyway, please let me know what your experiences have > been - thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2002 Report Share Posted December 20, 2002 Jill, don't know if you meant me or not but I had zero node involvement. Thank God for that but if I had, I would have fought the battle there too. doris > Hi there, " myfurkidsmom " . I'm so sorry your answers weren't what you wanted > and expected to hear. But, although I know it's hard, try not to freak out. > Your surgeon sounds, from his bedside manner, like he should have been a > vet. Almost all breast cancers have spread by the time of detection to at > least one lymph node, if not more. I think on this entire list I've only > heard of one woman who had zero lymph node involvement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2002 Report Share Posted December 20, 2002 Well, Doris, I'm not sure if I meant you, either! Chemo-brain here forgets a lot. But I am certainly glad you had zero node involvement and didn't need chemo. And I'm glad you've hung around on the list anyhow to be of such tremendous help to those of us who didn't roll quite as good a set of dice as you did. I can always count on a good, informative, and encouraging answer from you. Sometimes I think of you and nne as the " mothers " of this list. Jill At 09:23 PM 12/20/2002 +0000, you wrote: >Jill, don't know if you meant me or not but I had zero node >involvement. Thank God for that but if I had, I would have fought >the battle there too. doris > > > > > Hi there, " myfurkidsmom " . I'm so sorry your answers weren't what you >wanted > > and expected to hear. But, although I know it's hard, try not to >freak out. > > Your surgeon sounds, from his bedside manner, like he should have >been a > > vet. Almost all breast cancers have spread by the time of detection >to at > > least one lymph node, if not more. I think on this entire list I've >only > > heard of one woman who had zero lymph node involvement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2002 Report Share Posted December 20, 2002 Hi There!I was diagnosed with Lobular Carcinoma in Nov.2000.The lump was 2.5 inches.I had a Modified Radical Masectomy and 16 lymph nodes removed.There was cancer in 6 of the nodes.I did Chemo every 3 weeks for 6 months and then radiation 5 days a week for 6 weeks.I just had my 2 year mammogram and it came back ok one more time.They did a full body bone scan,heart Muga,lung x-rays and a lot of bloodwork as well as abdomen x-rays and even a biopsy of my cervex and uterus just to rule out any spread before they started treatments.Luckily all that came back ok.I did have a rough time with the chemo but it seems to have done it's job,cause here I am a 2 year survivor and still cancer free!!So,hang in there,a lot of the Ladies here are even longer survivors,which gives us short timers hope for a long and cancer free future. Kathy > I came back from my appointment with the surgeon today. He told me > that my cancer has spread to my lymph nodes (at least the one they > initially disected - which is full of cancer) and he doesn't have the > full pathology report but told me that I'm at least a Stage 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2002 Report Share Posted December 20, 2002 Hi There!I was diagnosed with Lobular Carcinoma in Nov.2000.The lump was 2.5 inches.I had a Modified Radical Masectomy and 16 lymph nodes removed.There was cancer in 6 of the nodes.I did Chemo every 3 weeks for 6 months and then radiation 5 days a week for 6 weeks.I just had my 2 year mammogram and it came back ok one more time.They did a full body bone scan,heart Muga,lung x-rays and a lot of bloodwork as well as abdomen x-rays and even a biopsy of my cervex and uterus just to rule out any spread before they started treatments.Luckily all that came back ok.I did have a rough time with the chemo but it seems to have done it's job,cause here I am a 2 year survivor and still cancer free!!So,hang in there,a lot of the Ladies here are even longer survivors,which gives us short timers hope for a long and cancer free future. Kathy > I came back from my appointment with the surgeon today. He told me > that my cancer has spread to my lymph nodes (at least the one they > initially disected - which is full of cancer) and he doesn't have the > full pathology report but told me that I'm at least a Stage 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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