I have yet to met a medical oncologist but I assumed due to age chemo is most likely - wondering if chemo is somewhat standard for people under 40?
I’m freshly diagnosed. I’ve been largely okay, but occasionally there are days I just suddenly feel everything all at once and just can’t. for example, today I suddenly feel like my cancer will come back and kill me. I have not started treatment yet. I just sat there and cried for a few hours because this cancer I haven’t even started treatment is going to come back and kill me. lol how fun. please tell me that people who are doing well and don’t have recurrence just don’t come to vent online. this is all selection bias that I’m reading, and I really shouldn’t be reading more 😂
i got mammogram and US on Monday, and received final diagnosis of IDC today. No IHC result yet. what should I expect moving forward?
I’m 33F with no family history.
7/18 - I felt a lump in my breast while lying on the couch responding to emails. I reached out to my PCP’s office but they don’t work on the weekend.
7/20 - Nurse triage reach out and set up an appointment with a NP, not my regular PCP since I told them I want to get seen and referred ASAP. Appointment scheduled for 7/22.
7/22 - NP confirmed the presence of the lump. Told me that the lump is smooth, movable, and they told me they are putting me in for a routine mammogram because it is likely benign.
7/23 - Radiology called to schedule. I asked for the earliest appointment possible, they scheduled me for 7/27.
7/27 - Not good. Did both mammogram and ultrasound. At the end of the ultrasound, radiologist walked in and told me that this is not good. My lump is classified as a 4(on the written doc), his sub-classification is 4c but based on his experience, this is >95% cancer. I have a spiculated, taller than wide, 2.5 cm mass. I have no pregnancy/ breast feeding/ physical trauma in that area. He tried to squeeze me in for a same day biopsy but wasn’t able to since I only have a suspicious lymph node.
7/28 - radiology called back to schedule the biopsy for 8/5. They then called me in 2 hours that there is a cancellation, and they can schedule me on 7/29.
7/29 - I did the biopsy. When the US tech was looking for the lymph node, she commented the doctor was likely just being careful on the lymph node. But the lump is very likely malignant. Told me I should get my results back by 8/3.
I am horrified, I cried for days. I will still suddenly burst into tears. I told my friends and they cried. Right now, I felt like I am mentally prepared for the worst case scenario. I kept flipping back and forth between why haven’t I noticed this sooner(now, the very best case scenario is stage 2), and I guess at least I found it now rather than a year from now. I’m also extra horrified because I am a cancer biologist. I know that this is not likely going to be benign. The treatment is going to be horrific. I also have to go tell my parents hey guess what, you might get to have a say in the urn I go home in. I am terrified.