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usohnstad
New User
Joined: 30 Dec 2008
Posts: 1
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 Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:45 am Post subject: New to sight...survivor stories and lobulars |
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Hi.. I am new to this sight. I am 57 years old and was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2008. I had never missed a mammo but they found a lump that may have been in my breast for years. It was hidden in my lobes. I started out stage 1 on mammo, went to stage 2 with an MRI, and ended up stage 3 after the surgery. My stats are ILC, 2.2 cm, 7+/14 lymph nodes, ER+/PR-/HER- and grade 1. I had my breast removed, completed 4AC, 4Taxol, just finishing radiation, and have started Arimidex. I can not think of anything else. I wake worrying and go to bed worrying. My oncologist gives me a 50% chance. I have a few questions. I can't understand how a 2.2 cm worked it way into 7 lymph nodes, usually I hear of the larger ones getting into this many lymph nodes...is mine a bad thing or is it better that it is small. My surgeon thinks it may have been growing so slowly for years. Also I read on the internet that lobular doesn't respond well to chemo. Does that mean I don't have much of a chance. Thanks to anyone to response...also like to hear some survivor stories...
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Judy O. Want to Live |
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brainman
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Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 5985
Location: Tennessee
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Cindy
Senior User
Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 187
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| Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 11:54 pm Post subject: Re: New to sight...survivor stories and lobulars |
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Hon, take a deep breath. The first thing we think when we are diagnosed is that we are going to die. Your doc should NEVER have told you that you have a 50% chance to live. He does not know. I have known of women who have been given 3 months...and lasted 20 years. No one...I mean no one can tell you how long you are going to live. Focus on keeping yourself in as best shape as possible during this time by eating a good, balanced diet.
I can guarantee you that every one of us woke up worrying and went to bed worrying, initially. I thought about my bc every single waking moment. I couldn't turn my mind off that I had bc. Soon as I opened my eyes that was my first thought in the morning. It was the last thought as I went to sleep. As time goes on, the fear lessens. Learn all that you can learn about your disease. The more accurate knowledge you have, the less fear. It will get better...I promise.
It is very, very easy for a 2.2cm tumor to work its way in to lymph nodes. A 1cm tumor can do it, too. If the cancer has grown outside of the boundaries of the duct or lobe, it is no longer contained. It becomes easy to spread from that point.
I have known of many women who have had lobular and they responded to treatment. Your onc just has to find what combination works best for YOU. Do not think for a minute that you don't have a chance. You have a GREAT chance. Cancer is no longer an automatic death sentence. I know of a lady whose bc spread into her liver. She had 9 tumors in her liver. She is free of cancer and doing well, today.
Many cancers are slow growing and may have grown for years. Mine popped up literally overnight and grew so fast that by the time I felt an ache in my breast, with no lump...three weeks later I had a dime sized palpable tumor. I got right in to see the doc. By the time I had ultrasound it was 1.5cm and by the time I had surgery, they had to guess at the size due to the tumor being full of blood vessels it had developed and the severe angiolymphatic invasion. I am a 6.5 year survivor, with no recurrence. I am triple negative, so after chemo and rads, there was no more treatment for me.
Sending you many, many healing blessings.
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mymaria
Experienced user
Joined: 28 Feb 2008
Posts: 63
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| Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 7:02 am Post subject: Re: New to sight...survivor stories and lobulars |
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Have to definitely disagree with the doctor's 50% assessment. He doesn't know w/ any certainty.
My wife was diagnosed with Stage IV and given almost no chance of survival. She is currently in remission and recovering. Had great doctors, nurses, and a lot of friends praying for her (us). She is approaching 1-year w/o recurrence.
Please do not succumb to statistics. Be realistic, be prepared, be informed, and be around family, friends and medical personnel that give you hope and stability in perspective.
Stay strong.
Richard
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