nanceetrip
03-24-2009, 10:25 PM
I have a lump, i have had a mammo, a sonogram,and now they want me to have an mri, i can't sleep, i'm throwing up, there isn't enough xanax in the world to help me calm down or sleep, how do you get through it all? I need help from someone who has been diagnosed and has come to terms with all of it. I am shaking and i haven't even been confirmed yet. How do you women do it? Sleep? Eat? Anything?! I am literally sick with worry, vomiting, can't sleep, and you, the confirmed, you are truly! Going through hell, how do you superwomen do it???
Sponsor
Stitcher317
03-25-2009, 10:50 PM
Hi Nancee,
First of all, sit back and take a deep breath and try to relax. I know exactly how you feel.
I found a lump in Sept after having had a normal mammo in June. I had to push my Dr. to refer me for an ultrasound.....had the US and while I was waiting for the results the nurse came in and said I needed a biopsy. I knew right then and there it was cancer as my mom had it at age 71 and I am 67. Everything happened so fast. I heard 3 days later that it was indeed cancer and I needed to have surgery. When this happened I was in my summer home in NE PA and knew I didn't want to proceed with my care up in the mountains. Within 2 days my family Dr in Fla arranged all my pre-op appointments and my wonderful girlfriends down here stood ready to accompany me through the maze of medical appointments. My darling husband wasn't ready to leave his golf and tennis buddies so I set out on this journey all alone . I packed up my car, my son's dog and drove 17 hrs to Fla and had my treatment plan outlined for me within 24 hrs of arriving down here. If I can do this, you can as well.
All in all with the MRI, tests, etc. it took about 3 weeks to get on the surgery schedule. My sister flew down from NJ and my 3 bestest friends, now my "angels" accompanied me the day of surgery as they had done for every Dr's visit before. Meanwhile, hubby continued to enjoy his time in the mountains and never missed a golf game or tennis match! To this date he can't name even one of the Dr's that took care of me. :( (more on that at a later date!)
I was lucky. My cancer was DCIS, Stage 0 with no lymph node involvement. The lumpectomy was a breeze and all I took afterwards was Tylenol.
I underwent 6 weeks of whole breast radiation with no complications except a little fatigue. All in all, it was not a horrible experience. A gal in our quilt guild had a lumpectomy at the same time I did and she was DX's with Stage 2 Invasive cancer. She could not have radiation since she had it years ago for Hodgkins Disease so had a mystectomy with an implant inserted. She is just finishing her chemo and is doing GREAT. She did lose her hair but hasn't been sick for even one minute.
So, here are 2 experiences for you. The more people I tell about this the more people I learn have had this and you just never suspected. It's an epidemic in women these days. I completely understand your anxiety over this but even if you do have cancer it is so manageable and curable these days. You have to stay positive and know that you can get through this.....
At the end of the day I try to stay positive and live in the moment. It was recommended that I take Tamoxifen or Arimadex now for 5 years since my tumor was estrogen receptive. I haven't made a firm decision on this as yet.
Please know we're listening and know we care. Keep in touch, try to relax and take everything one step at a time. I know it's not easy when there is so much going on in your mind. Do you have friends or family that can be with you now? You need some "angels" by your side. I'll be one if you like......:wave:
First of all, sit back and take a deep breath and try to relax. I know exactly how you feel.
I found a lump in Sept after having had a normal mammo in June. I had to push my Dr. to refer me for an ultrasound.....had the US and while I was waiting for the results the nurse came in and said I needed a biopsy. I knew right then and there it was cancer as my mom had it at age 71 and I am 67. Everything happened so fast. I heard 3 days later that it was indeed cancer and I needed to have surgery. When this happened I was in my summer home in NE PA and knew I didn't want to proceed with my care up in the mountains. Within 2 days my family Dr in Fla arranged all my pre-op appointments and my wonderful girlfriends down here stood ready to accompany me through the maze of medical appointments. My darling husband wasn't ready to leave his golf and tennis buddies so I set out on this journey all alone . I packed up my car, my son's dog and drove 17 hrs to Fla and had my treatment plan outlined for me within 24 hrs of arriving down here. If I can do this, you can as well.
All in all with the MRI, tests, etc. it took about 3 weeks to get on the surgery schedule. My sister flew down from NJ and my 3 bestest friends, now my "angels" accompanied me the day of surgery as they had done for every Dr's visit before. Meanwhile, hubby continued to enjoy his time in the mountains and never missed a golf game or tennis match! To this date he can't name even one of the Dr's that took care of me. :( (more on that at a later date!)
I was lucky. My cancer was DCIS, Stage 0 with no lymph node involvement. The lumpectomy was a breeze and all I took afterwards was Tylenol.
I underwent 6 weeks of whole breast radiation with no complications except a little fatigue. All in all, it was not a horrible experience. A gal in our quilt guild had a lumpectomy at the same time I did and she was DX's with Stage 2 Invasive cancer. She could not have radiation since she had it years ago for Hodgkins Disease so had a mystectomy with an implant inserted. She is just finishing her chemo and is doing GREAT. She did lose her hair but hasn't been sick for even one minute.
So, here are 2 experiences for you. The more people I tell about this the more people I learn have had this and you just never suspected. It's an epidemic in women these days. I completely understand your anxiety over this but even if you do have cancer it is so manageable and curable these days. You have to stay positive and know that you can get through this.....
At the end of the day I try to stay positive and live in the moment. It was recommended that I take Tamoxifen or Arimadex now for 5 years since my tumor was estrogen receptive. I haven't made a firm decision on this as yet.
Please know we're listening and know we care. Keep in touch, try to relax and take everything one step at a time. I know it's not easy when there is so much going on in your mind. Do you have friends or family that can be with you now? You need some "angels" by your side. I'll be one if you like......:wave:
JewelryJulie
03-26-2009, 01:28 PM
I had the test your going to have, and still had to have a biopsy. Talk about frightened!! I found that if I thought positively and tried NOT to think about it at all-pretending it was just another test to be sure-it would turn out alright.
Turned out my test came back as benign and although I still have a lump to look after (changes, growth, etc.) I am ok today. If you think about it every minute, it will make life miserable. Try to involve yourself in other things until you know what you are dealing with for sure--cross that bridge...
Also, many people do live long lives after a diagnosis of breast cancer-but usually with a positive outlook. Try not to worry until there is something to worry about for sure. (Hard I know-but the week+ I waited to find my results, I just brainwashed myself to believe it was like a pap test or any other and it was no big deal. So, either I had a week of misery and then more misery or a week of misery and then relief--or a normal week and deal with it later.)
Best wishes and I hope that you have a negative result as I did.
Julie
Turned out my test came back as benign and although I still have a lump to look after (changes, growth, etc.) I am ok today. If you think about it every minute, it will make life miserable. Try to involve yourself in other things until you know what you are dealing with for sure--cross that bridge...
Also, many people do live long lives after a diagnosis of breast cancer-but usually with a positive outlook. Try not to worry until there is something to worry about for sure. (Hard I know-but the week+ I waited to find my results, I just brainwashed myself to believe it was like a pap test or any other and it was no big deal. So, either I had a week of misery and then more misery or a week of misery and then relief--or a normal week and deal with it later.)
Best wishes and I hope that you have a negative result as I did.
Julie
mimi1824
03-26-2009, 01:43 PM
Hi, I was DX with Breast Cancer in Sept 2006, (kind of like stitcher), got the biopsy, surgery, chemo, radiation and on Tamoxifen. When I was told, I thought, no way, i'm not ready to leave this earth just yet. Too many things left for me to do here. I was 44 and I want to see my son graduate, I want to be a grand mother one day, so not ready to go. You must think positive and positive things will happen. Take care and keep us posted
nanceetrip
03-26-2009, 11:44 PM
Thank you so much, i am happy, that you are happy. I have had crohns since i was a kid. In my 40's, due to a brain lesion, i started having seizures, so i always think the worst cause its always been this way! Thank you so much for taking the time to help me, god bless you
nanceetrip
03-26-2009, 11:46 PM
Thank you so much, you are correct that i should stay calm, i don't know how you do it. I just can't relax, i want to, and i will keep you posted, cause you,all of you, have been so kind, so generous, women rule. Especially you survivors, luv me, pray for me, i am an orphan, unmarried, all alone, its scary. Thank you for your help, literally, god bless you
nanceetrip
03-26-2009, 11:49 PM
You have made me feel so much better, maybe i will actually sleep tonight. Thank you so much, i am happy, that you are happy. I have had crohns since i was a kid. In my 40's, due to a brain lesion, i started having seizures, so i always think the worst cause its always been this way! Thank you so much for taking the time to help me, god bless you. I hope that all i have to do is "keep an eye on it too", thank you over and over and over, luv nancee
JewelryJulie
03-30-2009, 02:52 PM
I am glad I could make you feel better. I worry also as I had a large tumor biopsied and they needed to take cells from all sides, which has made it kind of move around a bit. (Hard to explain.) Anyway, so I still have this and it feels like either it is now more than one tumor or it split or something. I also have other areas to keep an eye on. I will be seeing the dr. in the am and have her feel it again. I also felt a new lump and have to have it looked at. I am only 38 and every single system is falling apart (I have a lot of health problems myself) so I know what you are dealing with. I have my days where I fall apart, as we all do. Just let us know what happens and know that this board is always here for you when you need it.
Julie
Julie