Where to go for possible breast cancer answers?
 

Hi, I noticed that there are very few new posts in this sub-forum.
Where do you guys like to go, to get the best answers to the basic/beginner questions regarding to I just found out I have a possible breast tumor?

Thanks as always,
Sunrise

Are you schduled for more testing ?
That should be the next step.

from what I recall
possible suspicious node is found
more testing - special MRI, biopsy, ultrasound and more

if a lumpectomy is done, then usually followed with radiation.

2 of my relatives went thru this with the lumpectomy & radiation and are doing just fine.

Thanks Jo*mar for the reassurance. I have an appt., scheduled with a surgeon tomorrow.
It's just that there is so much controversy about everything, even a needle biopsy, in case it disturbs the cancer cells and they move outside of the tumor.
I did see that there are some resources listed in a sticky above here so I'll check those out.
But I do like to hear people's personal experiences with organizations, web-sites, etc.
Thanks again,
Sunrise

Hi Sunrise ~ I went thru the scare you're going thru, and ended up having to have a lumpectomy. They found out I was at Stage ZERO!!! I didn't even know there WAS a Stage Zero! LOL First tho, I had to go thru the biopsy, and they wanted to do the needle biopsy, but because I'm so small breasted they weren't able to ~ the needle would have hit the chest wall. :eek: So they had to do it the 'old' way. After they found that the cells were malignant, then they scheduled me for surgery. That was really no big deal. I look a little funny cause my surgeon said they had to take alot of tissue, but that's better than the whole thing.

After that I had 6 weeks of daily radiation therapy. It was a pain cause I had to drive quite a way, but if it was gonna keep it from coming back, so what? ;) It's been over 2 years now, and I'm doing fine. I did NOT have to have chemo. They asked me to but I said NO ~ I didn't like the side affects. And the chances of it coming back WITH the chemo verses without weren't much different, so I'm taking my chances.

I hope and pray that your possible tumor is just fatty tissue and nothing else. Please let us know as soon as YOU know, ok? We support each other here. God bless and I'm keeping you in my prayers. hugs, Lee

Don't panic yet! Wait till all the tests are in....
 

A good place for learning is the following site:
http://www.breastcancer.org/
Another good site is: http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/Diagnosis.html
Click on the blue and you'll get a new screen....go on from there.
There will be a LOT of tests done before any real decisions are made. At that point, bring a note pad & pen, plus either a good friend or spouse along to be that extra 'pair of ears'. There will be points during the diagnosis and discussions about what to do next where your brain just mite 'shut off'. Between your 'notes' and your extra 'ears', you'll have time to asorb all the info assaulting you. Be sure also? That you trust your docs [surgeon & oncologist] and better yet, like or respect them as well...that makes it easier to ask all those important questions often unasked.
At this point gloss over all the sub-stages and just get the basics, but don't really panic until all those tests [and there are many] are in! Then you can cram your brain full of facts and info and not with info you really don't need to know about.
I hope that you come in at stage 1, as I did! I was very lucky with the timing of THAT doc's appointment. Please don't be shy about asking questions and be patient w/us all. :hug::hug:'s!!!!!!!!!!! - j