<p>survivor and MyLB, do everything you can to be involved and pro-active in your diagnosis and treatment. That’s what it takes.
I was 36 when I was diagnosed. I did lots of research and insisted on knowing what my options were - I’m not sure I would have had different treatments but at least I felt in control. You can do this survivor, even with the crappy hand you have been dealt as far as support from the flaky H. We’re here, but find an IRL group too!</p>
<p>How bad will it look to the court? H cut off all financial support to minor child and me (non-working spouse with cancer) AND refuses to pay private college tuition for older child? I cannot believe this…</p>
<p>survivor–I am so sorry for your troubles! I hope the court system makes your jack@$$ of a H pay every penny he’s supposed to.</p>
<p>Another serious need for funding is metastasized disease. A friend who has it points out that there is no cure yet. Rather than buying “pink” items in October, I would give money outright for research and treatment.</p>
<p>Can someone tell me how long you waited for biopsy results? And wouldn’t any breast doctor pretty much know what he’s looking at when he sees the magnified mammogram?</p>
<p>And I do sympathize with the lack of focus on lung cancer. I have lost two friends to it in the last three years.</p>
<p>I had my biopsy in Singapore, where medical test results come back very fast. The doctor gave me the results on the third day. I don’t know how long it takes in the states, but I suspect it will take longer. Sorry if you have to wait awhile. </p>
<p>My suspicious mammogram involved clusters of microcalcifications that are sometimes associated with cancer. The surgeon wasn’t sure, so did the biopsy.</p>
<p>I had my biopsy results in 24 hours. I went to the same center where Deanna Favre was diagnosed. They gave me a 90% chance it was cancer based on the mammogram, ultrasound and how it felt when they biopsied it. Unfortunately they were right. I too finished chemo and radiation in July. I now have curly short hair!! Yeah!!
I too tell people don’t buy the pink stuff, give the money right to research. I recommend research for lung cancer too in memory of LTS.
BTW Deanna Favre’s book is excellent especially when starting out in treatment because it gives you a regular person sense of what is going to happen.</p>
<p>My thoughts are with you MyLB and survivor. I am a two year survivor as of this week and doing well. Generally you should be able to get biopsy results with 3 days but I recommend calling your doc, not waiting for them to call you. You probably will not get an answer from the staff but calling will help get an answer quickly. The various breast cancer online support groups can be very helpful to get info on other people’s experiences and most areas have local support groups as well. If you need support contact them now, don’t wait to be sure of results, this is a time when you need support and need to see women who have made through treatment.
Survivor, my thought are with you dealing with your soon to be ex. I hope you have supportive family and friends.
Ellen</p>
<p>dragonmom-I was young like you were when I was diagnosed; thankfully, I am a 16 year survivor! While I had no interest in a support group, I had the support of my large family and friends. I think without them and my own positive outlook, I would not be where I an today.</p>
<p>Everyone going through a diagnosis of cancer or even the possibility of cancer needs a support group; doesn’t matter if it is personal or online, just someone to listen and give advice. No one should do this alone!</p>
<p>MyLB: sending best wishes and good thought your way today.</p>
<p>Yes, everyone NEEDS a support group for this. Family or friends, or online…
I had a terrific amount of support and it makes the overwhelming, bearable.</p>
<p>I was diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago, stage 1 plus. Did ALL the follow ups religiously. Had a routine MRI for a shoulder/arm break problem…and they found a lesion in the healed fracture that could signal metastasis. </p>
<p>To all: Get your mammograms, do your self exams…see your doctor. If you feel a lump see a doctor, ASAP. I did…and now…Good luck to all and their families in the struggle.</p>
<p>I found this to be an incredibly thought-provoking essay:</p>
<p>[Breast</a> Cancer Action - Welcome to Cancerland: A Mammogram Leads to a Cult of Pink Kitsch](<a href=“http://bcaction.org/index.php?page=welcome-to-cancerland-2]Breast”>http://bcaction.org/index.php?page=welcome-to-cancerland-2)</p>
<p>And hugs and prayers for all those fighting cancer of any kind of their families and friends.</p>
<p>My much loved MIL (who was one of my closest friends) died of breast cancer 12 years ago. She would’ve had seconded Ehrenreich’s sentiments.</p>
<p>My SIL, before her untimely death, was working to promote awareness of the links between environmental pollution and breast cancer, spurred partly by the death of her mother. My H now writes extensively on this on his blog, which I won’t link to here.
But here’s some information from the Cancer Prevention Coalition:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>[Chemical</a> Industry Funds Breast Cancer Campaign](<a href=“http://www.preventcancer.com/patients/mammography/awareness.htm]Chemical”>http://www.preventcancer.com/patients/mammography/awareness.htm)</p>
<p>Breast Cancer Action has a campaign against “pinkwashing” which is thoughtprovoking, too. [Breast</a> Cancer Action - Home](<a href=“http://bcaction.org/]Breast”>http://bcaction.org/)</p>
<p>The best protection is prevention–not early detection.</p>