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cyclonefence

(4,872 posts)
Sun Sep 23, 2018, 07:14 AM Sep 2018

Well, it's stage three

breast cancer this time, and I'm going nuts again with the waiting. I finally got the biopsy, no surprises there, the radiologist pretty much told me it was bad, and now I need to have a PET scan to see if there's cancer elsewhere in my body before we can schedule surgery and plan any further treatment.

But to get a PET scan you have to have prior authorization from your insurance company, and that's taking forever. "But I have the Gold Medicare plan!" I yelled at my surgeon. Apparently not a factor.

I'm going to have a mastectomy (lumpectomy last time) without reconstruction. I am an old lady with floppy old lady breasts, and I just can't feature one floppy old lady breast and one pert teenage breast, so reconstruction is out. Plus I don't like the idea of implanted anything.

That's the only decision I've been able to make though, until I get this scan. I didn't know that I would not be able to have radiation (of the breast; if it's elsewhere, that's another story) a second time, and there's apparently a limit on how much more chemo I can have, too. Last time I had four doses; this time I may be able to have more, but that will depend on the oncologist, who of course I don't see until I have the fucking scan.

I think the thing that's scary to me is the fact that I had a clear mammogram in February, and this rather large mass showed up in early September. I feel a little invaded.

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Well, it's stage three (Original Post) cyclonefence Sep 2018 OP
Hang in there. sinkingfeeling Sep 2018 #1
you must be so scared... we are here for you any time you need us... samnsara Sep 2018 #2
Sending you peace compassion TEB Sep 2018 #3
Thanks Friend cyclonefence Sep 2018 #4
I'm sorry but optimistic. Tucker08087 Sep 2018 #5
((cyclone)) blm Sep 2018 #6
Hang tough. alfredo Sep 2018 #7
My best wishes, thoughts and prayers to you. Sometimes the waiting for the insurance company, ... SWBTATTReg Sep 2018 #8
You'll get there PennyK Sep 2018 #9
Love and hugs to you! AwakeAtLast Sep 2018 #10
Sending you hugs. Solly Mack Sep 2018 #11

cyclonefence

(4,872 posts)
4. Thanks Friend
Sun Sep 23, 2018, 07:25 AM
Sep 2018

I'm mostly pissed off about having to wait. Not scared--what happens, happens--but anxious to get the damn show on the road.

Tucker08087

(621 posts)
5. I'm sorry but optimistic.
Sun Sep 23, 2018, 07:58 AM
Sep 2018

My grandmother, aunt, and mom have been through this. It’s not a fun process, but two of them are still here and my grandma would be 95. Sending you positive, healing energy and strength to fight. My son wears pink laces for football for breast cancer and posts this message to Instagram with a picture (which I don’t know how to do) with this exact message that I’ll pass on to you: Fight Like a Girl!

alfredo

(60,132 posts)
7. Hang tough.
Sun Sep 23, 2018, 09:01 AM
Sep 2018

How your immune system reacts to the Chemo will determine how many runs.

Be a happy warrior. Good luck.

SWBTATTReg

(24,011 posts)
8. My best wishes, thoughts and prayers to you. Sometimes the waiting for the insurance company, ...
Sun Sep 23, 2018, 09:02 AM
Sep 2018

the waiting for the test results of scans, or just plain waiting, etc. are the worse part of this whole mess. I can't imagine that the insurance company would be a part of your problems, being that if the doctors more quickly find out what is going on within your body, that they can move more quickly into addressing the health issue(s) discovered during the PET scans, etc. I too have the 'gold' plan too. Scary.

Blessings and courage to you, my friend.

PennyK

(2,311 posts)
9. You'll get there
Sun Sep 23, 2018, 09:54 AM
Sep 2018

That stuff can grow quickly!
Once you have the scan they'll know better how to deal with it.
A mastectomy isn't that bad. Just make sure your doctor monitors the area afterward (I had complications).
Please let us know what happens.

AwakeAtLast

(14,245 posts)
10. Love and hugs to you!
Sun Sep 23, 2018, 11:18 AM
Sep 2018

I hope that surgery is successful for you! Do you have a good support system at home?

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