I unofficially qualified for this group early last month...

[dixiegrrrrl]

and today want to officially join, because discussions about other issues on DU somehow don't seem quite as important now as they did.

Went from mammogram to biopsy to mastectomy in about 3 weeks. Mastectomy was July 14.
Diagnosis is Stage II B, invasive Mucinous carcinaoma of left breast.

"Mucinous carcinoma of the breast — sometimes called colloid carcinoma — is a rare form of invasive ductal carcinoma (cancer that begins in the milk duct and spreads beyond it into nearby healthy tissue)." says Breastcancer.org, which is massively helpful site, I have been living on it practically, learning a lot.


In my case, post mastectomy, the treatment plan is for 12 weeks of chemo at rate of 3 times a week, then 5 years of hormone therapy to reduce as much estrogen as possible and starve the beast. The cancer feeds on estrogren.

So next week I see oncologist for 2nd time to discuss beginning chemo,
and I could really use handy tips and tricks and honest realities of what to do and not do on chemo.
Mr. Dixie is incredibly helpful, can very well handle everything the house and I need, thank god.

Have not started treatment yet but for the last 2 weeks have been very tired and sleeping a lot. I have a friend who in an RN who says that is normal, as the body recovers from the intensive surgery, and toss in my over 65 years, we don't bounce back as we used to.
But the surgeon says I am healing remarkablely fast.
I plan on asking about the sleeping thing when I see him this Monday.

Good news: Hospital for all treatment and test is 5 miles down the road.
And I do have Medicare A and B and the chemo AND the operation are on what Medicare calls an outpatient basis, so 80% is covered.

Gonna be reading y'alls posts now.......