Hello all

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Twilightgirl
Twilightgirl Member Posts: 54
edited October 2016 in Newly diagnosed

Hello everyone i am new to the forum and newly diagnosed with breast cancer and am looking at people i can talk to that are going through the same thing as I am. I have lots of decisions to make as to what will be best for me. I have been told that I will have the operation to take out the breast cancer and have some lymph nodes taken out to see if they have cancer in them on the 15th of March and going to the doctor tomorrow to talk about double mastectomy as i have the BRCA1 Gene. I have been tested every 6 months since finding out i have the BRCA1 Gene and kept telling the doctor i would only think of mastectomy if i ever devoloped cancer in my breast. So i have some big decisions to make.

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  • donnafischer
    donnafischer Dragonfly Posts: 144
    edited March 2016
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    No advice as you're on a completely different path to me, but hugs, take deep breaths. take everything one bit of information at a time. xxx

  • Twilightgirl
    Twilightgirl Member Posts: 54
    edited March 2016
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    Thankyou and hugs to you to. Just wondering i try to do my profile and every time i go to submit it just comes up with a circle and red line through it on my cursor and it will not put anything in there when i hit submit 

     

  • CHARLIES ANGEL
    CHARLIES ANGEL Member Posts: 13
    edited March 2016
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    Hi T 

    I am also newly diagnosed and am having hookwire WLE biopsy on 18 March.  I havent gone for gene testing yet - just filled forms out at SCGH.  

    I look forward to hearing what advice is posted for you x

    Sending you hugs and best wishes that everything goes well.

    Eva 

  • Twilightgirl
    Twilightgirl Member Posts: 54
    edited March 2016
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    Thankyou for the hugs and best wishes i wish the same for you will let you know on posts how i go and what decision i come to tomorrow after seeing the doctor.

  • CHARLIES ANGEL
    CHARLIES ANGEL Member Posts: 13
    edited March 2016
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    Im not sure but maybe someone in Admin can help you with your profile pic x

  • PaulaN
    PaulaN Member Posts: 237
    edited March 2016
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    Hi TwilightGirl I'm newly diagnosed as well & am having my surgery tomorrow, lymph node testing & gene tests aswell. It is a lot to take in isn't it. Be kind to yourself while you absorb everything. Fine for me to say as I keep saying everything's surreal myself. There's lots of support here as you will find out.
    Paula
  • Twilightgirl
    Twilightgirl Member Posts: 54
    edited March 2016
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    Thanks Paula and i hope everything goes well at your surgery. I have a big decision to make tomorrow about weather to have the mastectomy or just have the cancer removed and lymph nodes tested but i will let everyone know tomorrow when i get home how it goes at the doctors and what my decision will be.

  • Cook65
    Cook65 Member Posts: 733
    edited March 2016
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    Hi there,

    welcome to all of you girls but I'm so sorry you've had to join us.  It's is difficult to make plans regarding treatments and surgery until you get your pathology reports from the surgery. We all have different paths to follow depending on our results. What I would suggest is the following:

    - get your my journey kit and have a read. It may help you understand about your options a bit better

    - take someone else with you to your appointments as you may become overwhelmed and not remember things that were said

    - ask lots of questions of your medical prof. essionals. Don't be shy or embarrassed as they have heard it all before and understand what a huge decision it is to make

    - don't be bullied into making a decision by anyone. You have to live with your decision and the consequences of that decision. 

    - and lastly, take one day and one appointment at a time. Things can change fairly quickly early on. I was initially told I wouldn't have to have chemo but after the pathology came back I did. Remember that although this is hard, you will get through it. And we will all be there to help you through. All the best. Karen xox

  • Twilightgirl
    Twilightgirl Member Posts: 54
    edited March 2016
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    Thanks Karen and i have my journey kit and have been reading but I am leaning towards double mastectomy as i have the BRCA1 Gene and if i have the cancer taken out and some lymph nodes that they have to test even if the lymph nodes turn out that they do not have cancer I still think to myself that if i have the double mastectomy i will not get breast cancer again as i am at a higher risk with the gene of getting more breast cancer. I said i will not think of mastectomy unless i ended up getting breast cancer and it has happened and I know it will be hard going through having a double mastectomy and then reconstruction but if it saves me getting more breast cancer it would be worth it won't it. But anyway i am going to my doctor tomorrow and bringing my mum with me for support to talk about everything and see what he says about it all.

  • Brenda5
    Brenda5 Member Posts: 2,423
    edited March 2016
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    I don't have the BRCA1 but I am thinking if I did I would be living my life worried about it all the time. Could that aspect make me more prone to further cancers the stress thing? Perhaps.

    A double mastectomy is rather a big thing but after having had the one done and I did get over it ok, I am thinking if I had to, a double one would have been doable. At least then that risk is gone for breast cancer and your life can get going again.

  • skitzy
    skitzy Member Posts: 180
    edited March 2016
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    So sorry to that you had to join us on this forum.

    I had a right breast mastectomy on the 10th Feb with 1 lymph node removed, although the cancer had a 10 mm clearance the lymph node had cancer so will be having an axillary clearance on the 9th March, followed by chemo & radiation.

    When I was diagnosed in January I just wanted the cancer out & the DR suggested a mastectomy as it was invasive Lobular.The mastectomy was not as bad as I thought it was going to be.

    I did not have the BRCA1 gene & only you can make the decision which is right for you.  I hope you have a Mcgrath breast care nurse that can help & advise you. I know you will get some good advice here on the forum.

    The members here are fantastic & will try & help you. I was advised to take things 1 day at a time & sometimes it comes down to 1 hour at a time. Wishing you well.

    Sending big hugs to you.

    Eileen xx

  • Ann-Marie
    Ann-Marie Member Posts: 1,142
    edited March 2016
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    Hi Twilightgirl,

    Welcome to the Online Network. If you would like to email me your photo I can have a look to see what is going on - apistikakis@bcna.org.au.

    On another note team Edward or team Jacob? :)

    ~Ann-Marie

  • donnafischer
    donnafischer Dragonfly Posts: 144
    edited March 2016
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    ooh oooh can I play??? Team Jacob all the way!!!!

     

  • Twilightgirl
    Twilightgirl Member Posts: 54
    edited March 2016
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    well i went to the doctor today to talk things over with him and he says if i have the cancer removed and the lymph nodes tested. I could still have a chance the cancer will come back either in the same breast or in the other one as the cancer i have in the breast he said is a fast growing cancer and with having the brca1 does not help it any. So i decided that the best thing might be to have a double mastectomy anyway to save my life and save me from getting more breast cancer. So I go in to have the double mastectomy on the 23rd of March and have expanders put in. And doctor said after the op i will have to start to have some chemo which i am not looking forward to as i am scared to lose my hair been growing it for a while and it is just starting to look nice, Breast care nurse said they put some cap on your head or something so you do not lose as much hair as people use to and that you would not really notice it. I hope she is right. I will be in hospital for 3 days and 2 nights if things go ok if i am still really sick after that they will keep me in longer.

     

  • Twilightgirl
    Twilightgirl Member Posts: 54
    edited March 2016
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    I am Team Edward by the way he is so cute.