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Early HER2+
I understand what Early is and I am grateful that I found something at the same time as my breastscreen mammogram and it is not in lymph glands, PET was also clear but they need a new name for Early. My treatment is starting 9/10 and will be Chemo (abraxane) & hercepton then surgery and radiation. I thought I had choice after doing a lot of research on trusted websites, listening to great podcasts and asking questions of my MDT but although they say I do they highly recommend the above plan. I am resolved to losing my hair and looking forward to the freedom no hair should bring me, I am self employed so can regulate my hours, I am active and look forward to keeping that going, as I know how good it makes me feel and again research shows, it helps us through chemo and everything else. What I struggle with is seeing others reactions to the news and seeing my husband frustrated by the time it takes to have tests and get things started. I would delay treatment even longer if I could but know that is not a good decision as the HER2+ is a grade 3. With a name like Early people seem to think š¤ I will have an easy run, and I certainly hope I do but have read enough to know that I may not. People also say oh thatās good itās not urgent then and not that bad. For someone who limits toxins as much as one can this is testing my self control to the limits and then having people say and think š¤ it is going to be an easy road does not sit well with me. I am babbling and that is certainly something that has happened since diagnosis. I spent 24 hours in denial and 24 hours in why and have decided to tell only positive supportive people going forward and focus on things I can control and leave the rest to my team. thankyou for letting me rant and thankyou for all your encouraging posts and links which I have loved. Letās kick this tumours out of here x
Difficult to organize a biopsy
A week ago I had a CT scan of the chest due to being out of breath. It was thought to be a problem with my lungs though I have no cough and don't smoke. The scan showed a 3.7 cm calcified elongated mass in the right breast tissue. It also showed scattered ground glass densities. Sometimes this can indicate metastatic breast cancer. I've read that a mass that is elongated should be investigated, and 3.7 cm is quite large. As well, both my mother and grandmother had breast cancer after menopause. The type in both cases was slow growing and didn't kill either of them. I asked the GP if I could get a guided needle aspiration biopsy. She gave me a referral. Wouldn't you think such a thing is urgent? I rang the imaging centre where the CT scan was done, in a town a half hour drive away, and they had several weeks' wait. I tried every centre in Canberra and they all had a wait between several weeks and several months. Wouldn't this mean the difference between treatable cancer, and one that has got away to the point that it's terminal? I thought even a week's delay could be dangerous? I finally found a place near Wollongong that can do the biopsy in two weeks' time. I'll need to drive three hours to get there. I'm just horrified that it's so difficult to get a biopsy of a suspicious lump. Has anyone else had this experience?Working while waiting for surgery
Hi all, was diagnosed 3 weeks ago today with early stage and was told Iād be having surgery pretty quickly. Ended up having to have more tests to eliminate issues in the other side and thankfully that all seems to be clear. But that has meant I still donāt have a date for surgery (I should find out tomorrow hopefully). My question is about how youāve all kept sane during this ālimboā period. My emotions and anxiety are all over the place, I canāt really focus or concentrate so Iāve taken a fair few days off work. Iām lucky enough that I can work from home (when Iām up to it) and my boss is awesome but I weirdly feel guilty about taking time off as though I should be managing this better. Iām conscious my surgery might not be for another few weeks so feel I need to work out better ways to handle this. Any inputs welcome! Thanks.HRT withdrawal after DCIS diagnosis
Hi there. Just this week had my DCIS diagnosis and am reeling - totally out the blue. All moving very fast so wanted to ask the community about HRT. I have been told to just stop it immediately. Im peri and been on it 18 months or so. Really concerned all my symptoms will just come back. Can anyone give any advice or perspective if they have had to do this and what has happened to them?Surgeon & Hospital Choices Melbourne
Hi, I am recently diagnosed with DCIS and 75 years old. I live in Melbourne and need to select a Surgeon and Hospital for either a Lumpectomy or mastectomy. Does anyone have experience with Cabrini or Epworth and also with the surgeons Sarah Kemp or Melanie Walker?
How did I get here?
Hi everyone, what do I sayā¦I am in shock! I felt it was time I reached out to the community as Iāve been reading all your posts the past few weeks and now I really need support and reassurance. I am 56 and have a wonderful husband and three beautiful 20 something children. I had a routine mammogram in April (12 monthly due to Mum and sister both having BC in the past - both early and doing fine now) and diagnosed on 13 May with invasive carcinoma with micropapillary features, 17mm in size, ER/PR+ve HER2 2+equivaocal from biopsy and ultrasound/3D mammogram. A further weeks wait for HER2 ISH testing which was negative before surgery options were discussed. As I have size G breasts and the lump was apparently so small I opted for WLE with oncoplastic breast reduction as my Mum and sister had both had good outcomes with lumpectomy so I was confident with the reduction they would get good margins. Surgery was performed on 30/5 and Iāve recovered well. Here js the kickerā¦I went back for the surgery and sentinel lymph node biopsy results and first the surgeon tells me the tumour was 64mm not 17mm! Then he tells me there were mega metastases in the lymph node which was removed. On the pathology report it say āthe lymph node is almost completely replaced by metastatic carcinoma with similar histological featuresā. The sentinel node was 28mm. Does this mean I have metastatic cancer? I am reelingā¦how did they get it so wrong??? And what now? The surgeon has said the next step is an auxiliary dissection which he has booked me in on 30/6 to doā¦20 days away! He said he needs to wait for things to settle properly after the last surgery with reduction. Meanwhile this cancer is travelling all through meā¦ I am booked in for a PET with CT scan on Thursday which I guess they are looking for more metastases. Should I also be asking for a bone scan? I have not been referred to an oncologist yet, apparently that is after the next surgery but I really donāt understand why they wouldnāt be thinking to get me started on that now rather than waiting even longer. I just canāt comprehend the results I got yesterday. I have so many questions and I just feel like the surgeon is following a routine but I donāt understand why. After a sleepless night of anxiety through the roof I would love some words of advice from this amazing community. Thank you x
Letting go of blame - WHY did I get cancer?
I've just listened to BCNA's excellent podcast: What you don't know until you do, and one of the comments there made me want to share something that might bring comfort to anyone wondering āWhy me?ā When I was diagnosed, I went straight to questioning what I might have done wrong. I think a lot of us do. Itās easy to assume cancer comes from our own doing - e.g. drinking, not exercising enough, or eating poorly. But in my case, none of that fits. I have never smoked or drank alcohol (!), and for decades now Iāve exercised daily and eat a vegetarian/pescatarian diet with no dairy, no processed food, and very limited processed sugar etc. Over the last years, I'm moved to a job that's relatively stress-free and giving me much satisfaction and flexibility. Iām young, healthy, lean, muscly, and donāt carry any of the high-risk genes. And still, I got breast cancer. Iām not sharing this to scare anyone or suggest healthy habits donāt matter. They absolutely do ā and I believe theyāre helping me now in recovery, physically and mentally, and hopefully they've contributed to having less aggressive cancer type. But Iām sharing it in case it helps some of you lift some guilt. If youāve been blaming yourself for a glass of wine, skipped workouts, or a part of your diet ā please donāt. Cancer is complex, and sometimes it just happens, even when youāve done everything āright.ā Sending love and strength to everyone going through this. *Moderators - pls feel free to remove if not appropriate*
Wearing a bra 24/7
Hi. Recently had surgery for DCIS. Results are positive. Follow up appointment with oncologist. Surgeon was fantastic, but was not as supportive as I thought she would be. Has done her bit I guess. Dressings are off and need to keep covered when showering. Looking for advice on best waterproof dressings to use. Pretty tender under the arm. Little bit swollen. Taking panadol and ibuprofen. Waking me up at night. Wearing a bra 24/7. When does that stop?
