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Recommendations-North Brisbane -Public v Private- Surgeons
Hi Everyone, I do hope everyone is travelling as well as they can be. Was hoping to hear of experiences and recommendations about Public v Private -North Brisbane. My GP has advised if I choose to go private then I need to find surgeon and they can send referral. Not sure where to start…have rang some surgeons, am feeling like I am looking for a needle in a haystack. Has anyone had experiences with going private and having significant out of pocket expenses? Or going Public and what wait times/facilities are like, that they are comfortable in sharing. Preliminary advice is that it is likely treatment will be Chemotherapy then surgery, nothing confirmed until appointment with surgeon.
Mets now in my brain
Hi Everyone my latest scan has been a shock and made me sad. I was on enhurtu and hoping for big success. However after 4 round 2 of my liver mets increased and now i have mets in the right side of my brain. I fell over in the last treat cycle and got a black eye and I also fainted one night. Luckily the bed was beside me when I fainted. My oncologist phoned me with my results Friday and I am numb. She said the plan is this. I get a port monday, tues chemo, thurs I have a skin check (melanomas) and the oncologist is ordering an mri of the brain for my radium oncologist. I don't have an appointment yet but the plan is to radiate that brain met. Then I have one other enhurtu infusion in September and another scan. My oncologist tells me there is other chemo we can try and the brain mets will be treated with radium. My husband and I are in shock and sad. My mets has progressed so fast - 2 yrs and several treatment changes already. This is so hard.
New diagnosis metastatic breast cancer
Hi, I'm all very new to this being diagnosed only 7 wks ago with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer (triple positive) which has spread to my bones. I am 51 with 2 children. I had only had my first mammogram 18 mths previous which was clear. I felt unwell at work & went to hospital and they found it looking for something else. It has been such an overwhelming process. My family & friends have been amazing but am feeling so very alone.
No tests before surgery
Hello everyone, im having surgery in 15 days. Obviously im getting a bit more anxious. I asked my Dr do i need scans or bloods before my bilateral mastectomy he said no. My sister said that is strange and not right. She made me worry and stress more. I just want to get thru this and hopefully be all clear and not require further treatment. Can I ask what others have had to do prior to surgery..eg bloods and such. Thank u xxx? Worried that there is worse not found yet
Hello everyone, so I had high grade dcis removed with good margins following a lumpectomy. I am having a bilateral mastectomy in 20 days. My brain is running wild with the what ifs. Im terrified they may find something else when I have the surgery. My surgeon seems pretty confident that the mastectomy will remove any worries like that. Do others panic about things like this. Waiting for surgery is torture for a super anxious person like me. Thanks for letting me vent. Hugs to all x
Recently diagnosed and have no idea what's in store
Hello there, I was diagnosed with High Grade DCIS in mid June this year. So far it is only in my right breast. It's on the right side of this breast, but a recent MRI showed an unknown area on the left side. I am having a US/MR biopsy on this side next week. I am in the public system and extremely grateful for the treatment I have received this far. I still have no idea what's in store. I am very mindful that time is precious to our medical staff and there are other patients who need treatment now, I haven't asked too many questions on the basis that my treatment is undecided. I was informed by the surgeon that there's two paths, lumpectomy, radiation and hormone blockers or mastectomy. When I asked about the radiation it was explained that you go get it, for a small amount of time each day for a few weeks, then you go about your normal life. When I asked about the hormone blockers, (I am post menopausal, but suffered, and lived with, as you have to, quite severe symptoms through perimenopause for the last 10 years) I was told the dose is really small and I will be fine. Okay, sounds good, too good to be true, but I will take that on board. I am terrified to have a mastectomy. I am very aware that I am luckier than a lot of people and having access to all of these services is amazing. I do have frustration, I look normal and feel normal, but that will all change soon. I feel guilty that I have stage 0 breast cancer whilst others are so much worse off. I work, I have good support around me. I have only told my immediate family (husband & 2 kids who are in their 20s and my brother) and my 2 bosses, they have all been very supportive. I guess I also feel a bit confused and stupid because I really don't know what is going to happen and don't have answers to questions they have. I don't go down the Dr Google path as that just messes with my brain. I am lucky that I've never really been sick in life, so navigating the hospital appointments and communication is a new challenge for me. I also try and distract myself, not ignoring it, it's always there, but I can't let it consume me. Sorry for rambling, I know I will be okay, just writing something down and getting stuff off my chest. I've been a bit scared too up until now. Thank you if you read this far. Onwards and upwards 😘Hello
Introducing myself - I’m a 65 year old writer and TAFE teacher. Diagnosed with high grade DCIS about a month ago. I’ve had a lumpectomy and am due (fingers crossed) for a re-excision tomorrow before starting radio therapy. I’ve had a monster of a cold so the re-excision may not go ahead - in which case I’ll have to live with the less-than optimum margins in one specific spot. I live with my husband and my 94 year old mother - we care for her as she has a form of dementia. I am considering getting respite care for her through part of the radiotherapy just as a bit of emotional relief but haven’t completely made up my mind yet. I’m finding these new challenges a tricky tightrope to walk. Work has been great - and I know I’m lucky! We teach online and have done so since about 2007 and are a small but supportive team. But it’s still hard, isolating and the domestic front is emotionally exhausting. Still, courage comrades!High grade DCIS
Hello everyone, diagnosed with high grade DCIS I've had a lumpectomy. The surgeon said clear margins. Im scheduled to have a bilateral mastectomy in 29 days. Im going to go flat no reconstruction. I have no family support and quite frankly a useless husband. Rocky marriage prior to the diagnosis. My surgeon said I don't need lymph nodes removed because of the clear margins. I have myself dead and buried im terrified. I have no one to talk to. Hence why I'm here reaching out to you wonderful people. Please be a support for me I have no one. I've lost two sisters to this disease I don't want to join them just yet. Love and blessings Shannon
