Friday Update

Member

9 years ago

Welcome to the Friday Update
Please say hello to @SpeckG, @ruby51, @sjly, @kellie2277, @pinkdiva, @kat09 and all our new members. Welcome back to some of our returning members @waddabulla, @Summerhill38, @kimfree, @Ephima.

Community highlights

Each week we have lots of different discussions take place in the online network. These can include questions, updates, celebrations and so much more. Did you know that we have eight different categories for these discussions?

Newly diagnosed
Metastatic breast cancer
Test, treatments and side effects
Health and wellbeing
Day to day
Supporting someone with breast cancer
Community news and events
General discussion

Here are some conversations you may have missed this week from our Day to day category -

@Tassie66 - Cooler
@SJLY - How to help my toddler understand
@Ally Jay - Hair today, gone tomorrow
@adean - Another year of good news

Important - We don’t want you to miss anything.

We’ve noticed that some members reply to the emails that inform you when you’ve received a private message (PM). Please do not reply to the email. It’s a system-generated email. If you reply to it, the person that PMed you will not see your response. Instead, click the link in the email to return to the online network where you can see and respond to the PM.

News & events

BCNA supports option for shorter, more intense course of radiotherapy. Click here to read the full story.

The US-based magazine SELF has a great feature on Ericka Hart, a 31-year-old woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer, underwent a double mastectomy, and breast reconstruction. When she discovered that it was near impossible to find examples of reconstruction scars on black women, Ericka decided to create a photo series focusing on black women’s beauty. Check out the story and her amazing photos here.

Have you see this awareness photo from worldwidebreastcancer.org (Know your lemons) that has been shared across the media over the last week. What changes in your breast caught your attention?

We are excited to tell you there is still time to join the group of inspiring people taking on our 2017 Tassie Trek! During the seven day Inspired Adventure you will take in Tasmania’s breathtaking landscapes as you wind through lush rainforests and pristine coastline. For more information on this rewarding challenge click here

BreaCan will be hosting a number of events over the month of February. These include webinars that you can access from anywhere in Australia. For more information click here.

2017 Flinders COSA Survivorship Conference will be taking place in Adelaide. To find out more information and to register click here.

As we head into the weekend I wanted to share this with you all. Don't forget to check out all our members "favorite quotes".
Have a lovely weekend everyone,
Ann-Marie x

Published 9 years ago

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Ann-Marie

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Joined August 12, 2015

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9 Comments

Michelle_R
Member
9 years ago
Like Kayvie and Kath I found my lump myself, between mammograms/USS, in the shower and only 6 months after being manually checked at a women's health clinic. It showed as a small black bruise and a tender lump underneath the skin as though I had bumped into something hard. My GP sent me for a core biopsy - they did 2 - and then had me walk immediately to the breast surgeon's office to make an appointment. 2 weeks later, after Easter break, I had a 2MX and the tumour was 3.5cm, Stage 2A, Grade 3 and aggressive. I am so grateful for their fast action. I was the last lemon - nothing showed apart from the bruise.
Pammy46
Member
9 years ago
I too found a lump.. after 3 ultrasounds 3 core biopsies a mammogram I was diagnosed with 3 tumours all grade 1 DCIS 2 were not found in original ultrasounds so if I didn't feel my boobs and find the first lump I wouldn't have found the others self examination is so vital as well as visible.. I am 46 years old
I hope I inspire people I know to check their bodies and empower themselves
Unicornkisses
Member
9 years ago
Like Kayvie, I found my lump and there was nothing obvious on the outside in spite of it being approx 2 cm. however, mine was between mammograms. I had had mammograms and ultrasounds religiously every two years for ten years and was not due for another until May this year, I found the lump 6 months before it was due. Thank goodness I self examined, but I wish I had done it more regularly and thoroughly, then I might have picked it up sooner.
Now I tell people that I talk to that they must know their own breasts inside out and not to just rely on the mammograms every two years. And if they find something different get it checked out.
one friend has just gone for a mammogram and is anxiously waiting the result. I hope she is clear.
kayvie
Member
9 years ago
I am the same as primek. I felt a lump on self examination. Nothing to see on the outside. Thank goodness I decided to have it checked out the next day by GP who referred me for mammogram and ultrasound. Lots of pictures and immediate referral to specialist who took core biopsy to confirm 2cm cancer.
Thank goodness I felt it and didn't wait to see if it went away. I am 47.
Hopes_and_Dream
Member
9 years ago
I'm the same as Iserbrown. Routine 2 yearly mammogram with Breastscreen picked up my cancer. Nothing to see, nothing to feel !!
I was even luckier as one of radiologists told me later that she remembered my scan as they debated over whether to recall me or not. Thank God they did as I had a 1.3cm stage 1, grade 1
IDC.
Since then I've had a pink ribbon tattooed inside my wrist to get the message out as much as I can. We are so fortunate to have routine screening. Jane xx
iserbrown
Member
9 years ago
Breastscreen was my saviour! My regular two year checkup!! Excellent service that I encourage everyone to get on the merry go round - it is well worth it!!
melclarity
Member
9 years ago
I was a little different in that I started doing Mammos in my late 30's at my Mums request, as she had BC at 40 she wanted to ensure I'd be fine. I never dreamt I would get that as for years they were all fine, but how lucky I was in the system. I had NO breast changes at all and I was picked up in 2011 at 43 and again in 2015 through my yearly checkups and my Surgeon being super vigilant! My BC was NOT hereditary I don't have the BRCA Gene. After my first diagnosis, I urged work colleagues to get Mammos done, thankfully they did, unbelievably 2 of my closest friends BOTH had BC and to this day say if it werent for me they wouldnt have gotten checked. Awareness is everything, spreading the word, putting it in the forefront of peoples minds. It doesnt always present as a lump or anything physical, sometimes its undetectable unless with rigorous testing. I to this day encourage everyone about being body aware more than anything.

It doesnt discriminate as we all know, amazing how different all our stories are and yet we are all on the one path. I'm in great company ladies!!! Melinda xo
Deanne
Member
9 years ago
I am always telling people that ANY change in your breast needs to be looked at promptly!

My situation was that I noticed an indentation (lemon no 2, top left in that pic) at the bottom of my breast. Could only see it in the mirror because of the position of it. Luckily I did go straight to my GP. She could not feel a lump, I thought I could. Nevertheless she sent me for a mammogram and ultrasound. She was shocked when it turned out to be cancer!

The associated lump could barely be felt and yet it had spread to my lymph nodes extensively. I will always wonder how long the dent was there before I just happened to notice it in the mirror that day! At only 47 and with no family history or known risk factors I had never even had a screening mammogram. The tumor location was unlucky and despite having a mastectomy, clear margins were only obtained by the surgeon taking a 'shave' from my chest muscle. Thank-goodness the muscle was clear of cancer.

I knew how to feel my breast for lumps but did not regularly examine them in front of the mirror! :(
primek
Member
9 years ago
I've seen the lemon pic posted in facebook. I found an actual lump in my breast. No change visible to naked eye or picked up in a mammogram. Self exam is just as important. When I was young there were ads on the TV how to do breast exam and brochures handed out at school. Always remembering the boys sniggering about it. My niece foubd her breast cancer by feeling an enlarged node. Without the correct info she probably wouldn't have.