My journey of B C
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Hi Jane,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience!
I am so happy for you that you caught it early, no chemo and radio. Can I ask how did you make the decision to have mastectomy and reconstruction with implant? For me, my breast surgery offered me the option of lumpectomy or mastectomy, but recommended lumpectomy. He said to me I will need mastectomy if the pathology results show unclear margin. I made the decision for lumpectomy at the time, because I was in a shock state, I felt it was too much for me to cope losing my whole breast and I would like to give it one chance to be with me. My pathology results showed clear margin, but LCIS across the whole specimen. Although I am going to have mastectomy now, I don't regret for my decision for the lumpectomy . I am looking forward for the appointment with a plastic surgeon to see what options are there.
I love your tattoo of pink ribbon on your wrist!
I have found so many amazing, strong and supportive women here. I think I have been spending too much time here since I join in the club. I forgot my beautiful plants in the garden need me to look after them1 -
Hi Butterfly 40, my cancer surgeon is also a breast cosmetic surgeon so was able to give me all the options. I could have had a lumpectomy with radiation or a mastectomy. I am only small breasted so while I had the option of a lumpectomy it wouldn't have been the best choice for me. Without a lot of breast tissue there was the danger of not clearing the margins and there wouldn't have been much of me left!! I had a nipple sparing mastectomy with an immediate silicone implant.
He did an amazing job matching size and shape to my healthy breast so 6 months on I don't think anyone could tell the difference (except for a touch of smurf - 3 fading blue circles from the sentinel node dye
)
We are so lucky to have lots of options for reconstruction - I'm sure you and your surgeon will find what is right for you.
I know what you mean about spending time on the site. It's hard not to check in as we do genuinely care about each other and really want to offer support.
Hope it is nice sunny day where you are and you can enjoy some time in your beautiful garden.
Let us know how you go after seeing the plastic surgeon. Take care, Jane x
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Hi Jane,
Here I am back to the club. I checked out my beautiful plants, they are surviving well without my attention ( I am a succulents and cactus lover). They have been my saviour through my BC journey, I can be in the garden for hours not knowing the time has gone.
Thank you for sharing your experience. It seems that it was an easy decision for you. I am so happy for you having the great results from mastectomy and reconstruction. I have been wondering when those blue dye are going to fade away. It seems it will be there for a long time... never mind, it's the least thing I worry about at the moment. My husband got frightened when I showed him a picture of an abdominal incision from tissue flap reconstruction. Poor man! Since then he doesn't want me have the flap to go through having the tummy slashed open. I kept reassuring him the plastic surgeon might not offer me flap reconstruction. I am a relatively small person. I am sure there will be options and I will figure out the one best for me.
Hope you are enjoying Australian day having the yummy lamb on your barby
Lots of love and hugs for you3 -
It's amazing how when this journey starts you are hungry for information and you learn about specialists that you didn't know existed nor have a need for prior and lots and lots of terminology. Also you become hardened to look at photos of recons that you would've squirmed at prior, like your hubby did! I am sure once your options are laid out by your team the decision will become easier for you both. Take care2
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Hi Butterfly 40, I have been away for a few days and just getting up to speed. I am one of the group leaders of the choosing breast reconstruction group. If you haven't already you are most welcome to join us (that's my next port of call). Once you join you may like to read posts and view our photo stories. When I was first diagnosed my husband told everyone. I was like you and was emotional and teared up when I said the words breast cancer . I'm not sure why this happened, even when I had come to terms with the diagnosis it happened. I put the word out at the school where my kids attended that I was happy to talk but that nobody was to come up and hug me and ask how I was publically as I didn't want to break down at the school. I am also a nurse and whilst all my team knew of my diagnosis I specifically asked them not to hug me and ask how I was whilst I was at work as I didn't want to cry at work. Work became a bit of a sanctuary where I could do normal things and not think about my BC. I have had a recurrence so lived this twice. I chose to work during treatment, but I always had the week off after chemo. That worked for me, but some find it too hard. You will soon work out what's right for you. i did the group email also. I used to send it out after each treatment. The feedback I got was really positive and people realize you just can't individually reply to everyone and my friends were fine with that. Going back to work also caused me anxiety but like most things the thought of it was worse than the actual event. Remember your friends family and colleagues all care for you and if you put the word out that you can't discuss things at work, they should understand.
Huge hugs
Paula xxxx2 -
Hi Paula,
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and kind words! I am sorry to hear you had a recurrence. You have done so well not taking much time off work while having chemo. How are you doing now?
I often think I may be not brave enough and too emotional. I am so glad that someone is so much like me and a nurse too . I have come to terms with the diagnosis, but saying out the words "breast cancer" and hugs are definitely the two things that get my eyes welled up really quickly. I really like the idea you ask people not to hug and ask you how you were doing in public area and work place. I am so grateful that I am surrounded by all the caring families, friends and colleagues. I agree that most things the thought of it is worse than the actual event. I am sure I will be fine when back to work.
I have already joined the reconstruction group and young woman 's club( I love to be classified as Young woman here ).
Wish you all the best!
Lots of love and hugs for you!0 -
Hi @Butterfly 40
like you i was also diagnosed just before Christmas 2016. I am also a nurse working in community. Told my upper manager by showing him the results as I couldn't get the words out and asked him to tell my manager but with strict confidentiality, it was just before christmas and I felt bad enough spoiling my family's Christmas. I did tell my team just before I went on leave to have surgery. I am fortunate to have lots sick leave and because the day to go back to work was only a couple of days before booked annual leave i chose to run the two together.
Have kept in contact with a few colleagues and asked them to update the rest. Have told a few friends including one who is an 8 year survivor and we have compared treatments and scars. This was very helpful.
BC seems to touch so many people-hairdresser I went to before surgery her mother and grandmother had bc with many years survival and my best friends mother is a 30 year survivor.
Will have radiotherapy after my trip and not sure how this will affect me but I have oodles of sick leave anyway and only work 3 days a week now so hopefully will manage around this.
In the past work was my safehaven after death of my husband 8 years ago, would be fine with clients, though would bawl between them in car, pick myself up and go onto the next.
Am sure you will find your balance.1 -
Im 4 .5 years post diagnosis. Im an educator in aged care l told a couple of girls and then l got them to tell all the others then l just got lots of hugs and no one felt incomfortable.0
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Thank you Mima and Adean for sharing your experiences.
Mima, I am sorry to hear you lost your husband 8 years ago. I can't imagine how hard it was for you. Now you are fighting with BC without him, It must be tough. It seems you have great friends supporting you. There are so many women here so inspirational and supportive.
BC definitely touches so many people surrounding us. I have 3 close friends had it, one is a 8 years survivor still taking Tamoxifen just for a peace of mind, one is a 3 years survivor, one is a 2 years survivor who is pregnant now. Two of them had radiotherapy, one works for the community like you , she had radiotherapy after finishing work every day. She said she really struggled to get up for work towards the end of the treatment and took her about one month to feel better. So she wouldn't recommend anyone to do it. I was planning to take time off work if I have radiotherapy, but unfortunately I need mastectomy. I am waiting to a plastic surgeon.
Wishing you have an amazing trip!
Lots of love and hugs for you!0
