Story so far

Piccme

Hello and happy Easter everyone. First of all I would like to thank those responsible for this fabulous online network, it is a great resource. Secondly, to each and every one of you amazing ladies who are on this rollercoaster, you are angles in disguise! I have visited the network on a number of occasions but today finally felt like sharing my experience. I am 46 and found a lump in my right breast on 2/12/16, booked in to see my GP. Not overly concerned she sent me for an ultrasound at a bulk billing centre. (I am in a regional area) Ultrasound showed a mass and I was recommended to have a biopsy. I had to wait another week before a doctor at this centre was able to perform the biopsy. The biopsy was done without local anaesthetic, so painful! I had to wait over Xmas until the results came back, when they did it was undetermined as there were not enough cells for diagnosis. I decided not to have another biopsy at this centre (they don't use anaesthetic for core biopsies either) and asked to be referred to a surgeon. I had to wait until 12/1 for an appointment due to New Year closures. On meeting she was amazed that I hadn't been sent for a mammagram.  She ordered this at a private facility along with another ultrasound. Without promising that the mass was not malignant, the specialist radiologist was originally convinced that I had an infection. I was prescribed a course of antibiotics and was to return two weeks later for a follow up ultrasound. On ultrasound it showed that the mass was unchanged and a second shadowing was also located. I immediately had FNB on original mass and core biopsy on second shadowing area (with lots of local). On 2/2 I was tentatively diagnosed with grade 1 IDC of the right breast with possible multifocal involvement. I had to wait two weeks for the surgeon to return from holiday. During this time I was sent for bone/lung/brain scan (I do actually have a brain), all were clear. I had wide local incision and sentinel node biopsy on 23/2. Diagnosis was updated to stage 2b, grade 2 IDC right breast, ER+ 90% PR+ 20% Her2- Ki 67 not reported. I had one tumour (not multifocal) 32mm with clear margins and one sentinel node (12mm) positive. On 9/3 I had axillary clearance with no other node involvement. I spent 5 days in hospital waiting for drainage to be less than 40ml. Over the following 10 days I had manual drainage at the surgeons every 2-3 days. I developed an infection in the axillary wound so back to hospital for another 5 days on IV anatibiotics. On 30/3  I was back into surgery for a wound clean and another drain for 5 days at home. During this process I have learned that I do not tolerate general anaethetics, opiate pain relief or IV antibiotics without relentless nausea On to the next stage of treatment I am due to start chemo on Wednesday (which I will post about separeately as D day is approaching and I am terrified!), then rads and tamoxifen. Thank you in advance for reading and wish you all a very happy Easter.

Afraser

Chemo is a bit different for everyone, so, without knowing what your particular cocktail will be, take heart that lots of people get through it, many people say they would do it again (only if absolutely necessary of course, but they would do it) and some (like me) get some side effects but not fatigue or nausea which can knock people a bit sideways. You won't really know till you start so try not to fret too much until you know what your reactions are and then you can focus on what can be done about them. Very best wishes for Wednesday, you are on the road to recovery.

primek

Hi @Piccme. Well what a horrid start you've had. I too found a lump just prior Xmas (17th 2015) but did manage to bully them into an ultrasound within 24 hours and biopsy (and it hurt even with local) stressing that ...everything shuts down over Xmas (my Dad had treatment at this time of year ...that's another story) Anyways I didn't get the core biopsy back until the 29th which showed a grade 2 ES+ Her2+ cancer. They managed to get me into a breast surgeon in Adelaide on the 5th January and on tbe 24th I had my bilateral mastectomy, reconstruction commenced and sentinal node. My pathology w a upgraded to a grade 3.  I was lucky to not get an infection. I spent 3 days vomiting in hospital and eventually discharged day 4.  I've had 2 light anesthetics since with no nausea issues....so weird.

Anyways I hope chemo goes well. One thing with this they really know how to sort nausea. I found maxalon was useless and gave me restless legs. I eventually went on to stemitil 6 hrly strictly, ondasetron before meals (use a mint to disguise taste) and they increased my steroids to 4 days. Worked a treat. I felt yukkk the week of chemo but okay after that. ..as long as I took the meds. Constipation and gastritis was a huge issue for me but that was sorted with nexium twice daily and movichol started morning and night day before chemo. It can be a hard road on chemo but it's doable. Importantly...tell your team about all issues and they will help, utilise your GP or hospital in between if you need to and make sure you drink lots to avoid dehydration.

Pain wise...I learned i could take tramadol without nausea...so that is now my preferred pain management if tequiring more than chemo. I required this when on taxol ...that may be in the 2nd part of your chemo. ..dependent on which regime you are on.

Goodluck with chemo and I hope all goes well.  Any questions beforehand feel free to ask. Take care. Kath x

Pammy46

Hi @Piccme
i too had R breast IDC with multifocal 3 tumours and a 15mm area of DCIS around them mine were all grade 1 stage 1 so I didn't need chemo but just finished radiation and am now on tamoxifen sorry you had to wait so long to find out.. and I can't believe a core biopsy would be given without a local I had 3 and had local all 3 times. Glad surgery is done it's one thing to tick off the list on this journey we are all on 
such a fantastic place for support I wish you good healing vibes 
Pam xx

Zoffiel

So many of us have found the festive season is anything but. Im dealing with my second incidence of BC and the wretched holidays have gotten in the way both times! In future I'll have to remember to start the whole process in May or June to avoid all the stress and inconvenience...

It sounds like you've had more than your fair share of complications, let's hope the chemo goes a bit more smoothly. As the others have said, it is a lucky dip--there is no way of knowing how it will effect you and very little you can do to influence your reactions. I think the main thing to do is keep a journal and make sure all your team knows what is happening to you. They are not psychic and if you don't tell them when you have problems they won't know when to start tweaking things for you.

There is a wealth of personal experience on this site, there are many "hacks" you can use, it's worth asking for advice, someone else is bound to have had a similar experience.