My Cancer Journey
My trip down the road of cancer has been long and painfull. I was diagnosed on the 26th July 2011 after 18 months of feeling so unwell and tired that I felt I could not go on. I saw many Doctors and had many blood tests but no one knew what was wrong with me.
In January I noticed my right breast was sore and mentioned it to my Doctor who said it was just hormonal and not to worry. Over the next few months I mentioned it a few times but it was again dismissed as hormonal.
On June 13th I noticed a small lump and went to the Doctor but again was told it was nothing to worry about and with no family history of cancer I was not able to have a mammogram. I went home feeling silly but still unsure about the lump so on the 21st I returned to the Doctors and stated the pain in the breast was keeping me awake at night and I was not going to leave without a mammogram. I was boked in for the next day.
I had the mammogram and ultrasound and returned to the Doctors on the 23rd for the results and it was confirmed that the lump and pain was only hormonal and 2 small cysts, I should go home and not worry about it.
On the 18th July I returned to the Doctors as the lump had grown from the size of a pea to the size of a plum, I quizzed the Dr that if this was hormonal why was it getting worse and not better. I requested to see a breast specalist and was given a referal for the 2nd August.
While visiting a pain specalist on the 20th July, I mentioned the lump to him and he got on the phone and spoke with the breast Doctor and asked if the symptoms I described were consistent with hormones before I knew it my appointment was moved forward to Friday 22nd July.
When I attended the appointment I was not overly nervous but within minutes of her feeling the breast I was on my way to have a core biopsy and ultrasound. My Nerves were now going crazy.
On the 26th July I saw the specalist Doctor for the results and was stunned when she told me I had Breast cancer and due to the size of the lump I would need a mastectomy, the lump was just too big to remove. I sat there stunned and angry. I was so angry that I was dismissed as only having hormonal tissue.
On the 4th August I had my breast removed, the pathology showed I had 2 tumors and of the 10 lymph nodes they took 2 had cancer. I was stage II and will need chemotherapy and radiation then hormone blocking medications.
Chemotherapy will begin on Friday 9th September once a portacath has been put in place.
Comments
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Hi Kathryne, I know just how you feel.I was misdiagnosed as well told it was just hormones.I kept going back till i finally got sent for a mammogram and ultrasound.funnily enough the mammogram didnt pick up my lump but the ultrasound did!
Then when i got the results my GP told me this was a good cancer!!!!if she had cancer she would want this one!My specialist didnt agree.I had a mastectomey and 6 lymph nodes cancerous and was a grade 3 cancer.
I was so shocked and still angry that something like this can go misdiagnosed.We know our bodies and know when we are in pain something is not right.
So I sympathise with you and it all just seems unfair.Ive had chemo, radiation, still having herceptin 3 weekly and these hideous hormone meds for 5 years!!!
Hope you go okay with it all am happy to answer any questions if you need. annie x
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