Terrified of what lies ahead!
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Hi and welcone
I was 3 days from diagnosis to surgery but it can vary a lot and of course assumes you have surgery before any other treatment, which is not always the case. Uncertainty and juggling dates is an inevitable part of this stage, it seems. But once you have a clear plan, it becomes a bit easier to work out what can be done or deferred. How you react to treatment is also very hard to gauge until you start. I don't think there is ever a good time to get bc, but this time of the year has its own practicalities to be dealt with. Sound like your family can help with the unavoidable anxiety and waiting by taking the news in their stride. Best wishes for your treatment and good outcomes.0 -
@Myrtille sorry that you find yourself here too! I got into my GPon Friday the 9th after being diagnosed on the 8th Nov. Surgeons office was shut so had to wait until Monday to get an appointment which is on the 23rd. Guess there are lots of women in the same boat as me. My surgeon is just a breast surgeon and the breast clinic had given me a list of 10 to select from.
So I'm having full body scans on the 20th Nov and full bloods. So hopefully when I see my surgeon she will have the whole picture and I'll have a plan from then and like you I'd like to have the surgery over pre christmas. Keep us posted on how you go with the GP tomorrow. If you'd like to chat just PM me. Sending big hugs. Cathy❤️1 -
@Giovanna_BCNA
might be good to split Mytrille Post into her own so that her answers are specific to her questions.
HI @Myrtille
Sorry you need to be here but we are a supportive bunch with different stories but similarities in each of our BC ride.Below are a couple of links to help you find your
way around the forum and also how to find a breast care nurse and how to order
a MY journey Kit if you haven't got one yet.It can be a whirlwind when we first get a
diagnosed.... Breathe and take it one step at a time.Navigating the online community
formerly the what and how thread.Breast Care Nurses
https://www.mcgrathfoundation.com.au/OurMission/OurNurses/FindANurse.aspx
My Journey Kits and other
resources.https://www.bcna.org.au/resources/
BCNA Helpline 1800 500 258
If you have any questions, concerns or require any further
information or support please call 1800 500 258. BCNA’s helpline will now be open from
9am-6pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 5pm Fridays.How to understand your pathology reports
https://www.cancer.org/treatment/understanding-your-diagnosis/tests/understanding-your-pathology-report/breast-pathology/breast-cancer-pathology.html
Soldiercrab1 -
@CathyMac You've received some great advice already. This forum will be your lifeline in the months to come. So many people will offer support and understanding, as well as sharing their experiences. Don't ever hesitate to throw a thought out; you'll get a response.
aking a friend to appointments is very helpful. There's a huge amount to take in and remember. Some health professionals will let you record consultations; others won't, for some reason. I've been very grateful to those who do, because later I've been able to listen again and pick up things I'd forgotten. Sometimes I transcribed the recording when I got home, and then could refer to those notes later.
Your son is a star!
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Hello @Myrtille]
Thank you for your post. I have split this thread so other members are able to see this discussion and respond.
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@Myrtille Well done for getting through this weekend in one piece. My son finished his last Yr 12 exam on Friday. Such a milestone eh?
I was diagnosed on a Monday three days before his 18th birthday last December. Had surgery the next day, threw a big 18th birthday party on the Saturday without telling anyone other than the people in my home. Had a re-excision for margins the following Tuesday and then started telling people. But still held back from telling others until after Christmas. It's the very devil of a time to be unwell December is.
I was diagnosed at Breastscreen and my breast surgeon was the doctor who broke the news. I went with him because I liked how he handled that terrible appointment. He had a slot open on his schedule the next day, and being bloody keen to get that thing out of me, I was happy to take it. I went from Breastscreen to the GP to get the referral, back to the BS for pre-op stuff and then at 7am the next day, Nuclear Medicine at the local public hosptal for the sentinel node biopsy dye. Then to the private hospital for the hookwire insertion (my tumour was very deep in my big boob) and that afternoon, the wide local excision.
I didn't need to have it done that quickly, nothing bad would have happened in the next few weeks, other than my mental health. Emotionally I would have been a mess. Well, more of a mess than I already was! If you have private health insurance it can speed things up, but if you are urgent you'll be seen very quickly in the public system, so don't worry about small delays.
If you have a good GP with good relationships with BSs, he/she should be able to get you seen reasonably quickly. Good doctors understand how desperate we feel when we're diagnosed. I'd be very surprised if you have to wait until after Christmas. Though this can depend on how remote you are if you're rural.
If you'd like to, tell us a little about yourself, where you are, how you were diagnosed. People who are in the same area might be able to give some recommendations.
Hang in there love. This is the shittiest bit, hands down. Don't hesitate to PM me if you want to chat. Deep breaths. K xox0 -
That’s awesome he looks so handsome0
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After a very anxious morning I am home from seeing my surgeon and feeling a certain amount of relief. I am having surgery on the 6th December and have opted for a lumpectomy which will be followed by 4 to 6 weeks of radiation therapy after I have recovered from the surgery. Pathology results after the lumpectomy will determine whether I need to have chemo or not. My scans were all clear aside from some arthritis. She thinks it's contained and early stage. Having surgery on the 6th means I will see my Tom go to his year 12 formal and also see him graduate school on the 19th. Probably the best possible outcome I could have❤️❤️
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Hi @CathyMac
So pleased the waiting is over for you and you now have a plan. You must be so relieved your scans were good, that’s one thing you can have peace of mind on. So happy you’ll be able to see Tom off to his formal and attend his graduation. I’m sitting in my surgeon’s waiting room right now waiting to hear the results of my surgery.0 -
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@SoldierCrab I’ve had good news.Originally they thought I had two tumours - 1 benign and 1 invasive cancer. It turns out there were actually 3 in total all invasive (two Grade 2, one Grade 1). So the original benign biopsy was not accurate!!Thank god I had a good surgeon who took extra tissue when he was in there because it didn’t look right.Anyway good news is that it hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes, I am so happy about that.
Hormone receptors are ER+, PR+, HER2-
Best outcome I could have.Next step is oncologist next week for chemo/radiation/hormone plan, which they will start before Christmas.Thank goodness for early detection because it was growing quickly.Thank you for all your support xxx5 -
So glad you have results and can plan forward now0
