So many questions...
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This discussion was created from comments split from: This Christmas I will be........
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I just received my stage 1 breast cancer diagnosis and seeing the specialist on Tuesday 11th and maybe surgery 13th and freaking out. Reading these notes are good. Is there anywhere I can go prior to my specialist appt that tells me what to expect ... so many questions and waiting a week is going to do my head in 🥺0
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HI @H_M_A.
Welcome to the forum lovely. There is a wealth of information on here. Do you have a breast care nurse? Maybe you can have a chat to her prior to your appointment.
The waiting is horrendous at the start. Waiting for surgery, waiting for results, waiting for scans and a huge amount of waiting for doctors running late. Once you have seen the surgeon and have a bit of a plan you will feel slightly more in control of the situation. As @socoda said ask away. Everyon here is always more than happy to help any time of the day or night.
xoxoxo2 -
@H_M_A You'll find lots of support here. Have a look at the information on this BCNA website and order a "My Journey" kit, if you've not already done so. The time just after diagnosis is full of anxiety; we've all been there. Where were you diagnosed and what were you told when the results were given to you? Fran1
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Welcome! Happy to help where we can.1
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Thank you ladies, you are very supportive and really appreciate this ... I was told that Stage 1 cancer is one of the better results after benign and that no one dies from it etc. (which is fine I’m not afraid of dying) it’s just the unknown 🥴. Apparently the radiologist forgot to take a biopsy of the third lesion so I have to go back on Thursday ... that has also stressed me out 🤦♀️
Here are my questions (some are silly) :
Whats a breast care nurse ?
what does it feel like after surgery?
I don’t know if I need radiation therapy yet?
Does your boob look bad and cut up after surgeory? I want to hope for the best and plan for the worst.
still in shock - no one on both sides of my family ever had cancer dating back to as long as my family remembers ...
look forward to your feedback
xx
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A breast care nurse is someone who helps you with questions and answers and advice (I think - I've never really had one)
It does depend on the surgery. I started with a wide excision and sentinel node biopsy. The surgery was done beautifully and except for the scar, hard to tell. The pain was mostly in the underarm area as messing with the lymph nodes causes damage to the nerves which takes a little while to settle down. I'm still numb in a lot of spots in that area. I had to go back in for a mastectomy and axillary dissection as the tumour was much larger than expected and it was in the nodes. This surgery was a bigger deal and took a bit longer to recover from. To be honest, the surgery wasn't too hard to deal with. (I haven't had any reconstruction work.) It's important to do the exercises as instructed. You may find out about radiation when you see your surgeon but the real information comes from the path report after surgery.2 -
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.How to post on the main forum – use this
link to get to the main forum and begin a new post. https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/post/discussionNavigating the online community formerly the
what and how thread.Breast Care Nurses
https://www.mcgrathfoundation.com.au/OurMission/OurNurses/FindANurse.aspx
My Journey online tool and other resources.
My Journey Online Tool resources
https://myjourney.org.au/hp/step5https://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
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@H_M_A,
A breast care nurse is an invaluable ally if you can get one. If you aren't allocated one through the hospital look up the Mcgrath breast care nurse site. They have locations and contact details there.
It is scary alright. I didn't even want to look for the first few days.
I had a 19mm grade 2 lesion removed from my breast, had to go back for reexcison for clearer margins, plus axillary clearance. Like @Sister said. The node surgery was a more difficult recovery than the breast surgery.
I have a scar obviously and there was a lot of swelling after the surgery which went up and down for months due to a seroma that just wouldn't quit.
The scar is fading with time and copius amounts of bio oil. . The size difference is minor really and not noticeable to anyone but myself. It has taken a while to soften up but 30 rounds of radiation adds to that.
It looks pretty darn good all things considered. Just a little bit perkier than the other one now.
xoxoxo1 -
Hi @H_M_A - like you, there is no previous history of BC (or any cancer) in my 'blood family' history either, so I am the first too! It was all a bit of a shock!
Shame the radiologist missed that 3rd lesion ..... all the best for Thurs! It's a bit of a worry - I've just had a recall for another biopsy too, so know how it upsetting it is for you - I am still awaiting an appointment date.
My brother actually recommended to me to take a couple of photos of my boobs 'before & after' surgery & I now have quite a comprehensive set of pics! (Time I took another one, I reckon, now that it is 11 months down the track!)
I was AMAZED at how 'normal' my boob looked, even immediately after surgery, other than a big bandaid thing around my nipple (my tumours were immediately above my nipple). I had never noticed that one of my boobs was bigger than the other, so post op, they are now the same size! The scarring around the nipple isn't at all bad - some wouldn't even know that I had had an operation! Your surgeon will be doing his best to NOT have any more scarring than necessary - mine did a 'mini reconstruct' at the same time as removing the tumours (it is called breast conserving surgery.)
Just make sure you take the pain meds post op, as recommended. Don't let the pain get a foothold ....
Whether you have radiation afterwards will totally depend on the pathology results following surgery - sometimes a wait of a week or so for all of them to come back! Yeah, I know - MORE waiting! Waiting is the pits!!
Take care, throw any question you like at us ..... we'll do our best to answer & reassure you xx2 -
Thank you everyone for your kind words, encouragement and sharing your real life examples - while you can ‘google’ your way through almost everything, I’m feeling far more relaxed and while the waiting is the hardest thing, this forum has made me feel ‘normal’ thank you thank you 🥺😘🥺😘2
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Sorry to see you in this group.
Im also new to the group, I was only diagnosed late October, these ladies are so full of knowledge, been through what we are now going through.
Ask as many questions as you can, try to stay away from google.
Use your journey kit if you have one, that is full of information.
What state are you in? I’m sure someone can guide you in the right direction for a breast cancer nurse in your area.
We are all here to help each other through.
Sending cyber hugs ❤️
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