Forum Discussion

JaneinMelbourne's avatar
JaneinMelbourne
Member
5 years ago

Unlucky at 33

Hi Everyone, 

I’m Jane, 33 and was diagnosed with ER/PR +, HER2 - grade 1 breast cancer in September. I’ve since had a lumpectomy / reconstruction / sentinel node biopsy, and a level 2 axilla clearance after finding 1 3mm cancer in the 2 nodes originally removed (which came as a bit of a surprise as the biopsy was clear).

Fortunately the 14 nodes removed in the clearance were clear, so after a bit of conjecture between oncologists about the aggressiveness of my treatment I’m waiting on the results of Prosigna to determine recurrence risk and have more data to support chemo or not. Next appointment is with radiation oncologist to hear what they are recommending and I’ve been told the preference for hormone therapy will be zoladex and anastrozole.

In between the 2 surgeries I did back to back rounds of IVF, as my husband and I were trying to conceive when I was diagnosed. Fortunately I’ve recovered quickly from all surgeries / procedures and was given the all clear to exercise properly again this week so went for my first (very slow) run since yesterday my original surgery - celebrating the small wins! I am holding on to hope that the benefits of chemo will be negligible but know the information is power... it’s still scary.  

Here to say hello in the first instance, I’ve lurked around a lot of posts which has been super informative and think this is a great resource :) 
new-diagnosis
young-women

9 Replies

  • FLClover's avatar
    FLClover
    Member
    5 years ago
    @JaneinMelbourne I do darl, thank you 😊. I have a brilliant medical team now, plus a beautiful daughter, partner, sister, and puppy 🐶 (<- he actually looks like that! 😄🥰) 😁
  • arpie's avatar
    arpie
    Member
    5 years ago
    We have lots of members in Melbourne, @JaneinMelbourne - so when this Covid thing is more relaxed, you can meet up with them for a coffee & a chat if you like ...... 

    That is terrific that you have a strong support team around you.  It makes a LOT of difference.  We all plan to 'power thru' but sometimes, we hit a little hurdle now & then - so just make sure that if you do become unusually stressed/upset - that you seek professional help to give you coping mechanisms .... it is totally normal to scream & shout & cry every now and then (even silently) - remember that you can vent here any time you like - cos we've 'been there, done that' and 'we get it'. xx

    I also got a big box to store all my medical 'stuff' in - be they results or reports ..... so even tho not in chronological order - at least they are all in the one spot!

    take care xx
  • JaneinMelbourne's avatar
    JaneinMelbourne
    Member
    5 years ago
    @FLClover thank you, for the most part I’m am trying my best to power through and have had an amazing support network and luckily a gorgeous puppy to cuddle throughout. I also think having such a thorough surgeon lead my care thus far has helped alleviate a lot of stress, so I can only imagine how tough it would have been to not have that level of support initially?
    You have to upskill pretty quickly in medical jargon!! I hope you have a great team around you now ♥️
  • FLClover's avatar
    FLClover
    Member
    5 years ago
    You’re very welcome @JaneinMelbourne. 
    Yes, it is a fine line. This whole thing is. One minute you can be perfectly fine, and the next seized by unbearable fear 🤷🏼‍♀️. Or is that just me 🤔. 
    Maybe not as planned, but I’d say kids are definitely still in your future. And believe me, time goes so quickly with all the appointments and treatments, that before you know it you’ll be able to try again, even if it doesn’t seem that way now. 
    You seem to be handling it quite well, so continue to keep your chin up, even if things get harder. The sun always comes out after a rainy day 😊
    p
    P.S. I wish I’d had a surgeon like yours at the beginning. Mine just babbled something really quickly then left the room with my top still up at my first post op appointment. I didn’t even know my type or stage til after a couple months 🤷🏼‍♀️.
    Glad you have a supportive one 🙂
  • JaneinMelbourne's avatar
    JaneinMelbourne
    Member
    5 years ago
    Hi @arpie and @FLClover 
    thanks for the warm welcome :) 
    Yes to be honest I was hoping I’d be pregnant at this point - it feels like I’m very much at the other end of the spectrum right now but still firmly believe kids are in my future, just not when I had planned... 
    Thanks so much for the links to that resource of questions to ask, my questions tend to form long after my appointment. Fortunately my surgeon has been exceptional and talked through my pathology reports at length before handing them to me - but keeping that paper trail has definitely helped when I’ve been more in the mindset to truly absorb the info.
    Even with that understanding, test results being so out of your control is tough and it’s a fine balance between optimism and also trying to manage expectations of results not going your way... 

    Thanks again for the support ♥️
  • FLClover's avatar
    FLClover
    Member
    5 years ago
    Hi @JaneinMelbourne! 💁🏼‍♀️
    Not happy that you’re here, for obvious reasons, but welcome 😊. It’s good that you’ve been informing yourself. Sucks big time that you got it so young, especially before having children. I hope this doesn’t hinder your children plans though, as heaps of women have children after bc, as I’m sure you’ve already read about. I’m 40 and still hopeful that I might have one more child if I decide 🤔🤞. 
    I hope the Prosigna results are the ones you’re hoping for. 
    Anyway, this forum is really helpful and comforting as you’ve seen, so keep posting 🙂♥️
  • arpie's avatar
    arpie
    Member
    5 years ago
    Hi @JaneinMelbourne,

    Welcome to the club that no-one really wants to join!  Here, You can raise ANY issue, and get helpful replies from those who’ve gone before you.  Nothing is off limits.  We have ‘private groups’ for some of the more personal discussions .... so feel free to join any of them, if they suit you.

    We all know the absolute turmoil that comes with the bc diagnosis and the effects it has on us mentally, emotionally and physically (I found it mucked with my brain, more than anything) .... and specially as you are so young too.  There is a Young Women's section (Right Hand side, in the 'groups' - click on it if you'd like to join)

    Well done on getting back to your running again already, albeit a slow one.  Make haste slowly!  ;)  My husband is an athlete & he was busting to get out for a run (he was actually exercising in the hospital corridors following his own cancer surgery - and the staff were amazed, given that he had most of his stomach removed!)  Where there is a will, there's a way!!

    Try & keep your sense of humour 'up there' - we have a really good 'funnies page' (called Friday Funnies, but we add them every day!!)  Just click on the link to add pics and posts ... 
    https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/19116/friday-funnies#latest
    If you are into arts & crafts, we have a 'Creative Corner' 
    https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/14979/creative-corner#latest
     and if into your garden, a Gardening post as well!! 
    https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/comment/186078#Comment_186078
    And we now have a Fishing post, as that is one of my passions!
    https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/19494/fishing-brag-pics
    Try not to use Dr Google as there is just so much conflicting information out there, and every BC case is 'unique' and it will only scare the pants off you!

    All the best with your ongoing appointments.  

    and for your annual checkups, some ‘tick sheets’ to help you put your questions together for your medical team.
    https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/21973/questions-to-ask-post-surgery-of-yourself-to-your-specialists-tick-sheets-self-assessment#latest

    All the best with your IVF too  xx  Take care xx