New Diagnosis - Navigating

Mez_BCNA
Mez_BCNA Administrator, Staff, Member, Moderator Posts: 1,144 ✭
edited November 2023 in Newly diagnosed

Moderator moved discussion to 'Newly Diagnosed' for member @nicmaree

10 November 2023

@nicmaree

Hi, just newly diagnosed. I’m shell shocked and very anxious about …. Everything! I’ve gone from a routine mammogram and ultrasound to biopsy to mapping then op next Wednesday!  All within 2 1/2 weeks.  I am a white coat and hospital phobic. I’m recently divorced and overwhelmed by everything involved with this. Mapping scares me. Let alone the surgery. I love to hear some advice on how to navigate all of this . Help would be truly appreciated.  thank you 

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  • Mez_BCNA
    Mez_BCNA Administrator, Staff, Member, Moderator Posts: 1,144 ✭

    11 November 2023 

    @arpie

    Sorry to see you join our special group @nicmaree - hopefully we can smooth the way for you as you start your treatment.      Try & Keep as busy as you can, maybe cook up some meals & freeze them, so you don't have to worry about meals when you get home from hospital xx  I hope you have family & friends as support xx

    I hope you weren't too badly affected by the big hail at Crows Nest yesterday (guessing you are in Qld & not NSW?) It looked horrible!!

    Message Sent (look for the envelope in the top right hand corner - when a 'number' is on it, you have a message.  Click on it to see it.)

    I'll ask a Mod to move your post to Newly Diagnosed .... then you can use it as a 'diary' until your active treatment is over xx. (It may not move til Monday tho ...)

  • Mez_BCNA
    Mez_BCNA Administrator, Staff, Member, Moderator Posts: 1,144 ✭

    11 November 2023

    @nicmaree

    Thank you @arpie. I just couldn’t navigate it last night. I’m not thinking clearly atm.
     I’m in Crows Nest, Sydney . We had big storms Thursday afternoon and evening .
    I’m planning to start cooking and freezing over the weekend. I’m trying to keep busy. 
    What is the mapping process like? 

  • SuzyS
    SuzyS Member Posts: 40 ✭
    Hi @nicmaree
    My mapping process took a couple of hours. It wasn't horrid, in between I sat and relaxed. It's like going in a CD scan, just a longer process, it really depends on how fast your lymph node drains after the injection. The lovely radiologist explained everything along the way so nothing was a surprise.
    My mapping was done in the morning then I had my op in the afternoon. 
  • HelenlovesSnoopy
    HelenlovesSnoopy Member Posts: 113 ✭
    @nicmaree I was just going to answer this when I realised that your op was probably today, and I am too late to comment.  

    I hope you're going ok!  Thinking of you this evening, Helen xo 
  • nicmaree
    nicmaree Member Posts: 31 ✭
    @HelenlovesSnoopy and @SuzyS and @arpie Op was last Wednesday and home Thursday. My specialist, the doctors, nurses and my anaesthetist were all so supportive and lovely. The lump and 3 lymph nodes removed but won't know anymore until I get pathology results on Thursday.  I'm constantly tired (I didn't sleep much in the 2 week lead up to the op). I'm doing the exercises given to me by the breast care nurses and a small walk in fresh air each day. I feel like everything is out of my hands now. I'm in a holding pattern, just waiting. I'm trying to be positive and think good thoughts. 
    I am swollen and sore but should I be so tired? 
    I have been reading other posts and I can say that I have dense breast tissue. I have been having regular mammograms and ultrasounds for 20 years since I was 40 years old and not once was I told that dense tissue was more susceptible to breast cancer. The reason I had the checks for so long was because my aunt, my mother's sister, had breast cancer and a mastectomy many years ago. I was told that the line didn't follow that way.
    I was also not aware the connection between stress and cancer until I was diagnosed with breast cancer.   
  • HelenlovesSnoopy
    HelenlovesSnoopy Member Posts: 113 ✭
    Hi @nicmaree, so happy to hear that your op went fine and that the medical team were very supportive  <3. I think that is probably the most important part of your treatment done!  

    It seems natural to me that you should be so tired.  You're doing really well to keep up with the exercises and the small walk each day.  Self-care and a little indulgence too is just the ticket.

    My mother had breast cancer (2 occurrences, over a decade apart) and my sister and I were told it wasn't genetic, I think that was because of mum's age - but then I turned up at almost 55 with two cancers, one in each breast.  So I've been referred for genetic testing.

    But I also was on low dose HRT a few years, and went through a lot of stress last year.  Then I thought, did I have too many glasses of wine with my dinner over the years....there's so many things to suspect.  I realise it can be helpful sometimes to know why, but I've decided not to worry about it anymore, unless of course there is genetic information turned up.  Especially I don't want to blame myself, or anyone else.  I'm just focussing on getting better and a future with a new perspective <3:)

    You will find lots of support on here, such a lovely group of people :)<3  
  • SuzyS
    SuzyS Member Posts: 40 ✭
    @nicmaree Glad the first part of your journey is done. Make sure you keep moving your arm like the exercises the breast cancer nurse gave you, it does help.
    Possibly you're tired from stressing and not sleeping prior, put your feet up whenever you can and try to relax. If you have hobbies like reading, knitting, etc, maybe try using it to distract yourself.
    Take care, Suzy

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