Newly Diagnosed Locally Advanced Breast Cancer
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I needed to ask before I take drastic measures and call the clinic...but I have notoced my body has started hurting more and more but this morning I woke up and I felt like my body was ready to explode. The best way to describe it is, its a heated pain. The pain ive had is worse but its hot. Ive taken panadol and nurofen which has done nothing at all but ive checked and i dont have a fever. Any ideas what i should do? I know you all arent doctors but i wanna know if you have suggestions before i call the clinic with an SOS1
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@kirstiekoala - definitely ring the clinic asap as it sounds like you may have some sort of infection, even tho you haven't had surgery yet.
Did you use a digital thermometer? It can be easy to misread the old 'stick' ones. If it is over 38˚, you definitely need to ring your GPs office & get an appointment TODAY as you may need antibiotics as many clinics may close down over the Xmas period & the sooner you get checked out, the better.
Ring & Tell them that you have breast cancer & need to see someone TODAY xx
Worst case scenario would be you attending Emergency at your local hospital if you can't get in to see someone this afternoon.
take care - I hope you can be seen today & start to feel better soon - it really sounds like you should be on Antibiotics PRONTO xx0 -
My temp is normally 36.9 but since november its been sitting at 37.4 which it is now. My doctors practice is closed until the 2nd. I have called the clinic because i know they are working today and im waiting for my Breast Physician to return my call. Thanks for the advice as well. If i dont hear from the clinic, my husband is going to call the hospital and Dial A Doctor.1
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Hi Kirstie...know how you feel now? Basic motto ..If in doubt, shout for help... with the treatment we are on it is wiser to act rather than to "see what happens"....told to me by my oncologist..1
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I just feel like im making a big deal over nothing because I havent even started treatment or anything1
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But something is obviously 'going on' if you are in that sort of pain/discomfort & your temp is going up ..... so my motto is always 'IF IN DOUBT, GET CHECKED OUT'! xx
take care and good on your hubby for wanting to check elsewhere - don't leave it too late!! If the clinic hasn't gotten back to you by now - ring the other one NOW.
All the best x
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I thought I would give you an update. After waiting for the clinic to call me back, I ended up falling asleep. When I woke up, I felt fine again. The clinic never called but I would assume they were away. I was fine all day on the 23rd but on the 24th I woke up in pain again. I spoke to a wonderful woman at Health Direct who suggested I call Dial A Doctor. So we got a doctor out and he was amazing, although I wont forget the look on his face when I said "stage 3 breast cancer"....very much a look of "but you're only 37", lol. It turns out that due to my last biopsy on the 12th December, I have developed a golf ball sized haematoma that has fully solidified and its now aggravating the lymph node which has the cancer in it, causibg my whole body to suffer. He has given me some strong pain killers and suggested I used a hot pack on it several times a day to help break it up. Its working and the pain has dulled off. He suggested, if I still have it when I see my GP on the 2nd January, to get her to drain it, or call the clinic on my behalf. He said sometimes its better coming from a GP. So we had a quiet xmas day and hubby has been making sure im not doing much at all so I dont end up in lots of pain.3
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Thank you @kirstiekoala for the update. Since we deal with cancer, it seems that we can not ignore any symptoms anymore. It is good that you acted and contacted Health direct in the 'absence' of someone from the clinic. Glad you followed arpies' advice and it is good learning for all of us, newly diagnosed.1
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Well done @kirstiekoala for getting onto the Dr .... did he make a house call??? WOW!
HOpefully the haematoma will break down on its own, with the heat pack & maybe soft massage? I am so glad the pain/discomfort has reduced & hope it doesn't happen again!
take care, enjoy the rest of the Festive Season xx0 -
Yes, the doctor made a house call. One thing I love about Dial A Doctor is having them come to the house, especially on holidays and stuff. They are amazing. Truthfully, i have seen my husband with haematoma's before and he has never mentioned having pain and considering the size of it, I didnt even consider that it could be that. But the doctor checked that it wasnt an infection, and thankfully no. But I have developed an abcess, in a very uncomfortable spot on the body. I cant catch a break right now lol. Right now, all i can do is laugh because, as they say, it doesnt rain, it pours2
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That is good news to hear you have it under control and that there is a reasonable explanation for it. For some reason, I am always relieved if I can find a cause for a symptom...even if I still have the symptom..1
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Hi @kristiekoala. I was diagnosed with high grade DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma in Situ) in my left breast back in April 23 and had a skin sparing double mastectomy (ie: they couldn't keep the nipple/aerola which is otherwise called Nipple sparing) and lymph nodes removed. My pathology was ER+ and PR+. This type of diagnosis was non-invasive cancer as hadn't spread to the lymph nodes but they were removed as part of the process to check in having the double mastectomy. I went privately for the surgery through Pindara Hospital on the Gold Coast and there was a 1 week time frame between diagnosis, consulting with a surgeon and then the actual surgery and 4 day hospital stay. I didn't need chemo etc. I took very evasive action in having the double mastectomy. This is what was ultimately recommended and was the best result due to the high grade, close margins to the nipple and the possibility of re-occurrence in the right breast. I have no regrets. Whilst not a specialist Im not sure why you have only been recommended a lumpectomy. Maybe it is the public system. I had tissue expanders inserted at the time of mastectomy and then reconstruction 5 months later with silicon implants but haven't had any further cosmetic nipple reconstruction surgery or nipple/aereola tattoos. In my case I see that it came down to a "trade off" in having the major surgery as a means for a better future prognosis. I feel for you as there are so many questions and decisions and it is very much a case that you only get snippets of information at a time. I wish you the best in your journey to a healthy future.1
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Hey everyone. Update for you
The clinic lost my file somehow and took almost 2 months from when the referral to the surgeon was sent and when i actually saw her. She apologised and was excellent. Didnt make excuses and said she was making sure it was being investigated as to how a file went missing. Even she said, i should have been seen weeks ago. My appointment to see her was on the 23rd January, which was also my 38th birthday, lol.
I was fully prepared to fight her on what i wanted, which was a double mastectomy with implants. She then said to me "because of the tumours, where they are, how big they are, etc, i have no other option but to do a mastectomy on your left breast"....my response "can you do both" and she agreed with implants. Sadly the nipple and areola cant be spared in the left so she is gonna take the right as well so they look identical. I am booked in for the surgery and she is going to do the implants at the same time as well as a lymph node clearance on the 27th February. The surgery is 4 hours. I will be in hospital for 5 days and then bed rest for 6 weeks. Ive had a few people who have had mastectomies, question why the long bed rest but then i realised they didnt get the implants. The 6 weeks is to make sure everything settles and my body doesnt reject the implants or i get an infection. Precationary measure on behalf of my surgeon.
2 - 3 months after the surgery i will do chemo then radiation but my surgery said by my 39th birthday i should be in remission, barring any complications. Finally my path is laid out and i know whats coming. Woot woot!!!5 -
Wishing you a belated happy birthday @kirstiekoala. xxx. I hope you WERE able to celebrate it appropriately xx
Oh dear - that's a shocker about the lost file and definitely needs to be investigated!
It happened to me between my surgery & my Rads .... it was SO upsetting!
I am glad that you & your surgeon agree on the game plan and that she can see that the end in sight within the year!! Woohoo - more celebrations then xx
Try & keep busy in the meantime, doing stuff you love doing - or even being constructive for the next 2-3 months as you recover from your surgery. Maybe even start freezing some precooked meals so that you have stuff you 'like' at hand for when you are home again.
Do you have family living with you that can support you in the bed rest period? As you'll probably not be able to use your arms for a little while, either, lifting stuff etc - and DEFINITELY no house cleaning!!! Delegate that to someone else!
take care xx
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Im thankful that my husband can work from home and his mum is coming over from Qld to help out for 2 weeks plus my mum put in her long service leave so lots and lots of help. Not allowed to lift anything more than 2kg for the 6 weeks so definitely no housework. If im up to it, i will be cross stitching or doing diamond painting but otherwise sleeping and binge watching tv4
