Ready to kick cancers butt!
Melvista
Member Posts: 2 ✭
I was recently diagnosed. I went for my first ever mammogram back in March. I received a call back as they found some dense tissue. Another mammogram, an ultrasound and a biopsy followed. I honestly never thought I would be a statistic, but here we are. I am going in for my surgery tomorrow. Feeling a little nervous but as others have said.. the best we can do is take it one day at a time. I know I am definitely in the right place. It is comforting to hear the good news stories and know there is so much help and support available. I’m ready to kick cancers butt!!
9
Comments
-
SO glad you found us, @Melvista, joining our somewhat 'exclusive' club xx. I hope you have a supportive family & friends network to help you thru this - and we'll be here for everything else xx (and support too.)
Whack up any questions that you have & we'll do our best to answer them honestly, as we've 'been there, done that'! If you ever feel anxious - consider chatting with our Help line on 1800 500 258 or your Breast Care Nurse - and/or listen to the Charlotte Tottman Podcasts - she is a specialist Breast Cancer Counsellor who was diagnosed about the same time as me, and she went double flat! It changed her idea of just how badly this diagnosis can affect us all. Click on the '22 tracks' and then start with No 13 (the first of the first series .... then go back to the top for the 2nd series! Yeah, weird, I know!) You can listen to them here - they are VERY easy to listen to:
https://soundcloud.com/search?q=charlotte tottman
Were you aware that you had Dense Breast Tissue prior to your diagnosis? - Did they advise you of it on your first one? If it is not rude - how old are you? They 'say' that dense breast tissue is more common amongst younger women - but I was 64! (I was diagnosed 6 years ago after the BreastScreen NSW bus missed my Invasive Lobular cancer - and an ultrasound & biopsy was suggested ... as it is almost impossible to see ANY BC with dense breast tissue, as both cancer AND breast tissue shows as white. White on White = invisible! ) I've since had some spirited discussions with BSNSW as I believe they should advise us of our breast density on our very first mammogram (particularly if dense) as it can delay diagnosis by years - allowing a more advanced cancer diagnosis later. I asked for my films to be 'read again' by another Radiologist - who gleefully told me I didn't have breast cancer ... WRONG!
Other countries advise their clients that they need (at least) an ultrasound - why not Australia? And Mammograms are FREE for women in Australia from age 40!! Many don't know that!
Wishing you all the best for tomorrow xx. Yep, Kick this Cancer's butt!!!
2 -
Hi @Melvista
Good luck with your surgery tomorrow.
Any questions you can ask on here - we all “ get it” in a way those who have not received this diagnosis never really can.
There is a wealth of information on this website
There is an emotional / psychological toll as well as a physical one to this disease so don’t hesitate to ask your GP for a referral to a psychologist should you feel the need.I
I found the Dr Charlotte Tottman podcasts on here very helpful - she is a psychologist specialising in cancer related distress who herself got diagnosed with breast cancer .
2 -
Hope your surgery goes well. Take all the time you need to rest.1
-
Hi @Melvista. I hope surgery went/goes well today. I hope they haven't made you wait too long to go under. When you're back on the ward, don't be brave - if you're hurting, say so - there's meds for that!
I had my left boob removed just over a month ago so have very recent memories of it all. That egg sandwich when I woke up was the best I'd ever had!
I wish you all the best for your recovery!2
