HER2 positive diagnosed Dec 24 -

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  • SC75
    SC75 Member Posts: 11 ✭
    Hi Anna!
    I hope you’re doing well. I wanted to share a bit more about my journey with my bilateral mastectomy, as I know it can be so helpful to connect with others going through similar experiences. My surgery lasted around four hours, and I chose not to have immediate reconstruction. Like @Mareealso, I also have family history of cancer —my mum had ovarian cancer, and my aunt battled breast cancer. Because of that, I’m currently looking into genetic testing for the BRCA gene. If I find out I have it, I’ll be considering having my ovaries and fallopian tubes removed for peace of mind.
    As for the healing process, I think it’s important to remember that everyone’s experience is different. I actually found my recovery to be a bit easier than I expected! Once I woke up from the anesthesia, I felt pretty good (thanks to the lovely meds!), and within an hour, I was up and walking around—even went to the coffee shop with my partner! I only stayed one night in the hospital and was back home the next day. I took the prescribed painkillers for just a couple of days, and then I switched to panadol when needed. Staying active really helped; I walked on my treadmill and did my physiotherapy exercises. My drains were out in a week, and by six weeks, I was cleared to start running again! I know everyone’s journey is unique, and I was fortunate to have a relatively smooth recovery without work pressures. Looking back, those six weeks feel short compared to the big picture of life.
    About my Oncotype DX test results—turns out I have a 2.7% increased benefit from chemotherapy, which is a little higher than the original prediction of 1%. I had a strong feeling that I should consider this number, even though I was given the option to skip chemo. Statistics can be a bit daunting, but this one hit home for me, especially since I belong to the one in seven who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Like @Afraser, since having breast cancer statistics feel so much different than they did before. For me, it’s all about giving it my all to prevent any chance of recurrence. My husband is wonderful and completely supports my decision, but he has a different mindset. He thinks if he were in my shoes, he might skip the chemo to focus more on living in the moment. It’s interesting how everyone has their own perspective on what brings peace of mind.
    Whatever you decide will be the right choice for you, and I’m here cheering you on! Like you, I dream of living a long, vibrant life—traveling, making memories with my kids, and watching my beautiful boy grow up. I truly believe that even if our old selves feel distant, we’ll get through this together and find joy in life again, appreciating every moment.
    Remember, you’ve got this! Please keep us updated on how you’re doing. We’re all here for you, supporting you every step of the way! 💖
  • SC75
    SC75 Member Posts: 11 ✭

    I hope you’re doing well. I wanted to share a bit more about my journey with my bilateral mastectomy, as I know it can be so helpful to connect with others going through similar experiences. My surgery lasted around four hours, and I chose not to have immediate reconstruction. Like @Mareealso I also want to mention my family history—my mum had ovarian cancer, and my aunt battled breast cancer. Because of that, I’m currently looking into genetic testing for the BRCA gene. If I find out I have it, I’ll be considering having my ovaries and fallopian tubes removed for peace of mind.

    As for the healing process, I think it’s important to remember that everyone’s experience is different. I actually found my recovery to be a bit easier than I expected! Once I woke up from the anesthesia, I felt pretty good (thanks to the lovely meds!), and within an hour, I was up and walking around—even went to the coffee shop with my partner! I only stayed one night in the hospital and was back home the next day. I took the prescribed painkillers for just a couple of days, and then I switched to panadol when needed. Staying active really helped; I walked on my treadmill and did my physiotherapy exercises. My drains were out in a week, and by six weeks, I was cleared to start running again! I know everyone’s journey is unique, and I was fortunate to have a relatively smooth recovery without work pressures. Looking back, those six weeks feel short compared to the big picture of life.

    About my Oncotype DX test results—turns out I have a 2.7% increased benefit from chemotherapy, which is a little higher than the original prediction of 1%. I had a strong feeling that I should consider this number, even though I was given the option to skip chemo. Statistics can be a bit daunting, but this one hit home for me, especially since I belong to the one in seven who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Like @Afraser, I feel statistics sit differently for me now I have been one of them. For me, it’s all about giving it my all to prevent any chance of recurrence. My husband is wonderful and completely supports my decision, but he has a different mindset. He thinks if he were in my shoes, he might skip the chemo to focus more on living in the moment. It’s interesting how everyone has their own perspective on what brings peace of mind.

    Whatever you decide will be the right choice for you, and I’m here cheering you on! Like you, I dream of living a long, vibrant life—traveling, making memories with my kids, and watching my beautiful boy grow up. I truly believe that even if our old selves feel distant, we’ll get through this together and find joy in life again, appreciating every moment. 

    Remember, you’ve got this! Please keep us updated on how you’re doing. We’re all here for you, supporting you every step of the way! 💖

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