Heartbroken, but unbroken

strongtogether
strongtogether Member Posts: 167
edited June 2019 in Newly diagnosed
We have just been hit with a TNBC diagnosis.
My wife is 44 and we have two young kids. Our world's been turned upside down. There's so much raw emotion and the sense of grief that we all know all too well.
Its been 12 days since diagnosis. She had a mastectomy on Wednesday, and a couple of lymph nodes removed. 
Today we heard that while the mastectomy went well, the borders are clear etc, one of the two lymph nodes had an 8 mm cancer. We are devastated. 

She's everything I wish I could be and I wish I could take her place, but I know I can't. 
We are positive and we are hopeful. She's a fighter, she is strong, she is healthy and young. 
Love to you all.

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Comments

  • Kiwi Angel
    Kiwi Angel Member Posts: 1,952
    @strongtogether I so sorry u had to join us here with this devastating news. It is so incredibly tough on partners too as u want to be strong for your significant other but u are struggling too. That’s what it was like for my husband. Sending you and your partner the biggest hugs and positive thoughts. 
  • Sister
    Sister Member Posts: 4,960
    @strongtogether It's hard getting that unexpected pathology report back when you're trying to be positive.  I had a different type of breast cancer but it was much bigger than first expected and had also spread to the nodes (click on my profile for my history).  Your wife will get through it and so will you and the rest of your family - it just takes some time to absorb the shock.  There are a number of women on this forum who have had TNBC and I'm sure you will get some more specific support from them but the rest of us are here as well.
  • arpie
    arpie Member Posts: 7,521
    SO sorry to see you and your wife here - all the best for her ongoing treatment.  It sounds like you will be an amazing support for her, which is half the battle xxx  Take the care - and thinking of you all xx
  • Afraser
    Afraser Member Posts: 4,352
    Positive and hopeful, excellent. Not a TNBC diagnosis for me, but mastectomy, one positive node, so chemo, herceptin and hormone therapy. 6 and a bit years on and fine - living normally. The diagnosis rocks you but you can right your boat, trim the sails and keep afloat. There are lots of people here (not me, I’m much older) who can give immensely helpful advice about coping with cancer with small children. Keep your eyes on the prize and take one step at a time. Best wishes.
  • lrb_03
    lrb_03 Member Posts: 1,267
    @GavinCh may be able to offer some advice from a partner's perspective. 
    Thank you so much for coming on here to find support for you both. Already you've been hit with so much in such a short time. 
    Know that we will all be here to offer whatever support we can, as you both navigate the weeks and months to come.
    Don't forget that you will need support, too. Yes, it's mostly about your wife at this stage, but if you don't also look after yourself physically and emotionally,  you maynot be able to be what she needs.
    Take care, both of you
  • primek
    primek Member Posts: 5,392
    edited June 2019
    @SoldierCrab @mum2jj your wise words of wisdom are needed.
  • strongtogether
    strongtogether Member Posts: 167


    I wish all the best to you both and just remember it is all totally doable. Let us know how you go. Do they have chemo on the table and radiation.   Big hugs to you guys  xo





    Thank you all for the welcome and support.
    Kitkatb, we are looking at a full course of chemotherapy (not that I know what that really entails, but I'm learning). After that we will be in for radiotherapy. 
    One of our best friends is a radiotherapist at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. I'm not sure how this all gets joined together but we are going through private hospital thus far.
     It has all been a bit of a whirlwind but I am looking forward to understanding how the different people fit together in a MDT. So far we have only spoken to the breast surgeon and breast care nurse. Both of whom come highly recommended.
    Love to you all.
  • kezmusc
    kezmusc Member Posts: 1,544
    Welcome @strongtogether,

    Sux to be here but there is so much warmth, information and understanding standing on the forum no matter what time of the day or night. There are a few of us close to Brisbane as well.
    The start is scary as hell but as the lovely ladies have already said, once there is a plan you feel a little more in control.  I was 45 at time of diagnosis but I had a house full of teenagers.

    While not TNBC I was node positive 5/24 with one at 25mm but I knew that from the beginning.  So Lumpectomy, re excision for margins, axillary clearance, 6mtss chemo and 30 rounds of rads.

    While it is all so incredibly daunting at the beginning and the fear of the unkown is indescribable, once that first chemo is out of the way the time passes pretty quickly and before you know it your done.
    While chemo is no walk in the park and that's probably the scariest appointment, some of us get through not too badly.  I was still able to work part time, run my farm, do all my usual things and plan formals, 18th birthdays, graduations and Christmas. Kept my hair with the cold cap and had a lot of fun times throughout it with all those events.
    I also had next to no problems with radiation. 
    Our brains like to conjur up worst case scenarios at the beginning, but there's a good chance it won't be anywhere near what we think at the beginning.
    There was some crappy days in amongst it all but there were a whole lot that weren't.
    All the best and look after yourselves.

    xoxoxo


  • Sister
    Sister Member Posts: 4,960
    Some good advice there @strongtogether.  I would definitely check out the financial side - maybe one of the things you can do for your wife so that she doesn't have to process too much (although that may be just what she wants to occupy herself with).  My health fund covered surgery, private hospital and chemo (plus the extras with oncology such as exercise, etc), but your fund will not cover radiotherapy.  However, in most cases, the public system, which I went with, is just as good as the private and I haven't heard too much in the way of extra care for the money.  The only thing I would say is that I had to ask for the Mepitel film and supply my own moisturiser, but you can buy a hell of a lot of moisturiser for a few thousand dollars.
  • mum2jj
    mum2jj Member Posts: 4,323
    @strongtogether I sent a reply to your message.  Just quickly in regards to finances I did a mix of public and private.  Surgery and chemo were private, my health fund pretty much covered the chemo except for a fee of about $30 for one of the anti nausea drugs.  I did however go public for radiation.  The only real difference with public/private radiation was that occasionally I had a longer wait in public.  However as I said, one day at a time, one foot in front of the other.
    Paula xx
    TNBC x 2 with a positive node and 8 years clear of 2nd diagnosis.
  • strongtogether
    strongtogether Member Posts: 167
    @kmakm thanks for your kimd words, and thanks for bringing up the finances side of it. To be honest we are so keen to move that we havent yet considered the money, but its going to come up. How does mixing and matching actually work? 
    We live in Brisbane. I spent three years working at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (non clinical). She has spent her professional career in allied health, as a lymphodema specialist Physiotherapist. 
    I know the hospital and I have spent more time in more parts of the hospitals across Southeast Queensland than most, but I dont know anything about the human body.
    Not particularly relevant, but it is kind of ironic.
    Anyway. We have supportive family and friends. We are strong and we are young. 

  • Sister
    Sister Member Posts: 4,960
    Talk to your wife's surgeon as he/she co-ordinates the treating team.  Say that you would prefer to go public for rads and ask for referral to someone in that system - if your surgeon isn't keen, ask why.  (I didn't know to ask about public/private but my surgeon was very aware of my financial circumstances and brought it up with me.)  Your wife will have a long term relationship with her surgeon and oncologist.  Unless tnbc is very different to other bc, she is likely to see her radiation oncologist 2 or 3 times in total...ever.  

    I'm not familiar with Brisbane's facilities - others may be able to comment - but I haven't heard that private is any better with regard to equipment or treatment.  And from what I'm aware, there's just as much appointment shuffling and waiting in both systems but I guess that could be different in different places.

    I think you said that you have a friend in a local radiotherapy dept - if you feel you can without prejudice, then ask that person what they think.
  • kmakm
    kmakm Member Posts: 7,974
    edited June 2019
    Happy to help @strongtogether. As your name implies, we're with you. I'm in medical admin when I'm in paid work. :)

    Ask your breast surgeon to refer you to the public system for radiation therapy. They are the overall coordinators of your care. Some people are able to negotiate with the health providers to get an acceptable price. You could check with your wife's breast care nurse, she'd know the ropes locally.

    @onemargie might be able to chip in with some wisdom if she's around.

    How is your wife doing today @strongtogether? K xox