My Story
My partner happened to come accoss an odd bump on my left breast as we were cuddling one night on the couch. No funny business I promise :) It was quite firm, so he insisted I see a doctor about it. I was hormonal and due for my monthlies so thought nothing of it. Two weeks passed my period came and gone and my breast started to ache. I felt the lump and it had grown and formed an odd shape. I called my GP and he couldnt fit me in for another week. My partner had an appointment to get his blood results back in a couple days, so whilst in that appointment I asked the doc if he could have a quick look at my breast. He did, his eyebrows raised, not just because I have outrageously gorgeous breasts :) but because he was alarmed at the size of it. He instantly sent me for an "urgent" ultrasound and three day's later I was told I have a malignant tumour. The same day he sent me off to see a surgeon who said he wanted to do a few more tests to see what we are dealing with. I had a mamogram and core biopsy and had results all in that same week. The prognosis was invacive ductal carcinoma (high grade) and was advised a lumpectomy and sentininel node biopsy was requred immediately, followed by 6 months of intense chemo and 6 wks radiation therapy. I was placed on an urgent waiting list (category 1) however this surgeon couldnt do it till mid november another month and a half away, another lady surgeon was available in two weeks so we opted to see her instead. As we hadnt met her before I requested we meet her in person. That day I was blown away, I was explained that the lump was quite large (shock 1) and if I was to have it removed immediately I would lose more than half of my breast. It would be deformed and concave (shock 2)and we would need to wait at least two months before we can start chemo. She immediately thought doing things the other way around, chemo first surgery later. . whilst she dashed out to get the oncologists opinion to this new plan, I was left in shock. I was so upset that the previous surgeon never gave me this option. His words were, "its a nasty one, its not that big but needs to come out, you'd hardly tell after surgery and can still wear your low cut tops." Now this lady told me the complete opposite, it's a large one, i will lose more than half my breast. Hows about we save time and start off with chemo first? Did you know that this particular type (invacive ductal carcinoma) responds very well to chemo? No i did not. In some cases its dissappeared completely with chemo alone. Unbeliveable. Yes we have hope and I dont get to mutate my presious boobie. This was fantastic news we were excited, confused, angry and happy all at the one time. I got to chat to the oncologists that day also and was introduced to a breast care nurse. Everyone had been so helpful so far (other than my first surgeon). I'm so glad I got this surgeon and my oncologists has a very good rep also. I have a great team and have been told that I will be starting my first cycle of chemo next week! I've come on this site so I can find other women in the same situation as I am or people that have been through it themselves and can understand its process and it affects it has on every day living...my worse fear is the chemo treatment. If anyone is able to shed some light would be great. Thanks for reading. Happylittle vegimite over and out...
