Forum Discussion
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...
15 Replies
I finally came to the end of my treatment! 6 & 1/2 weeks of radiation finished wednesday last week. What a relief! It feels so strange not to have to go to an appointment every day, not to have to lie under a giant machine and stare at a blank ceiling. I thought I'd feel more stoked about it but it ended up being a bit of an anti-climax.
I was all prepared, made a traditional greek desert, thinking my family would be around that night for a mini celebration (as they were when chemo finished, and both surgeries finished), but this time, no one, not even a phone call! We thought they may have forgotten,which was a little sad but I soon got over it and so did my partner. He had 3 days of eating his fav desert, so he wasnt complaining!
Now financially, we struggled quite a bit as my partner lost his job during this process, just to add to the fun times in cancer paradise! He is starting work again soon but I'v decided to take a little break before getting back into it. Looking forward to going on a little holiday and recoupe.
Once we gather some money together again, my partner and I were thinking of hosting an end of treatment~surprise wedding celebration. Lets shock our family one more time but this time for the better! We were supposed to be married in march this year and I had to cancel everything when I got the bc news. So we may as well end a crappy year in a BANG!
Hope everyone just starting treatment is keeping well and congratulations to those who've finished and are feeling relieved.
Here's to a better year ahead!
Happy little vegimite, over & out :)
xo
I hope you enjoy some great holidays in thast camper and fishing trips too!
Enjoy the feeling of happiness!
Regards Heidihoe
Hi all
I havent updated my blog in a while and thought I'd touch base. Chemo finished and I had my surgery (wide excision and sentinal node biopsy). Wow that hurt! The nuclea meds they inject you the day before the sentinal node biopsy was a killer. I believe the F word was used on many occations. They also managed to drip most of it on my gown and stomach so after 2 hours of xray mapping we had to do it all over again. Fun times in cancer paradise! The following day was surgery 8th march, everything went dandy, in a week I received results. Unfortunantly 3 out of 4 lymph nodes were involved and there were two marginal areas unclear of tumour cells. three weeks later..here goes round two, re-excision to breast and axillary clearence. Had a very painful drain tube experience where it was touching my nerve and shooting pain all on my chest back and shoulder, I was relieved when it was removed on day 5. Today (1 week later) I received results. 18 lymph nodes were removed in total and 5 were positive. The breast had a clear marignal area and I was told I dont need a mastectomy. Yaeeeee! Ooooooh happy days!!! I was so relieved, I hugged my surgeon (I think she got a fright) and told her I love her. My fionsay was in tears and couldnt stop all the way home (what a sweet heart). Its been a tough few months and we were feeling pretty grim. Now we can look forward to the future. Radiation next mid of april and tamoxifen. I keep singing..."o happy days!"! I cant help it. We bought a campervan so we have a holiday on wheels whenever we would like to escape and a boat as we live near the beach and both enjoy fishing. As the 80's song goes...the only way is up!
Hello Happy Little Vegimite.
I just loved reading your notes and the wonderful way in which you express your self. You make me laugh! You are just gorgeous.
Sorry to hear this has happen to youand it sounds like you and your gorgeous boobies are doing fine!
Take care and thank you for sharing. It's been a delight.
Heidi hoe
Hey you , long time no hear? Great that you have finished chemo.
Yep it is a big YES for bone aches from me. My bones still ache and I finished chemo in 2008, but it is not as bad.
Great to see you back posting. I have just got out of hospital today from having reconstruction.
Tanya
PS: Who else has been suffering from bone pain after treatment has finished?
Well, its been a while since my last entry. I finished chemo on Feb 8th...yaeee!! And am still in recovery mode. I'm pretty exhausted both physically and mentally but proud of myself that I got to the end of it, well the first chapter anyway. Today I saw my surgeon who confirmed she can't feel my lump anymore nor the one under my arm so that was exciting news. I'm going in for an ultrasound tomorrow and will be reviewing the results with her on Friday. Basically friday will be decision time. Sentinal node biopsy v axillery clearance. A hard choice to make in such a small amount of time. Would love to hear from women that have had an axillary clearance if poss. I'm worried about lymphadema, nerve damage and recovery.
Thank yoy, I will write in again soon
HLV over & out :)
Well, its been a while since my last entry. I finished chemo on Feb 8th...yaeee!! And am still in recovery mode. I'm pretty exhausted both physically and mentally but proud of myself that I got to the end of it, well the first chapter anyway. Today I saw my surgeon who confirmed she can't feel my lump anymore nor the one under my arm so that was exciting news. I'm going in for an ultrasound tomorrow and will be reviewing the results with her on Friday. Basically friday will be decision time. Sentinal node biopsy v axillery clearance. A hard choice to make in such a small amount of time. Would love to hear from women that have had an axillary clearance if poss. I'm worried about lymphadema, nerve damage and recovery.
Thank yoy, I will write in again soon
HLV over & out :)
In relpy to your question yes. It was one thing to lose my hair but there was no way I would be leaving the house without my makeup on!! Especially when the brows thin and you have to do the dot to dot to fill in the gaps.
I am allergic to lots of skin creams etc, but never had any skin irritations to anything during chemo, which surprised me, cause I remember thinking that for sure my skin would react with something, but all good.
I even used to borrow pretty earrings off all my friends, and we laughed that it would take the focus of my ugly bald head.
So yep, its a green light for earrings and makeup for me!!!
You are so brave, and great that you can still enjoy the sunshine!!!!
Tanya
HI sorry to hear it didn't go so well, but the first one is always a bit like a practice run to see how it will affect you. You will find it will be a bit easier from now as you will know what to ecpect and how to deal with it.
I suffered from chemo brain as well. Quite funny really, I could not believe how forgetful I had become. I would walk into the kitchen to cook dinner only when I got there I would forget what It was that I was going to do. I think I spent most of my time walking around the house trying to figure out what I was supposed to be doing. My 7 year old son told me I needed to write things down as a reminder, then laughed at me. I am astounded at how well my kids have coped with all of this. I guess it has helped that we have made jokes out of my lack of hair and me forgetting things. Laughter is a great remedy.
Hang in there chick you will make it thru and be a stronger person for it.
