Unlucky?

Hi Ne,

Thank you for your honest post about the emotional effects of facing a cancer diagnosis. I too, am facing the question of, am I unlucky to experience this?  Having just had this conversation with my med oncologist 2 days ago at my last chemo session, that word came up.  I don't consider my self to be particularly old at 48, breast fed 2 kids, fit, slim, healthy, had a wine with dinner (oops maybe that was it?),  they have no answers!!

I ended up having a mastectomy after 2 previous surgeries to conserve my breast with a lumpectomy and wider excision as there were cells in margins.  I haven't yet found another person who had a mucinous tumour which doesn't fully show on mammogram.  (apparently it's quite uncommon)  My tumour was larger and more irregular than what was initially thought and in final breast pathology, there was a second similar tumour hiding in my breast unbeknownst to anyone (so maybe I was lucky to have dcis in the tissue margins, who knows?).  I'm now concerned about keeping an eye on my other breast, and think I'll have to have mris to watch it carefully.  

I spoke with a psychologist the other day at chemo, as well, which I found a great help.  I think I'm coming to terms with the process of grieving of a life before cancer and a lost breast.  Also the fact that I feel my life is effectively  on hold.

I started yoga last week and it was interesting that the 4 out of 5 of the women there were all breast cancer women at different stages of their treatment. I've also enrolled in the encore program to start in October in my area.  Looking forward to face to face meetings with some women, hopefully a similar age. 

Thank you again for your honesty. 

All the best with the rest of your treatment.  

Karen xx