33yrs Newly Diagnosed QLD Anyone Else?

And keep that sense of humour! It’s invaluable. 

Fire Dr. Google.... Check.
Don't Panic..... working on it.
Thanks so much for the messages. I will check in again after my specialist appointment when I go through my treatment plan.

Welcome! No-one really wants to be here, and not the Christmas surprise you want but it’s a warm and friendly place on the network, with good advice from people who have first hand experience.
First advice is, don’t Google! Breast cancer is not one thing, it’s a mixture of many facets and many complexities. Treatment is therefore individual. Two people with apparently the same diagnosis may have different treatments, because other factors may come into play. Reports on Google are not moderated - they may reflect one person’s view but they may not be accurate or up to date.
Second, your medical team will be very important. You need to feel comfortable with them and trust their advice. Have you someone who can go with you on your first appointment? Can be really handy to have someone to take notes (also useful to make out a list of questions beforehand) as this can feel like a whole new language and it’s easy to forget things in the rush of new information. 
Others on the network can give good advice on how you keep your children informed but not scared. 
Once you know what treatment is recommended and have a plan, things do become a bit clearer and it’s easier to focus on each step. It’s hard but try not to think too far ahead - you would not be the first to worry about something that never happens! One step at a time. Best wishes. 

Here's a couple of links to help you from BCNA.  Do not google as it is sometimes someone's opinion which isn't always correct

https://www.bcna.org.au/understanding-breast-cancer/what-is-breast-cancer/

There's a link within to find your type and another to gain an understanding of pathology report

Hopefully this reading will help 

The link is a group within the forum

https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/group/23-invasive-lobular-cancer-ilc

Hi everyone. I am 46 with a 14 year old and 11 year old and just joined the Network today. I live on the North side of Brisbane and will be (eventually) attending the RBWH. I was diagnosed on Christmas Eve with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma with LVI seen. Seeing the specialist on the 8th or 9th of January to go through my treatment plan so I have not idea what to expect. I don't even know what the diagnosis really means yet. Some reports are quite scary but others are not as bad. 

@Bron33 yes I did zoladex throughout, more for fertility though, as the theory goes if you turn off your ovaries during chemo therapy they won’t lose as much function. I am going to take a guess and assume they didn’t offer it to you because you already have kids and they probably assumed you didn’t want more..? Not everyone loses fertility through chemo but the risk is there unfortunately.

Do you feel comfortable about the tamoxifen? Ask them about their reasoning for that drug choice versus an aromatase inhibitor just so you understand! 

I did thank you I hope you did as well considering you’re onto your fourth AC that’s something to celebrate at least! Getting closer now :) 

@youngdogmum did you do zoladex during chemo at all? I see so many people doing it but I haven’t been offered this and I’m still getting my period it hasn’t stopped from chemo so far. Will ask my Oncologist next week. They said Tamoxifen for hormone therapy at the end. I’m really worried about keeping my hormones under control at the end I was 95% positive for hormones. 

@kabash thank you so much for all the information you have shared this will help me greatly. Pls let me know how you get on with your results. I had a ultrasound after my 4th AC to see if my tumors responded, 1st tumor shrunk a small amount it was 2cm tech said It had shrunk in width but not length, 2nd tumor went from 10mm down to 6mm and the 1 lymph node that tested positive and appeared enlarged had gone back down to normal size. I start taxol on 2nd jan. 

thank you again and I hope all has gone well for you :) 

Glad to hear you're doing OK @kabash. If you'd like to, let us know your histopathology results when they come in. I hope you're comfortable and healing well. K xox

@Bron33 I finished radiation in September so am finished "active treatment" for three months now and am now using Zoladex monthly and letrozole daily...you will need some sort of ongoing treatment being triple positive as well. This brings its own set of struggles and does cause some pain but is manageable so far... 

Its really nice being back at work having a bit of something to do again.
Merry Xmas and good luck with Taxol.