Forum Discussion

sandramj's avatar
sandramj
Member
9 years ago

A new member and really wishing I wasn't

Received diagnosis on Feb 24th of Ductal Invasive Carcinoma Grade 2 in left breast after Mammogram with Breastscreen.  Fortunately Dr de Viana was the one who gave me my results and I later found out he was one of the best here on the Gold Coast for surgery and treatment.  I was in shock and we had a cruise organised with family flying from Perth & Melbourne to join us in Singapore then cruising for two weeks back to Brisbane.  I discussed this with Dr and he said two weeks cruising would be good.

So back to Dr on March 17th the day after arriving home and he scheduled surgery fro Wed march 29th as I had to go off blood thinners a week before. 
I managed to put the cancer to the back of my mind a lot of the time on the cruise as I was "tour guide" for a group of six first time cruisers and two we had cruised with before.  I kept very busy and only had one dream that included cancer and it was very tame. 

I have had depression for over fifty years and take antidepressants and now a mood stabiliser and without going into a lot of detail am taking a LOT of medications for heart disease, diabetes insipidus, thyroid and now realise I have anxiety.  My anxiety takes over and physically changes my wellness into diarrohea & a continual feeling of sick in the gut.  And today I am having trouble keeping busy to block the thoughts and consequent feelings.

I had at major shift in my thoughts on Friday morning in the shower and cried thinking how angry how I had ignored my left breast throughout this.  I felt very sorry I had ignored it and decided on an old therapy from another time of surgery - to think positive and change things little by little - those I have control over - and feed my body only good foods, nurture myself etc. 
But like another bowling ball thundering down my alley towards my "pins" id taken three weeks to stand back up - I go a phonecall from the Breastcare Nurse saying the MRI * recent ultra sound picked up another lump in the same breast - this one at 5 oçlock.  Previous one at 2 oçlock   and they thought it might be a satellite of the other one.  Therefore need another ultrasound ASP and another biopsy on Tuesday 11am.   
They also found another lump in the right breast that they thought might be benign - BUT I am worried and would like that biopsied too at the same time so I only have one anaesthetic (Had major clot on the lung & pituitary tumour in the past) 
I am scared beyond belief and cannot believe how quickly things have changed - AND not for the better.  I am imagining the new lump is an offshoot of the other one as it is invasive and so I am wondering if they weill suggest mastectomy - I am petrified about chemotherapy.   I was prepared for the wide incision and the sentinel node biopsy - but this seems too much right now......
I haven't told my family as I don't want to worry them unnecessarily about the extra lump until I know what it actually is.  But that seems to be adding to the stress.    
Ive got the journey kit and read a lot and thought I had it sorted - what it was - the surgery and what I needed to do.... \But now I feel back in the shock and denial stage I was till Friday.  Guess this is normal - but I hate it!   It's like \I have a thread from my brain through my gut straight to my bowels as the vomiting and loose bowels is immediate...... 
Guess it is also normal to feel alone and afraid to reach out to anyone due to feeling like a nuisance and there's nothing anyone can say except you'll be fine" But I don't know that right now.   
They say a problem shared is a problem halved and I hope this will bring some relief just from putting my thoughts and eelings on here.  Hope that's what this is for....... 
Ive had a lot of illnesses in my family and myself but I never wanted to EVER go to an oncology department.....   Guess I should be careful what I wish for.....   And sometimes what we put our energy on festers.....  
Soo many thoughts running around in my head - and ive managed to come out of major illnesses efore with positive thinking, reading Louise Hay etc, doing affirmations, relaxation and meditation but I can't seem to connect to this........  It's like its not real or maybe my previous way of managing things like this is to dissociate and that's what I'm doing on an unconscious level;.....
|Sorry folks this is a ramble - but its how my head, thoughts and emotions seem right now.
Thank you for the opportunity to :uload" share - rant  on here.    :) <3

63 Replies

  • The waiting to know is very difficult and you have made really sensible decisions so far. If they recommend a mastectomy know it is not the end of the world. There are options to reconstruct if you wish. I know it wasn't your plan but honestly the knowing the darn cancer is finally out of you is a relief. Several areas doesn't necessarily mean spread from the first it can just be several areas of change at the same time. 

    We are hear to listen and totally get how stressed you are feeling waiting on your results and what will happen. 

    The cancer council have counselling services if you feel this might help also.
    http://www.cancer.org.au/about-cancer/patient-support/131120.html

    You don't have to do it alone.

    Take Care. Kath x
  • Oh sandramj  you are allowed to be frightened, angry and in shock .. it is a normal reaction to a diagnosis of Breast Cancer never mind more to be checked....
    No wonder you are feeling overwhelmed... 

    since you are accustomed to meditation can I suggest a good one by Petrea King  called "Relaxation" she is from the Quest Foundation and has a lot of CDs etc for different cancers.  I have found it very good to help me relax. 

    So glad you got to take your Cruise it would of helped you to get past the initial shock of diagnosis. 
    You are more than welcome to rant and vent and let the stress be released here. 
    I can see why you feel so overwhelmed with your medical and mental health history. 
    Rest Assured your team will be doing what they see as the best options for you. 
    Call and ask your breast care nurse if it is possible to do biopsy on the other breast explain your concerns and reasoning's.... She will know what can and can't be done. 

    Sometimes Chemo is tolerated really well so don't jump hurdles before you get to them. 
    Surgery will give them pathology to know exactly how to work with ridding your body of the cancer. 
    come and ask questions of us ... ask your breast care nurse and you can also ring the cancer council for help they have counsellors to help you through this time. 

    We all wish we didn't have to be on this roller coaster ride, but we are so how can we make it more bearable ? this online forum is wonderful at pointing you to information and shared experiences that will help you navigate this disease and the treatments your team suggest to get you through to being Cancer free. 

    hugs and energy 
    Soldier crab

  • Welcome to the site this is the right place for you. It is always a huge shock when you hear those words, I remember thinking are they talking to me they must have the wrong person. They were right and my first line of treatment changed from a lumpectomy, radiation and meds to, chemo , mastectomy, reconstruction and meds that I'm still having trouble with.
    I'm 3 years on and getting used to the new normal.  Visit often there is always someone who can answer some of your questions and we all listen and understand. I hope coming on to this site has helped hug coming your way x