Awaiting results after surgery - Mjheke

Thanks so much @arpie
How funny you used to live in Auckland! 

I do have a superannuation policy and have checked it and have a stand down period of 90 days so not really helpful...

I am definitely having some memory issues-sent my husband my CV today and I cannot remember doing it! I feel exhausted all of the time, although I am walking and doing my physio exercises daily as I see this is something that everyone sees as vital both on the forum and in other information I have been reading.

I have a really good boss when it comes to things like this and I am grateful for that. 
Thanks again xx

@Mjheke  ..... I lived in South Auckland for 15 years to '99 (Weymouth.) I loved my time in  NZ.   We moved back to Aussie in '99. 

That is great that your margins & nodes are clear (as were mine.)  Just one less thing to worry about, eh?    Mine was invasive lobular .... but caught early (I was VERY lucky!) so didn't have to do chemo.

Do you have a superannuation policy?  Sometimes there is a health/sickness clause that may help with the financials whilst you are getting back on your feet.  The Social Welfare officer at the hospital may be able to help with at least one bill up to $400, if that will help (Council or power bill) but it is a 'one off'. (I had lots of 'medical payouts' up to $6000, so found this helped us big time.)    

Most of us have found the 'mental anguish' to be much worse than we anticipated, along with the physical pain & discomfort.  There may also be memory/sleeping issues (not sure if from anaesthetic or anxiety) that may impact your daily activities for some time .... all these things may affect your ability to work full time, initially.  :(  

I hope that you have an understanding boss!  All the best for your ongoing treatment  xxxx

@Mjheke - I was pretty luck and had about 3 months of sick leave up my sleeve so that took a huge stress off me.

Hi @"Kiwi Angel"

I am fortunately at this stage only having Radiotherapy. I am from Auckland but lived for the last 19yrs in Orewa, just north of Auckland. We are both from NZ and moved here about 4yrs ago with a break back home for 9 months last year.
Work has so far been supportive of me having time off-I don't have a lot of sick leave unfortunately so will have to return whether I feel like it or not! ha ha.

M x

@Mjheke - where about in NZ are you from?  I spent most of my childhood in Oamaru and then moved to Christchurch where I lived until I moved over here about 12 years ago when I met my Aussie husband.  I worked as much as I could during chemo.  I would have Monday off to have chemo and then would work Tuesday, Wednesday then off until the following Monday (or Tuesday/Wednesday for the last 2 cycles) and then normally in between.  I had TC chemo and everyone reacts differently - some people who had my chemo said they physically couldn't of worked. I found it kept me sane and took my mind of my problems - it did get a little harder with the cumulative effects of the chemo but work was fantastic to me during it all.xoxox

Always good to know what you want and don't want. I was keen to keep working as I enjoyed my job...and I also changed it a year after diagnosis. While I enjoyed it, I had been doing it for along time. Realising with a bang that my time is finite (not because of cancer, but because it always was!) I decided to do something new when the opportunity arose, and to move to a 4 day week (at 68) to give myself more time for other things. It's not a recommended way to re-evaluate what work means and what you most want to do, but it can work. Best wishes.

Thanks @arpie, 
Yes, I had been told I had dense breast tissue. I had previously been diagnosed with fibrocystic disease also-i have multiple cysts that go up and down between each mammogram. I have had a look at the link and it certainly applies to me.I had a clear mammogram in November last year and was due for my screening mammogram this year as my sister had breast cancer at 41yrs and I require yearly screening. Had I not felt the lump I feel I would still be un-diagnosed, as even my surgeon said he couldn't see it on the mammogram and was difficult to see on ultrasound-Hence the recommendation for MRI-It was clearly visible on the contrast MRI, but also helped exclude other tumours. 

My apologies for not responding sooner but it has not been an easy week, post-surgery. Mainly emotionally and although have been looking and reading the forum and replies, I have just not felt up to responding...

I am pretty much on my own here in Brisbane as we have not built up a network of support yet-we have friends, but not good friends that I would feel comfortable asking for help. I have been lucky that my Mum has come over for the week from NZ and I have an amazing husband. However he does work in a role that he is unable to take loads of time off work either. 

I am having radiotherapy and am awaiting a call from the Radiation oncologist this week. I see the surgeon for a follow-up appointment tomorrow. I had a wide local excision and sentinel node biopsy-2 nodes and a round block mastopexy because they took a large amount of breast as the MRI had showed that I had a satellite tumour out from the known mass. Because it was in the same area he took the nodes via the same excision, which has unfortunately made me more bruised and sore than having a second excision for the sentinel nodes. The results so far have been positive-I have an ER+ and PR+ breast cancer with Her 2 negative. Margins are clear. Nodes are clear. I do however have LCIS throughout the whole sample which I have done a bit of research about this, which may increase my risk in the future. I will see what the surgeon says about this tomorrow.

@SuzieJulia , @Bettyboo @Sister @Afraser
on my return to work. I am a nurse, I have a pretty physical role-I am also scared, as likely you are post-surgery a bit scared of someone knocking my breast accidentally. It is still quite painful despite keeping on top of my pain relief.  But to be honest I really don't want to return to work at all! I am however unable to financially afford this option, so will return reluctantly next week. I will now though look at alternative roles as I have not been enjoying nursing for a while and would love a change... Any ideas would be most welcome! Ha Ha....
Thanks again all for your love and support! 
Michelle xx

Hi Michelle, all the best to you with your treatment plan and also returning back to work (which I'm sure can't be easy). I was diagnosed with BC a month ago and 'left' work immediately (I'm hoping to return next year)...As a teacher, I felt it would have been too difficult for me to manage a class of students (although I'm sure there are lots of brave souls who do!) 
I initially felt a lump which was followed up with a core needle biopsy - this lump turned out to be nothing but a cyst, but whilst the radiologist was checking the 'films' she saw another area she wasn't sure about  :o I ended up going back for a 2nd core needle biopsy - not a cyst this time, but IDC!
With my treatment plan, I was unable to have radiation as I've had it in the same area previously (for Hodgkin's Lymphoma), so we had to be a bit more radical, hence being booked in for a mastectomy..Although the other side was okay, I've chosen to have a prophylactic mastectomy on that side too - I want to reduce the chances of getting this again as much as possible!  :)
I'll have my double mastectomy on 23 November, so the time is getting closer now. At this stage my surgeon doesn't think I'll need chemo, but I think it will depend on what everything looks like once it's out.

Wishing you & all the other brave gals out there a smooth & 'peaceful' journey with the decisions you have to make  <3

Suzanne Xx

Hi J. It is indeed an absolute whirlwind when you're diagnosed. My tumour was out the very next day! Which was a great relief to me at the time I must say.

We have the lovely @"Kiwi Angel" here, another ex pat from NZ. She will get what it is you're going through with that extra bit of shared background! She and @Eastmum both worked through their treatment this year.

One day at a time is the way to go. Good on you for managing that. K xox

Thanks @kmakm, 
I am new to the forum scene so am still working out how to navigate my way around!

I am now post surgery as of Monday. It has all happened very quickly and I have so far found it easier to take one day at a time, some days ok, some days very hard. I live in Brisbane and we are new to the area we live in, so don’t have a lot of local support (I am originally from New Zealand). 

It it will be amazing to have some support during this time and advice as I need it. 
M x