breast cancer roller coaster

no I agree, it is not cut and dry, and even the experts are not always sure, just wish they would say "we so not know,"rather than definetly it is not!" we are in their hands, and hopefully they are researching this Cancer each day! Thanks for the support it has inspired me to continue

not keen on chemo

I don't know if its every really cut (excuse the pun) and dry. I had a breast biopsy but the doctor said the lymph node was so small it wasn't worth doing a biopsy on that so left it. I had a mastectomy (my choice) which turned out a good thing as the other side of the breast had started some odd activity as well and ONE sentinel node out. Guess what, sentinel node was positive so back in to surgery to have ALL nodes out and every one was negative. Sheesh! I am still pissed off he didn't take a few nodes rather than one as if the others were negative I wouldn't have probably needed a second surgery. I probably would not have lymphedema in my arm. I wouldn't have two scars which seem to trap stuff between them so I am always doing massage to get it to go away. Since the one node was positive, chemo was sort of a given then. It wasn't easy but I got through it. I focus on the alternative, I am not dead from breast cancer and that's a very good thing. :)

@ not keen on chemo what a rollercoaster. One day you are happily working the next day you have cancer. Your fine and then you are not. I think how are you supposed to trust your body ever again. No obvious symptons nothing. I tried to tell as few people as possible I had cancer. Suddenly I am treated differently.  Same no hair sick limited in activity. Guess what a year on have hair, no cancer in my body and activity levels rising. It will get better.

@"not keen on chemo". Half the problem is not being able to effectively hide what is going on. This disease is no more deadly than heart disease, but we can't disguise it. Which somehow makes us public property. Very annoying.

Hi!  Sorry you've had to join us but we are all in this together and between us we will help you through the doldrums of it all.  I can only imagine having a nursing background sets your mind off racing, information overload! 

Hopefully you've been through the formalities on this site and ordered your My Journey Kit and have a breast care nurse as your go to.  There are other resources that are there for you to take advantage of, Look Good, Feel Better https://lgfb.org.au/ and the Otis Foundation.  There are lots of posts and resources within this site that you will find helpful.

As you would be well aware through nursing others we are all different in the way our bodies react to treatment.  Wishing you well with your treatment and surgeries and hopefully it is not too bad!

Take care

@"not keen on chemo" Welcome!! I think there are plenty of people here with plenty of confusing stories yes!! My first diagnosis was 2011 and 2nd in 2015. I think ive seen it all in that time. One thing I learned was having had lumpectomies, biopsies, sentinel node biopsies, radiation and chemo is...I wouldnt do a biopsy again as every time I had one they were benign! so pain and suffering for nothing. Lumpectomy was the only way of getting definitive pathology for diagnosis. Its so hard then too when you get conflicting opinions on treatment, so its important to deal with just the Oncologist. I find it odd about the Chemo, he said you wont lose your hair? and you could work? what is your Regime? If you did just Taxol theres a good chance you may not lose your hair however on FEC or AC you absolutely would. I too found it confronting that part but had a great wig that nobody could tell. I was very ill on Chemo and could not work. Im now 16 months post and still suffering side effects, but I have a full head of hair and on my way LOL. I wore wigs for that reason, I so didnt want the attention (pity) from people, I just wanted to deal with it personally. hard to hide when I lost eyelashes and all hair all over my body, I really did look like that typical cancer patient and HATED it! I would ask a heap of questions so you can be ahead of what is going on and going to happen so that you will be able to cope a little better. 

People think they are helping and being well meaning, but they really aren't nobody gets it like we all do because we're all going through it. Its an amazing supportive community and a wealth of experience and knowledge and love!

Keep talking, and sing out if there's anything that doesn't make sense that we can help with. Hugs Melinda xo

@"not keen on chemo" I am really sorry to hear your confusing journey! We are riding on a very bumpy roller coaster.  

I was diagnosed late last year from the day I felt a lump to now, it's been almost 5 months. I am still on the roller coaster and waiting for the big scary turn,  hopefully after that I will be heading towards the end of the journey. I had lumpectomy removed 2 lumps soon I was diagnosed late last year. I was offered radiotherapy or single mastectomy based on my post op histology reports. I struggled to make decisions. I was referred to genetic testing and MRI as I was worried about my opposite breast. MRI found another lesion in my opposite breast and radiologists commented my breast were"nightmares ". I am booked for double mastectomy next Friday. I am a nurse as well. It's certainly feeling weird being a patient now. I had nipple delay procedure done yesterday. I had the nurse who looked after me when I had lumpectomy. She said she will request to look after me next Friday after my double mastectomy. A very kind nurse! 

All the best with your journey! Gentle hugs for you! xxx