Diagnosed today fluke pickup

@NewBoobsPLS - I believe your surgeon's nurse should be organising that for you .... 

Yep, face it head on, but don't overthink it, as it really can do your head in. Just now you are in info-overload and it is hard enough to keep everything 'ordered' ..... but it can really muck with your brain, specially the more you do the 'what ifs' and start guessing on treatment etc.

Ask the surgeon to write the plan down 'as is' - but it is the Oncologist who will be discussing your chemo with you - as that is not the surgeon's area of expertise.  He will have suggested it, from what he's seen on your tests already - but it is the Oncologist who will tell you what is going to happen & when.

I am not familiar with services in Panania - but if you add the town name to your profile - others will spot it & may jump on with more specific info.

Take care - and I hope you get more info with your next round of meetings xx

@arpie thanks for the info. I'm based in Panania. My surgeon wants to start chemo before surgery. I don't have a breast care nurse yet. Do I have to apply or ask for one? Yer, my personality is a go getter so I get carried away with just getting on with it. For me it is what it is. I'll treat it, beat it and move on. I know that's not for everyone and that's ok. Positive energy. 😁

Sorry to see you here.

All breast cancer diagnosis have different treatment plans.  It all depends on the type of breast cancer you have - whether your 5mm lump is DCIS,  locally invasive or Lobular etc, whether there is lymph node involvement, the hormone receptive status and so on.  

Sorry to see you here, @NewBoobsPLS - welcome to the club that no-one really wants to join  .... but you'll have lots of support & tips on getting thru this.

Try not to get too far ahead of yourself at this point in time & be guided by your medical team.  Do you have a Breast Care nurse assigned to you yet?  They are a mine of information.  The biopsy gives a basic diagnosis - it is only after surgery & pathology that the team will discuss your long term treatment with more certainty.  The surgeon often has a 'team' that he works with & is confident with - so chat with the surgeon first up.

Take a good buddy with you if you can - both for support AND a 2nd set of ears.  Also, record your meetings on your phone, so you can review it later.  It is almost impossible to remember everything that is discussed.

Going public with surgery & chemo/rad onc/Onc is very cost effective as it is almost free (going private can cost a lot, even if you have medical insurance.)  So do your homework in the mean time, contact your private health insurance to see what you are covered for.  I was out of pocket up to $6000 with 'gaps' from surgery & treatments prior to Rad Onc & Onc.

Whereabouts in SW Sydney are you ..... town/city?  Members may be able to guide you towards services available there.  

Take care & All the best for your results xx

@CRM thanks for the help. So much info has come at me these last few days. The dr said it was aggressive and it's been there about a year he thinks. My nodes are showing significant thickening so he thinks it's likely they have been compromised. I'll be sure either way to get the correct staging and grade on Monday. Sorry if I offended anyone with my mix up of stages and grades. I swear he stage 3 though. 
I'll definitely be talking a pen and paper in next time.

I should also add that finding your tumor by fluke when it is only 5mm is fantastic.  You have every reason to stay positive :) 

Hey @NewBoobsPLS  really sorry that you are here. I have no recommendations for Sydney as I am in Melbourne but just wanted to let you know it sounds like you are grade 3, and fingers crossed not stage 3 pending the results of your lymph nodes. The stage is a scale from 0 - 4 of how advanced the cancer is and the grade is a scale of 1 - 3 of how aggressive the cancer is.  If you have a 5mm tumor and no lymph node involvement it should be stage 1.  I hope it isn't patronising for me to explain that I just thought in case you are telling family and friends there is a big difference between stage 3 and grade 3. 

I have no doubt the other women on here can give you some Sydney-specific advice. Wishing you all the best xx