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nonkyboy's avatar
nonkyboy
Member
8 years ago

Feeling nervous now

8 weeks ago I was diagnosed with  INVASIVE DUCTAL CARCINOMA AND DUCTAL CARCINOMA IN SITU. I saw the breast surgeon within a few days and she sent me to have multitudes of scans, blood tests etc. my diagnosis is complicated by the fact that I had a hip replacement 17 months ago that was complicated by a major post op infection that left me in hospital for three months and having three further surgeries. I am still on antibiotics from this infection and the likelihood of me coming off them in the foreseeable future is zero. I am under the care of infection control at one of my local hospitals for this. Anyway, they had to weigh in on this upcoming surgery in case either area was compromised. The other problem I have is a regurgitation of two of my heart valves so care needs to be taken with anaesthetics, so of course Cardiology also need to be involved. Anyway I went back to the surgeon yesterday ( she's been overseas for six weeks) to chat about all the results and she told me that she can't book me into surgery yet as something new came up on my last heart scan which needs a cardiology clearance. Luckily I already had an appt booked with my cardiologist for this coming Monday. The surgeon has agreed that if he gives clearance I can call her office prior to her getting his letter so things can start rolling. She wouldn't put me on her lists tentatively in case I need further cardiac treatment first. I'm just worried that it's already 8 weeks and I can actually see this lump in my breast now. Do you ladies know if these things spread quickly to the lymph nodes etc? Everyone seems to have had their surgery so fast in comparison to me. I've seen no one and have not been put into contact with oncology or anyone as yet. The surgeon said that will happen post surgery. Im a patient person but my family is starting to freak out that this thing is going to take over my body and that cells are escaping into places they shouldn't withball this waiting. What do you ladies think?

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  • iserbrown's avatar
    iserbrown
    Member
    8 years ago
    Hi!  @nonkyboy - goodness isn't it good that they have recognised all these aspects and checking everything prior to putting you under strain with anaesthetics

    I agree with Zoffiel - if you don't have one, sus out a Breast care nurse - she will be your go to! 

    As to chemo or any other treatment options that is, as your surgeon said, post surgery, after they have all the pathology results.  There are counsellors out there that can help, BCNA or Cancer Council or perhaps your own local hospital. 

    Here's hoping your cardiologist visit will be a positive one that will allow the next phase to begin.

    Take care and willing you along to a good outcome x
  • Zoffiel's avatar
    Zoffiel
    Member
    8 years ago
    That's pretty stressful @nonkyboy. I'm guessing that your case is complicated and, quite rightly, issues with hearts and anaesthetic trump a lump in the boob.
    Just throwing this out there--I have a friend who, due to her age, is in the process of deciding what surgery she is up to having. We're going in today to talk to a surgeon about bypassing the lumpectomy stage and going straight to a mastectomy. My friend, quite rightly, is more worried about two anaesthetics and the possibility of two hospital stays than she is about losing the breast which, given the size of the tumour, is likely to happen anyway. She's a very pragmatic woman.

    It sounds like have already been through the wringer. I hope it all starts coming together. Many of us have had delays in treatment. My chemo was put off for nearly three months because of post op complications.. it nearly did my head in. I was reluctant to have another go at chemo anyway (I've had a recurrence) and the delay put me in a space where I was on the borderline off whether it was going to be worth while to have it. I still wonder if I did the right thing by going ahead but that's another story.

    If you haven't linked up with a breast care nurse yet, I'd say how is the time to do it. They are fantastic at keeping you same when everything feels like it is unravelling and have really good advice and resources for dealing with family concerns.
    Good luck, Marg.