Hi Tricia,
It's good to hear you sounding a bit better. Thanks so much for your offer! If I ever get to Perth, I will definitley look you up and come for a visit! :) It's great that your partner is there for you and giving you so much strength. Knowing how much you are loved and having a hand to hang onto at appointments can make all the difference in the world. :)
Yes, the pathology results can be so confusing! I took mine home (I have three now) and googled all the big workds I didn't understand. Took me quite a few goes before I could make any sense of it all.
After three surgeries on my left breast, I have a lot of lumps and bumps in it. Every so often I panic and think the cancer has spread and then I catch myself and remember it's just scar tissue forming, or a pocket of fluid.
Remember your poor boob has been through a lot already and it will take time to heal.
During these early days, we get given so much informaition and it;s so confusing and overwhelming at times. Never stop asking questions if you don't understand and never feel silly about keeping asking until you do understand. One of the first things my surgeon said to me is that there's no such thing as a stupid question. It's very true. It's your body and you have the right to understand what's happening to it. All of my health care team to date have been marvellous with answering my questions and helping me to understand. Have you been given a copy of the Guide for Women with Early Breast Cancer? That may help answering some of your questions (like what are receptors). Or, just ask your doctors. They may not realise that you don't quite get it all yet. If you don't have a copy of the Guide, BCNA or the Cancer Council can send you one. It really is a wonderful book and has lots of definitions in it to help you understand. I got a whole kit full of free information books and resources from BCNA. Completely wonderful and very useful to me. The lovely people at the Cancer Council have also been fabulous with providing me with information about the various types of support on offer. I suggest you give them a call on 13 11 20. Their staff are really easy to talk to and so very helpful. They don't even mind when I'm crying on the end of the phone!
Oh yeah, with the lymph nodes, I had 11 removed (8 with cancer in them) and while the swelling under my arm is slowly going down, for weeks I truly felt like I had a grapefruit wedged in my armpit! I had a lot (still have some) of numbness around that area and down my arm too, so it was the strangest sensation to try and get used to. I was initally told they could use a needle to draw some of the fluid out but they never did and I just got used to it.
One of the things I've learned since my journey began is that things can move and change very fast. Sadly my pathology results haven't been the greatest, so I've needed more surgery. Sounds like you might be similar, with needing more surgery. Don't panic abotu it though Tricia. It doesn't mean the cancer has spread. They might talk to you about the surgical margin and DCIS? I have that too. From what I understand, it's like pre-cancer cells that are in your milk ducts. They are not cancer right now, but might be in the future, which is why your doctor needs to make sure they are all gone. I really hope that for you the second surgery will be enougth and that you won't need any more.
Big hugs back to you too! Remember, we're all here for each other. :)
