Information Overload!

Hi Lovelies, I am also newly diagnosed (1 week ago), with mixed lobular & ductal in L) breast.  I’m a 43 yr old mum to 2 gorgeous girls & work as an RN (and & am only a month into a new role with my nursing ☹️). I really wasn’t expecting this. I’ve had a few sad days, but I’ve been putting on a brave face for the kids & my friends, but today I think it hit me again. I’m still waiting for my appointment with the surgeon. Thinking of you all xoxo

I was diagnosed October last year, routine mammogram and no symptoms. IDC (of no special type) 2cm with 1 lymph node involved. I am coming to the end of my chemo. I had a nuclear bone scan and CT. I was told it was standard to check for any further spread, and also the bone scan is used as a baseline for future reference as chemo can cause bone density issues, so I fully expect I'll have to have another one when I'm finished. My bone scan was fine, and I had a few unrelated things picked up on my CT, which were investigated further, but I was assured were not cancer related. I had a cyst on my liver which is apparently very common, and a cyst on my ovary which also common, and a very small nodule in my lung which they are 99.9% sure is historic either environmental or from an old chest infection, but they will keep and eye on it just to be sure. It hasn't changed during chemo, which they said was good sign it was nothing to worry about. My surgeon said that it is very common to find all these things, but once they find them they double check. It's pretty overwhelming to start with as you get rushed through so many tests, which can result in more tests and scans, but it does start to calm down and once I had a plan for treatment I felt a lot better, more in control, and my anxiety levels dropped a lot. The waiting was the worst for me. Be kind to yourself, and definitely make use of the support available if it gets overwhelming, the McGrath nurses have been brilliant, and helped organise all my appointments in the rush before Christmas so that I could get started on chemo before all the consultants went on Christmas breaks.

@lorns it’s everything coming at us at every direction. And I think the waiting to find out the final diagnosis and the way forward, even though everything really has been booked in so quickly, it is so bloody stressful. Send all the positive vibes I can to you for the best outcome possible xxxx
ps. The app is My Journey (my bad 🤦‍♀️)

@Nickii2 what a whirlwind it is!! Your journey is so similar to mine, only I found a lump that triggered an overdue mammo. Also left boob, and also investigating a suspicious lymph node. I have an appointment with my surgeon mid-week to find out what is next.
Isn't it a bit much that on top of the disease aspect, we have to be thinking about finances and work etc. I'm just working my way through all the various resources, the Journey app sounds interesting.

@arpie thank you for all of that! Love a good podcast so this might be a good way to filter through everything. I'm 45, so not sure I'm a fit for the young women's group 😄 I have a breast care nurse, who I should talk to - still working out who to talk to about things. 

Sorry to see you joining our 'special club' ... the one we never thought we'd have to join @lorns.  Feel free to ring our Helpline on 1800 500 258 & have a chat - and if you find yourself feeling really sad - ask your GP or your medical team to refer you to a counsellor.  Just talking to someone else about your fears & feelings, really does help.  This disease mucks with your brain even MORE than your body, I reckon xx

Have you been assigned a Breast Care Nurse yet?  They are another source of information & assistance.

It's a real roller coaster ride - and our emotions are up & down. Until your surgery is over, it is as if you are on a conveyer belt going from one appointment to another .... It is totally normal to feel sad & upset - check out Charlotte Tottman's Podcasts - she is a BC Psychologist who had a double mastectomy & chose to remain flat, so she 'gets it'.  She has a very natural & easy speaking style & the podcasts are very easy to listen to.   Click on the 'show the 22 tracks' and click on No 13 (which is actually the first one!) Or you can just listen to them in random order.
https://soundcloud.com/search?q=charlotte tottman

Also check out this post, which has lots of information preparing for your surgery, as well as tick sheets down the bottom to follow your mental and physical health to print off & take with you to your appointments (it is often easier just giving them a copy, than talk about it.)  Consider recording your appointments on the phone, too, to go back over later on, as it is easy to miss bits whilst pondering what's just been said.  
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/23477/a-big-welcome-to-all-our-new-members#latest

Whack up ANY questions that come to mind and we'll do our best to help you ..... and if you keep this thread going as you continue your 
active treatment, it will become a 'diary' that you can look back on later.  ;) 

We also have a Young Women's group that you may like to join - I am not sure how active it is, but just reading thru the previous threads & comments may help with you & your young ones.  Click on 'Join'.
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/group/10-young-women

take care & all the best with your ongoing appointments xx

Hi @lorns , new here too! Diagnosed end of March with Invasive Lobular cancer in left breast. Came out of the blue, as I just went in for (will admit overdue) annual mammogram.
I completely get what you are saying - GP delivered bad news, straight to breast surgeon the next day and the past week has been more biopsies (double checking a couple of other suspicious areas)and scans. Last scan due this coming Monday, so hopefully by mid week I will know exactly what I’m dealing with. 100% agree there is so much information, and my mind is spinning! But I am so grateful that there is. I’ve started using the journal app and have a notebook as well. There is so much to consider (both medically and financially) and going by how quickly the ball has started rolling for me, I am gathering that quick decisions will be required.
Wishing you the best possible journey,over what I am calling my “bump in the road”. We’ve got this 😘