Forum Discussion

AnnieMichelle_1's avatar
2 years ago

Just diagnosed this week

Hi Everyone
I am so relieved to have a place to go for support that is real as my world is turned upside down.  It has been a whirlwind. I was diagnosed on Wednesday 28th of June. Since seeing my GP ten days ago, life has been turned upside down, shaken, spun and swirled. I am 62 years old and after my best friend was diagnosed and treated earlier this year, I was prompted to do some self checking and went to my GP to have a lump checked out.
  
Initially, she thought it was benign and told me to have an ultrasound and a diagnostic mammogram and book to see her in a few weeks. Therefore, I figured it was not urgent and followed her advice and did the testing and saw her one month later. The results showed a suspicious lump and I was totally floored as the wheels began to move quickly and I was referred to Epworth Melbourne Breast Clinic as well as the Womens Hospital in Melbourne. I took the earliest appointment I could and met with a caring breast surgeon one week later. I had a biopsy this Monday and was diagnosed with early breast cancer on Wednesday. The lump is graded at one and the rate of growth is very slow. No chemotherapy is indicated. 
I will be having a lumpectomy in two weeks and then, radiotherapy daily for one month. Hormone blockers have also been advised as I have too much oestrogen and progesterone post menopause. 
I am shifting in and out of reality with this diagnosis. With no family history or risk factors.....it has truly thrown me for six. I am very grateful to my beautiful family and two loving close friends. I can't thank the BCNA hotline and fabulous community enough. I am popping in every day to steady myself and come to a sense of reality that this is truly happening. 
I would really appreciate your support and encouragement. 
AnnieMich

12 Replies

  • Thanks so much Arpie for your understanding, kindness and pointing me in a very good direction to be connected and learn from yours and others experiences. 
  • So sorry to see you here, @AnnieMichelle_123... but you are in the right place to get info on your condition, surgery & treatment, from those who've gone before you. xx  Your diagnosis is almost identical to my own, 5 years ago, lumpectomy followed by 4 weeks of Rads & then Hormone Blockers ..... and I am still going strong xx. (If you like, click on my name to read my basic story ....)

    Same - no family history of cancer at all (ours all had heart attacks!) so it absolutely shook me to the core too - but that 'WTF' moment is totally acceptable too xx. We've all 'been there' xx

    Make sure you have someone with you at your meetings - record them on your phone too, in case you want to go back over them later on, as it is truly difficult to remember everything that is said, as you ponder something they said 5 mins before ..... 

    Check out this post for info on what to do in the lead up to your surgery & and afterwards ... what to take to hospital with you etc ..... also some other areas that you may like to check out too, some serious, some less serious, some downright funny (god knows we all need a laugh!)    There are also some 'tick sheets' to 'self assess' yourself too, to take with you to your post op meetings ..... cos there will be 'ups & downs' ...
    https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/23477/a-big-welcome-to-all-our-new-members#latest

    It IS a bit of a roller coaster - you could check out the Podcasts by Charlotte Tottman too, (a Breast Cancer Psychologist who got cancer ....) so she KNOWS what we go thru now ... she has 2 series ... this is the first episode of the first series. ....
    https://www.bcna.org.au/understanding-breast-cancer/bcna-resources/podcasts/charlotte-tottman-podcast-series-season-1-episode-1/

    take care, and all the best as you continue thru your surgery & ongoing treatment .... whack up any questions that you may have here, as it may well become your 'diary' of emotions & treatment xx