My story

I was diagnosed on 22/12/11 and had a nipple sparing and partial skin sparing mastectomy with immediate silicone implant reconstruction on 03/02/12, and began TCH Chemo on 02/04/12 (second cycle due 23/04/12), my cancer is ER+, PR-, HER2+, LVI+, and 1 sentinel node was + (with a small deposit/ few cells, 5mm I believe).

I turned 41, 3 days ago, so began my journey at 40, but breast cancer doesn't dicriminate by age, I seen members here who are only in there 20's.

All that you mentied sounded normal to me. The waiting is the worst _ I had to wait for 25 days after I got my initial diagnosis of breast cancer to see a breast surgeon (Christmas is NOT a good time to get diagnosed becasue all of the Dr's are on their Christmas/ new year break), all I knew was i had a nearly 3cm tunour that was stage 2, and it was oestrogen receptor positive. Then I saw my surgeron found out more, decided on my mastectom and the - yep you guessed it - waited again this time for 18 days to have to my surgery. Then Yep - I waited again for my results, this time for 32 days to get my pathology results, and find out that Chemo was on the cards, and then I waited agin, this time for 27 days to begin Chemotheapy.

So waiting- yep know ALL ABOUT IT. It is hard, but it can be done (a lot of my waiting was becasue of ebing diagnosed over tChristmas and then when the Dr's and theatres started up again they had to clear the back log of urgent cases, of which I was only 1, and the extended wait for my pathology results was becasue ym surgeon wanted to (and did) present my case to the oncology "meeting" thing they have here once a month, where all the surgeons, medical oncologists and radiation oncologist get together and discuss cases and what treatments are best etc. As I have a rather unusaly pre-cancer medical history my case was a little more involved than most, and they wanted to talk about it before making any decisions.

I still don't know if I am having radiotheapy, but it seems unlikely as they think the risks outweigh the benefits for me.

My best suggestions on the waiting is to try to do anythign you can to take you mind of it and to not dwell on it, I found nights the hardest, as my mind didn't have anything else to focus on, but I found that reading or watching Tv untilI was tied before going to bed helped. And allow your self to yell, scream, cry, laugh etc what ever you need to do to get through the waiting.

Hope this helps (even a little).

Hi Narelle

I am sorry to hear that you will probably be going through what some of us already have. I hope all goes well and you will be in my thoughts.All that you are feeling at the moment , I can truly say I was feeling the same. I to have recently been diagnosed with BC. I had my op on 21/3/12 and had my lump removed from the right breast and 20/20 lymph nodes removed all with cancer. I will be starting my chemo on 27/4/12. So feel free to ask whatever. This site is fantastic and I praise the wonderful ladies on this site with their courage and encouragement they all bring. I also am the "baby" on this website, but it doesn't take long to know that you have great people here to help and great friendships will develop.Keep posting.

All that you feel is very normal, so remember to ask heaps of questions , and remember no question is too small to ask.

Good luck and big hugs to you

JulieXX

Hi Narelle

I am sorry to hear that you will probably be going through what some of us already have. I hope all goes well and you will be in my thoughts.All that you are feeling at the moment , I can truly say I was feeling the same. I to have recently been diagnosed with BC. I had my op on 21/3/12 and had my lump removed from the right breast and 20/20 lymph nodes removed all with cancer. I will be starting my chemo on 27/4/12. So feel free to ask whatever. This site is fantastic and I praise the wonderful ladies on this site with their courage and encouragement they all bring. I also am the "baby" on this website, but it doesn't take long to know that you have great people here to help and great friendships will develop.Keep posting.

All that you feel is very normal, so remember to ask heaps of questions , and remember no question is too small to ask.

Good luck and big hugs to you

JulieXX

Hi Narelle

I am sorry to hear that you will probably be going through what some of us already have. I hope all goes well and you will be in my thoughts.All that you are feeling at the moment , I can truly say I was feeling the same. I to have recently been diagnosed with BC. I had my op on 21/3/12 and had my lump removed from the right breast and 20/20 lymph nodes removed all with cancer. I will be starting my chemo on 27/4/12. So feel free to ask whatever. This site is fantastic and I praise the wonderful ladies on this site with their courage and encouragement they all bring. I also am the "baby" on this website, but it doesn't take long to know that you have great people here to help and great friendships will develop.Keep posting.

All that you feel is very normal, so remember to ask heaps of questions , and remember no question is too small to ask.

Good luck and big hugs to you

JulieXX

Sounds very normal to me and probably to all the ladies here on this site. After the initial diagnosis shock,I think we go into "battle mode".We just want the cancer out quick smart and so brace ourselves for the op.Yes,you are right -the waiting and the unknown are the worst bits of this journey.I'm so sorry that you have breast cancer but you have come to the right place.Here at BCNA you'll get lots of info and support or just vent when you need to.We have all been or are going through breast cancer treatments and know how you feel -you are not alone.Blog here anytime and if you need any tips before your surgery let us know(not sure what op you are having).I've had breast cancer twice(2003 and 2010)same breast so have had all the treatments except reconstruction.But there are ladies here who have.Try not to think too far ahead but rather your immediate treatment or it does your head in.Keep really busy from now until Monday.Clean cupboards,stack freezer and shop for button down the front pjs etc. Make sure you have some loose shirts/tops to wear at home.Stretchy singlets are good too because it might be awhile before you can wear a bra.Hope you have the bcna info pack and that you've seen a breast care nurse.They are terrific and can organize a free Berlei post op bra and soft form for you. You'll have about 3 days of pain but it's quite tolerable with pain killers. Let me know if you have any specific questions.Will be thinking of you.

                                                       Tonya xx