Newly diagnosed over Christmas..
Hello to everyone going through this frightening journey. I am a 59 yo post menopausal woman who at this moment feels absolute terror. i had a routine mammogram and was recalled due to cancer being de...
Forum Discussion
@Tidden - the girls have explained the @ function ..... I also turned off the email notification as there were SO MANY, so now, I just look for the red numbers up the top - they indicate that other threads you've replied to have also had replies, as well as you being mentioned specifically.
To turn off email notification, just click on the 'settings wheel' on the far right of your name (up the top) and choose Edit Profile.
Then choose Notification Preferences & 'unclick' all the emails! Then, just keep an eye on the top line or the 'pop up messages' that show whilst you are online ..... and hit 'Discussions' to update any new threads etc when you go online.
Your cancer type will only be identified specifically from the tissue they remove during surgery when it is sent off to Pathology. The Core Biopsy identifies that cancer cells are present (and in what percentage) but doesn't identify the 'type'. So the Pathology Report is the one you have to wait for to give your BC a name. Sometimes the HER results take longer (mine took a week longer) - whether the tumour is positive or negative to Hormones ... which will dictate some of your other treatment after surgery chemo/rads etc.
ALL doctors and health professionals should introduce themselves (also wear a name tag as it is easy to forget their names in the stress of the moment.) They should also undergo specialist training in the passing on bad news to patients.
Working in the medical field yourself, I think you may be interested in Dr Liz O'Riordan's Breast Cancer Blog - she is a UK Breast Cancer Surgeon & was diagnosed 2-3 years ago, with a recurrence in 2018 ..... and her blog follows her entire BC 'journey' - and how shocked she was at how patients are treated in some circumstances & not believed (side effects etc) in others. After my Biopsy Appt Balls-up for most of December - I sent the link to my Rad Onc & suggested that everyone working in the Cancer Institute at Port Macquarie, read the whole blog! She also instigated the use of names on the surgeon's caps in theatre, so that patients can see them!!
http://liz.oriordan.co.uk/Blog/
Do you have a good friend to go with you on your Pre-Admission appt and when you are admitted? My sister in law was a godsend - asking very intelligent questions on my behalf, as I was still a bit in shock .....Most of your tests will have been done by now - so it is just the paperwork, really, I think. They may ask what other medication you are on - and to bring it with you, you'll be signing your life away on the dotted line ..... to be honest - I've forgotten what happened at mine!! Just make sure you have all your medicare/healthcare numbers with you ....
Wishing you All the best xxx
To turn off email notification, just click on the 'settings wheel' on the far right of your name (up the top) and choose Edit Profile.
Then choose Notification Preferences & 'unclick' all the emails! Then, just keep an eye on the top line or the 'pop up messages' that show whilst you are online ..... and hit 'Discussions' to update any new threads etc when you go online.
Your cancer type will only be identified specifically from the tissue they remove during surgery when it is sent off to Pathology. The Core Biopsy identifies that cancer cells are present (and in what percentage) but doesn't identify the 'type'. So the Pathology Report is the one you have to wait for to give your BC a name. Sometimes the HER results take longer (mine took a week longer) - whether the tumour is positive or negative to Hormones ... which will dictate some of your other treatment after surgery chemo/rads etc.
ALL doctors and health professionals should introduce themselves (also wear a name tag as it is easy to forget their names in the stress of the moment.) They should also undergo specialist training in the passing on bad news to patients.
Working in the medical field yourself, I think you may be interested in Dr Liz O'Riordan's Breast Cancer Blog - she is a UK Breast Cancer Surgeon & was diagnosed 2-3 years ago, with a recurrence in 2018 ..... and her blog follows her entire BC 'journey' - and how shocked she was at how patients are treated in some circumstances & not believed (side effects etc) in others. After my Biopsy Appt Balls-up for most of December - I sent the link to my Rad Onc & suggested that everyone working in the Cancer Institute at Port Macquarie, read the whole blog! She also instigated the use of names on the surgeon's caps in theatre, so that patients can see them!!
http://liz.oriordan.co.uk/Blog/
Do you have a good friend to go with you on your Pre-Admission appt and when you are admitted? My sister in law was a godsend - asking very intelligent questions on my behalf, as I was still a bit in shock .....Most of your tests will have been done by now - so it is just the paperwork, really, I think. They may ask what other medication you are on - and to bring it with you, you'll be signing your life away on the dotted line ..... to be honest - I've forgotten what happened at mine!! Just make sure you have all your medicare/healthcare numbers with you ....
Wishing you All the best xxx