Forum Discussion
Only two weeks into the journey
Hello ladies,
I had tests (mammograms, ultrasound, core & FNA biopsies) last Thursday week & got my results on Tuesday 11/04/17, so very newly diagnosed. From what was going on & reactions, things that were said i guess I just knew. So by the time I got my results, I had started my journey to acceptance. Everything is no new to me still, I have no idea what to expect. I am currently waiting for my first visit with the oncology team at RBWH and find out what they believe would be the best line of attack so that I can beat this.
I have 3 solid masses in my left breast, the largest of which is 2.5 cm and malignant. They also found malignant cells in the lymph node in my armpit. I have been told that I will need chemo and surgery, but i won't know what's what until I see the team at RBWH. The Breastscreen Doctor & nurse said that the tentative date they were told is around ANZAC day.
I feel as though i'm in limbo at the moment. Most of the time I feel fine, but I am so tired & my body aches a lot.
I am nearly 49 & single, so no partner, but have a lot of wonderful supportive friends around me. Being single with breast cancer brings about a whole other set of 'fears'.
One thing I worry about is being able to continue to do my job, I work in Humanitarian Settlement Services, working with and housing Refugees. I love what I do and feel very passionate about my job and what it is that we do. My colleagues are wonderfully supportive and are already trying to work out a way that things can be restructured so that it makes things easier for all of us and less stressful for me, and so that I can continue working. Unfortunately it's up to management though and i am only on contract until 6th July.
I have had all sorts of thoughts go through my head, but i remain positive that i will beat this!
Scary words on my pathology are metastatic carcinoma when referring to the lymph node they did the FNA biopsy on.
Cat
I had tests (mammograms, ultrasound, core & FNA biopsies) last Thursday week & got my results on Tuesday 11/04/17, so very newly diagnosed. From what was going on & reactions, things that were said i guess I just knew. So by the time I got my results, I had started my journey to acceptance. Everything is no new to me still, I have no idea what to expect. I am currently waiting for my first visit with the oncology team at RBWH and find out what they believe would be the best line of attack so that I can beat this.
I have 3 solid masses in my left breast, the largest of which is 2.5 cm and malignant. They also found malignant cells in the lymph node in my armpit. I have been told that I will need chemo and surgery, but i won't know what's what until I see the team at RBWH. The Breastscreen Doctor & nurse said that the tentative date they were told is around ANZAC day.
I feel as though i'm in limbo at the moment. Most of the time I feel fine, but I am so tired & my body aches a lot.
I am nearly 49 & single, so no partner, but have a lot of wonderful supportive friends around me. Being single with breast cancer brings about a whole other set of 'fears'.
One thing I worry about is being able to continue to do my job, I work in Humanitarian Settlement Services, working with and housing Refugees. I love what I do and feel very passionate about my job and what it is that we do. My colleagues are wonderfully supportive and are already trying to work out a way that things can be restructured so that it makes things easier for all of us and less stressful for me, and so that I can continue working. Unfortunately it's up to management though and i am only on contract until 6th July.
I have had all sorts of thoughts go through my head, but i remain positive that i will beat this!
Scary words on my pathology are metastatic carcinoma when referring to the lymph node they did the FNA biopsy on.
Cat
41 Replies
- Oh great that you have a plan and happy with your surgeon.
- I met my surgeon & the consultant on Wednesday, i really liked them and felt comfortable with my surgeon.
They both said straight out that I need to have a mastectomy due to the sizes and positions of the spots and that one is invasive. He is also doing an auxiliary clearance on the left side. I asked if he is able to save my nipple with the sensitivity intact, so he is going to do his best to do that, but said I need to be prepared that it may not survive & would then need to be removed. I have decided that it's something that is important to me to try & save it - for reasons of sensation, not aesthetics.
My surgeon also said that I will need chemo and he believes that I am also going to need radiotherapy.
My breasts are quite large, and he recommended that they use my tummy (which is also a bit large) to reconstruct my breast from but said that the reconstruction will have to wait for about a year as the radiation can destroy the new breast.
I am booked for surgery on 23rd May - the day after my birthday, well at least it's only my 49th and not my 50th! - @Danielle49 good luck with your appointment. I've heard of the "Feel good look better".
& thank you for your well wishes, all are appreciated - Great you have a support person (and especially one that can give great hugs :) ). Hoping all goes well for you. Kath x
- Hi Danielle, I also have a male flat mate/border. He's good company when he's home, but I'm the one does all the cooking & cleaning. He washes up after dinner though.
- I said so much more and it didn't post ..!!!
i wanted to say good luck with your Oncology app ..
I was diagnosed feb 17th with IDC Grade 3 had first chemo 5 days ago... Off to "Feel good look better session " in prep of hair loss - Hi it feels weird saying welcome .. But what an amazing site this has been ... I'm also 49 .. Single .. No kids nor family .just a. Male flat mate ..
- Hi Bev, I hope your healing is going well.
Only a couple more days until I see the specialists, hopefully after that I'll have more info & hope some answers to questions for me - Hi cat im only a newbie too. Diagnosed 3 weeks ago after accidently finding a mass in the right breast near breastbone. I had ultrasound and core biopsy same day. Was grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma. The wait is scary and the moods may swing like crazy. Mine did and at only 3 weeks still are. I had mastectomy yesterday and was to have just the sentinel node removed for biopsy but once on the table they discovered a number of enlarged auxillary nodes. So ended up taking more than planned. I too now am so in limbo because an guessing now probably lymph node positive which was hoping not. I do know as hormone pos, like most are, i will need anti hormone therapy for several years, but like you i still feel like im floundering.
I guess we both just need to take on each new bit of info as ot arises. I know its hard because i have always been a forward planner and here is something that i now cant. All the best bev - Hi @LMK74 it's nice to 'meet' someone else in a similar position to myself.
Having had endometriosis, I was lucky enough to have 2 kids, but they've both moved out and are doing their own thing now. They both live in Toowoomba & don't drive, so I don't get to see them very often now.
I have heard that the staff at RBWH are wonderful, which is a relief in itself.
Cat
