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

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

MKitty68, hi......I think the very beginning is difficult. When you know the next stage things will be easier. All the accounts of people going through breast cancer are true. Some work some cant. Some have every side effect others very little.It is odd one day you are perfectly fine the next you have breast cancer. Huh How did that happen? . On a very positive note after a year of treatment I am now cancer free. Good luck on your journey.

Hi Cat, welcome but sorry you have joined us.Just thought I would let you know about some legal obligations in relation to your diagnosis. See link below.http://employsure.com.au/blog/management-of-non-work-related-injuriesillnesses-employers-health-and-safety-obligations-relating-to-employees-injured-outside-of-work/You will have more information after your oncology appointment. I was wondering if you had a breast surgeon appointment yet or are they thinking you will have chemotherapy first? Those pathology reports are awful aren't they. Unless in your organs or bones usually when in lymph nodes they consider this as locally advanced rather than referring as metastatic. Know that even with cancer cells in lymph nodes your cancer is still curable. My niece had 2 multifocal tumors and 10 positive nodes. 14 years on she remains cancer free. So know that yes it can be beaten. Everyone is different on chemo so it's not possible to predict if you will feel well enough to work. Some people have little issues and people like myself were unable to work. The start of this is a whirlwind and a real feeling of being out of control but once a treatment plan is in place it gets a little easier.Take care and ask anything. Kath x

Thank you ladies. Kath, that link is good, thank you for that. Is this something that I should speak to my union about? Just to make sure they're on top of it? We are in the HSP Tender process at the moment, I believe the Tender is just being submitted to the relevant government body. The 'fun' part at the moment is my body's withdrawals from my HRT.... I went through early menopause when I was 39 & a half, so nearly 10 years of steady estrogen & now nothing. Damn menopausal symptoms all over again! I think my kids would be glad they moved out LOL Cat

Hi Cat, it wouldn't hurt to seek advice from the union prior speaking with your boss just to have the legal knowledge. Hopefully it won't be an issue.Yes....I guess you are going through menopause yet again. Necessary evil.

MKitty68

Member

9 years ago

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

chemotherapy

surgery

work

41 Replies

LMK74
Member
9 years ago
Kitty 68, I hope your surgery goes smoothly, best of luck. It's great you have your kids supporting you also. The team at the royal Brisbane are great. Sorry about your job too but you stood up for yourself so good on you.
All the best and let us know how you go with it all.
Lisa x
primek
Member
9 years ago
@MKitty68

Re the bike riding. Its up to you but with straight mastectomy you may be ready to do a ride within 3 weeks. 6 at most.

Re sexual activity...as soon as you feel ready, my husband and I resumed within 10 days..it was really important for me to feel loved even more than before of my bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction. I have lost all of the sensation I once loved in the breast area, but we have adapted.

Great news that no mets woohoo.

How horrible about the whole way the job situation was handled. Hope all goes well. It really was appalling treatment.
MKitty68
Member
9 years ago
I had a call from the hospital last week, there is no metastasis! They noted some thickening or something on my spine, but i'm not at all surprised by that as I have herniated disks & pinched nerves in my back. They said the Dr's are not concerned at all, but they want to check it out just to cover themselves she said. They will book me in for an MRI, but she said that won't come up for a few weeks or even a couple of months. I'm pleased that they're going to investigate, but i'm not worried at all.
My daughter is now here with me & is staying until 2 weeks post op. My son who was estranged from me since September also called & things are good between us again, so i'm very relieved about that.
I have started to do some preparation cooking - currently making a veggie pea & ham soup, I will do a chicken & veggie soup, pumpkin & sweet pepper soup, & lasagna. A friend of mine made me some of his very yummy home made spaghetti sauce & has it ready frozen in portions. At least I know i'll have some good food that only needs to be heated up. I have also stocked up on supplies as my daughter doesn't drive.

My work... well, i had my manager (who is young & hasn't been in the position for very long) 'offer me a payout' when i looked at the payout figure, it was only half of what i was entitled to - she also has concocted some idea that there are performance issues with my work - something that no one else in our department can understand as i do as much work in the same amount of time as everyone else - anyway, this 'offer' was delivered as more of a threat, and delivered on a Friday and told to let them know my decision on the Monday! It naturally upset me greatly & I was very stressed out by that! I went to my union, who went to senior management, and everything is sorted now. She breached several protocol's and did not follow procedure on more than one instance.
I am taking the payout as no one on fixed term contracts are being renewed anyway & financially I am better off doing it this way & i get to take the time to heal from surgery, then chemo, etc. I will pay my rent up 3 months ahead & live frugally for a while to make it last as long as possible. So I have had a rather stressful week & a half, but thanks to me standing up for myself, I will be better off financially, at least for a little while.
I finish up work on Thursday, they'll have a morning/afternoon tea for me, so that will be lovely. I have made a lot of friends in all different departments in the 6 months that I've been there & I will definitely miss the camaraderie with colleagues, as well as some of my clients.

Pre-admission clinic is this Wednesday, then surgery next Tuesday. I am feeling pretty calm at this point, but my usual with surgeries in the past has been calm right up until i am waiting to be wheeled into theater... but those times what would go through my head was "but what if they find cancer?" and this is for cancer... so i really don't know how i'll handle that part this time. Only time will tell I guess.
MKitty68
Member
9 years ago
@Cosette_BCNA , yes I have the My Journey kit & I believe they are or have ordering/ordered the My Care Kit for me
Cosette
Member
9 years ago
Hi @MKitty68, have you or your breast care nurse ordered a My Journey Kit? This is a free resource that we offer. It contains information, a journal, a booklet for partners, and other resources that you might find helpful. You can also order a My Care Kit, which contains a mastectomy bra and other useful things.

To order a My Journey Kit online, visit https://www.bcna.org.au/resources/my-journey-kit/
To order a My Care Kit online, visit https://www.bcna.org.au/resources/my-care-kit/

Or give us a call at 1800 500 258.
MKitty68
Member
9 years ago
I have a question, I have a new boyfriend- very new, like 1 week new.... lol. He's aware of my cancer & is supportive & wonderful.
we go motorbike riding, he has a really large powerful bike (2,300cc Triumph Rocket III) , so it's a relatively smooth ride, but how long after surgery can I get back on without being in a world of pain?
Also, how long after surgery before we can resume sexual activities?
melclarity
Member
9 years ago
Oh totally agree with you! If i couldve i would've just wanted to say my surprise strangely i still have a sensation so odd! But haven't missed it. It is too only 1 breast so i have my good one lol. Figers crossed
MKitty68
Member
9 years ago
@melclarity, one of my main sexual arousal things is my nipples, hence why I want to try keeping them. Only time will tell I guess.

Thank you ladies
melclarity
Member
9 years ago
@MKitty68 Im glad too you have a plan in progress, thats half the battle. Im also large breasted and im 9 weeks post left breast mastectomy /diep flap recon (using my tummy) I lost my nipple as i had radiation in 2011 but kept most of the skin of the breast. I was so upset at the thought of losing my nipple BUT so bizarre i haven't missed it at all its weird! Literally havent thought of it..so showed the idea of the loss was worse than the reality
Butterfly_40
Member
9 years ago
I am glad that you have a plan and a date for your mastectomy now. I am booked in for double mastectomy and reconstruction this Friday. I would like to keep my nipples too. My plastic surgeon did nipple delay procedure last Thursday. This procedure can increase the survival rate post mastectomy. He also took biopsy from the nipples, it will determine if I can keep the nipples. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Best wishes for you in your journey!

Big gentle hugs for you! Xxx

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