Forum Discussion

Karen_A's avatar
Karen_A
Member
8 months ago

small steps forward

Hi everyone, just a little hello as I’m joining you on this journey and now feel brave enough to say hello. 
I was diagnosed June 28th, following a random self check, two weeks before a planned 5 week trip overseas; and since then I have commenced the journey of small steps through appointments and surgery, cancelling (postponing) the holiday, and  I’m now 4 weeks post op - lumpectomy and lymph node removal/biopsies,  I have a diagnosis of left IDC. no lymph node involvement, but dcis around the tumour found and also removed. It was a shallow tumour so whilst just enough clearance obtained near the skin, not as much as they’d like. So I’m about to start radiotherapy (in two weeks) with a little extra thrown in for good measure to ensure the skin is treated and be certain there’s no spread there. To say I’m anxious about this is an understatement!!! 
I also met the medical oncologist today too ( I’m 52 and well into perimenopause) and to commence tamoxifen post radiotherapy too.
What a whirlwind/rollercoaster! 
I’m so very grateful it’s been found early and is being treated, sad that’s it’s happened and angry that life changes so quickly. But currently my fears are the radiotherapy side effects, particularly with the ‘extra’, and then the ongoing meds. I know treatment is optional, but I want to reduce risk of recurrence so will definitely go ahead with it, no question in my mind. But words of wisdom re how to do it ‘well’ or just knowing I’m not alone in my thoughts would be welcomed. 
Progressing with one small step after another, next step is mapping. 
Wishing you all well x
early-breast-cancer
new-diagnosis
radiotherapy
tamoxifen
  • Abbydog's avatar
    Abbydog
    Member
    8 months ago
    Dear Karen_A,
    My story has similarities. (If you click on my name or Icon, you can read my story in my Profile)
    I found my lump too. Feb 2020, just as we should have had a holiday to Japan, and COVID started.
    We cancelled that holiday, based on the BC. That was relatively strait forward. 
    Covid was quite a nuisance.
    You definitely need to take it one step at a time.
    I too, was very thankful to have found it myself. I had had a Mammogram only 9mths before.
    Mine was Stage 2 and Grade 3, so I was very lucky not to have left it to my next Mammogram.
    Having BC is terrible news, but I have been so lucky in many ways. 
    Radiotherapy wasn't at all difficult for me (5 weeks). I was quite well, and drove myself there.
    The hospital I attended for R/T used and supplied Mepitel.
    It is a plastic looking dressing, that stays on 24/7. It protects the skin from friction etc, and helps retain moisture.
    I did not need to apply any creams while the Mepitel was on. I had no burning at all.
     As you said small steps forward. Wishing you all the best, ask anything.