Surreal
Conversation with my GP and Diagnosed with breast cancer yesterday at 46 years old. When they called and suggested I have a support person attend it was a bit of a give away. However i was still hope...
Forum Discussion
So sorry to see you joining us here, @Ali78 ... we can all remember when they 'got the news' ..... I was out on my kayak, fishing (having already made a 'follow up' appointment after my biopsy) so when the GPs office rang me & suggested I book an appointment .... I knew too. It is so confronting and confusing (as you look & FEEL healthy) but this little sucker is growing sneakily without our knowledge .... so needs to come out.
Where abouts are you? (Suburb/city/town) We may have members nearby who can point you to specific support groups and services in your area. (Go to your profile & just add your region.)
Whack up any questions that you may have .... we'll do our best to answer them honestly and help ease your journey. I'd suggest you listen to the Charlotte Tottman podcasts of her own diagnosis/surgery/recovery - she is a specialist Breast Cancer Counsellor who was diagnosed herself about 5 years ago - and she was surprised that her own reactions were different from what she'd thought they'd be, given her conversations with her clients! She is very easy to listen to - and she now knows exactly what it is like 'as a patient'.
http://www.drcharlottetottman.com.au/my-podcast.html
Re Questions to ask - this is out of the Breast Cancer Booklet put out by Cancer Australia
https://www.cancer.org.au/assets/pdf/understanding-breast-cancer-booklet
The standard treatment for breast cancer caught early and if the surgeon obtained clear margins around the tumour is lumpectomy followed by radiation and possibly hormone suppressing meds. Some may require chemo. Not everyone goes thru all those treatments tho.
IF you don't feel comfortable with your surgeon today, don't be afraid to ask to see a different surgeon. You need to be totally at ease with your surgeon.
Does your surgeon work in the Public System as well as Private? If you go Private for surgery, ask for a Fee Quotation. I went private for surgery (with a fairly large $$ gap to pay, but I had the surgery just days after meeting the surgeon!) Then I went public for both my Radiation & Oncology, with no fees.
Ask for a copy of the pathology report (ALL reports), as even if you can't understand it at this stage, you will have it for future reference. Your pathology report (after your surgery) will define your future treatment.
If you have radiotherapy at a private centre there may be a big out of pocket expense, ask to go public if at all possible. Your surgeon will refer you to a Radiation Oncologist and also to a Medical Oncologist.
Also, ask them what treatment they would suggest if it was their mother/sister/wife .... How long you'll be in hospital ....
Check out this thread - it may cover a few of your questions already ..... definitely take someone with you to ALL your meetings until your active treatment finishes. Also consider recording them on your phone so you can go over it again later - as it is impossible to remember everything that has been said. Then you don't have to take notes (as you miss bits then too, when writing stuff down.)
DO take a list of questions with you (even 2 copies - one for them & one for you, so you can tick them off as they are addressed.)
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/23477/a-big-welcome-to-all-new-online-network-members#latest
Self care - I just did what I love doing, right up to the surgery day & then as soon as I was able - I got back to it afterwards! You need to keep yourself busy once you are able .... It may take a while to get back to 'normal routine' but just take it slowly ..
Try not to get ahead of yourself with the 'what ifs' ..... and definitely stay away from Dr Google - as a lot of the info is totally out of date or not even relevant to your own diagnosis xx
Take care & all the best for today xx
Just found this, for making the 'next day' easier ..... get it all ready the evening before!
And other Self caring tips from a buddy who is a psychologist xx
Where abouts are you? (Suburb/city/town) We may have members nearby who can point you to specific support groups and services in your area. (Go to your profile & just add your region.)
Whack up any questions that you may have .... we'll do our best to answer them honestly and help ease your journey. I'd suggest you listen to the Charlotte Tottman podcasts of her own diagnosis/surgery/recovery - she is a specialist Breast Cancer Counsellor who was diagnosed herself about 5 years ago - and she was surprised that her own reactions were different from what she'd thought they'd be, given her conversations with her clients! She is very easy to listen to - and she now knows exactly what it is like 'as a patient'.
http://www.drcharlottetottman.com.au/my-podcast.html
Re Questions to ask - this is out of the Breast Cancer Booklet put out by Cancer Australia
https://www.cancer.org.au/assets/pdf/understanding-breast-cancer-booklet
The standard treatment for breast cancer caught early and if the surgeon obtained clear margins around the tumour is lumpectomy followed by radiation and possibly hormone suppressing meds. Some may require chemo. Not everyone goes thru all those treatments tho.
IF you don't feel comfortable with your surgeon today, don't be afraid to ask to see a different surgeon. You need to be totally at ease with your surgeon.
Does your surgeon work in the Public System as well as Private? If you go Private for surgery, ask for a Fee Quotation. I went private for surgery (with a fairly large $$ gap to pay, but I had the surgery just days after meeting the surgeon!) Then I went public for both my Radiation & Oncology, with no fees.
Ask for a copy of the pathology report (ALL reports), as even if you can't understand it at this stage, you will have it for future reference. Your pathology report (after your surgery) will define your future treatment.
If you have radiotherapy at a private centre there may be a big out of pocket expense, ask to go public if at all possible. Your surgeon will refer you to a Radiation Oncologist and also to a Medical Oncologist.
Also, ask them what treatment they would suggest if it was their mother/sister/wife .... How long you'll be in hospital ....
Check out this thread - it may cover a few of your questions already ..... definitely take someone with you to ALL your meetings until your active treatment finishes. Also consider recording them on your phone so you can go over it again later - as it is impossible to remember everything that has been said. Then you don't have to take notes (as you miss bits then too, when writing stuff down.)
DO take a list of questions with you (even 2 copies - one for them & one for you, so you can tick them off as they are addressed.)
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/23477/a-big-welcome-to-all-new-online-network-members#latest
Self care - I just did what I love doing, right up to the surgery day & then as soon as I was able - I got back to it afterwards! You need to keep yourself busy once you are able .... It may take a while to get back to 'normal routine' but just take it slowly ..
Try not to get ahead of yourself with the 'what ifs' ..... and definitely stay away from Dr Google - as a lot of the info is totally out of date or not even relevant to your own diagnosis xx
Take care & all the best for today xx
Just found this, for making the 'next day' easier ..... get it all ready the evening before!
And other Self caring tips from a buddy who is a psychologist xx