Forum Discussion
The “journey” begins.
I was diagnosed with grade 2 IDC ER & PR + Her2- on 19/12. I am 50 years old, married with three teenagers at home, two homeschoolers, one working.
I work as a nurse for NDIS.
Getting the diagnosis just before Christmas was horrific.
So far this has been my plan.
Diagnosed 19/12
Follow up call from GP on 21/12 to see how I was
Nothing happens for a couple of weeks over Christmas/New Year.
Follow up call from GP on 21/12 to see how I was
Nothing happens for a couple of weeks over Christmas/New Year.
Bone scan and dye CT scan 5th Jan ( all clear and no lymph activity)
Surgeons appt Jan 8th.
Surgeons appt Jan 8th.
She was lovely and very respectful ( had sat in on a couple of her operations on my surgical rounds)
She talked me through the process and I felt a lot better after that. She also examined me and noted that the lump that was the issue is not actually the cancer, it’s sitting next to it. I have type D density and very fibrous.
She talked me through the process and I felt a lot better after that. She also examined me and noted that the lump that was the issue is not actually the cancer, it’s sitting next to it. I have type D density and very fibrous.
She mentioned that it’s a tricky one to find and that she’ll need to follow a trail of breadcrumbs. Also mentioned that the cancer is sitting in a DCIS. I can’t find any info on others having that.
Today I get the carbon tracer injected and she said that will attach to the cancer so she can see what to take.
Next Tuesday I get the blue dye injection for the lymph node activity then Wednesday have the surgery.
Nothing happened then everything happened!
All this appt making and phone calls while attending a cricket carnival for my son 4 hours from home.
All this appt making and phone calls while attending a cricket carnival for my son 4 hours from home.
My surgeon recommended this site and I’ve been lurking for a bit but today thought I’d share my story.
I can’t believe this is happening and I’d love it to go away but it won’t and I need to remember how fortunate this happens in our public system.
102 Replies
- Hi @MrsMorrisey they found a cyst on my ovary too, they were fairly unconcerned about it, but because I have fibroids and mirena they sent me off to a gynaecologist to get that all checked out, and have the mirena removed for treatment. All came back fine, and the cyst had disappeared when I had a pelvic scan. I was told it was probably a functional cyst, which apparently come and go, and fairly common.
- @MrsMorrisey it sounds like a tough roller coaster for you.Yes I had an ovarian cyst, picked up on ultrasound during one of my pregnancies. It was removed later, was not malignant and I think they called it a dermoid ovarian cyst.https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/amp/article/ovarian-cysts
wishing you all the best 🌻 - Why was that @iserbrown?I just looked at my request for US. It says US for bulky uterine disease and ovarian cyst.This is getting really annoying now.I am finding it very hard to decide what to do about anything.I hope this US shows nothing abnormal, It’s all about these hormones now.The dr said it’s a cyst but I’ve heard that before.
- I was in my 50s. I was also referred to Gynaecology Oncologist
- How old were you @iserbrown?
- Oh and a cyst was found on my ovary when I had my CT scan a month ago and she told me at this appt.Apparently there was an issue with reports getting out. I had it on 5th Jan.
Now I need to get a scan on my pelvis.She reassured me it’s just a cyst.Heard that before. Anyone else had a cyst that is supposedly harmless? - @MrsMorrisey
I was offered 4 rounds of Chemo with a 3% benefit. The decision was mine and I said No! Oncologist had said if it was 7% he would've talked me around. I am now 8 plus years and counting down to the 10 year mark.
The alternative offering was Zoladex injections x 26 plus AI.
Take careMrsMorrisey said:Basically I’m still a grey area for chemo.The thing that is causing uncertainty is the Ki67, she is saying it’s unusual to have a grade 2 with high Ki67!
According to her my benefit to having chemo is 3%.If I was to go ahead would only get 4 cycles.I’m going to do the oncotype test. - Hi to anyone following this thread.I had my med onco appt today
Grade 2 Stage 2 IDC no lymph node activity.Basically I’m still a grey area for chemo.The thing that is causing uncertainty is the Ki67, she is saying it’s unusual to have a grade 2 with high Ki67!
According to her my benefit to having chemo is 3%.If I was to go ahead would only get 4 cycles.I’m going to do the oncotype test.Another 3 weeks of waiting and still another surgery to be had in just under 3 weeks. - Oh @GorgyS thank you for your response.Good to hear the margins were clear and that feeling of wanting to hug the surgeon 😊
Im really hoping your chemo isn’t too hard, pretty horrible thing to go through, just remember how much everyone here is right with you every step of the way. Bless you xx I had my re-excision six weeks after the lumpectomy. I spent a total of 5 hours in the hospital, even though the operation itself took between 30 and 45 minutes. I recovered well, experiencing only some seroma and antibiotics that resolved after a few weeks. The surgeon used the same incision, and I couldn't see any difference in breast size from the lumpectomy to the re-excision. I almost hugged my surgeon when he informed me, 'All clear, no more surgeries.'
I will begin chemotherapy tomorrow after completing all the necessary scans, which came back clear. I am feeling very nervous, but it has to be done, and I look forward to putting this behind me. I've purchased some nice wigs, and in two months, I plan to return to working from home. This is the plan, but I have no idea how I am going to react to chemo. So far, I've taken four months of sick leave, which was much needed to go through and process this unexpected journey.
