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
- Oops 😅 not sure how that happened, please blame it on brain fog! 😶🌫️ never mind 😊
- Thanks @HelenlovesSnoopy. It’s all a distant memory now.Surgery done three weeks ago 😊😊 but I appreciate your message.
- Hi @MrsMorrisey,Yes I had one the morning of my surgery back in September - I think it's pretty standard. It involves injection of dye followed by a scan - I believe it's to detect the location of the sentinel lymph node which is the main node the breast drains to.Then during the surgery they take a biopsy from that node, hopefully get it tested while you're still in surgery, and then if you've given permission, remove the lymph nodes if they're found to be cancerous.I had the lymph nodes taken under my right arm, but that arm is going pretty well as in no major problems but I still have some numbness and need to do exercises/lymphatic drainage massage.My worry on the day was about the injections for the lymphoscintiogram (I wasn't worried about anything that happened under general anaesthetic lol) - but my experience was that the injections (I forget how many there were - more than one) were quick and not too painful. I was just worried because they were in the boob area and I thought they might hurt a lot, but they weren't too bad after all.I hope my simple explanation is correct, I'd run it past the relevant people to make sure, I am a little brain foggy at the moment having just finished chemo but very happy about that too :)Big hugs and many kind thoughts and prayers for next week!
- I think it's totally understandable to question things. It's not a bad thing to have more information to help you make that decision.
- Well put, @AllyJay - it is always a risk vs results isn't it? - and the 'what ifs'!! .....
NOW is the time to throw everything at this mongrel disease
I think my own risk of recurrence was about that 3% mark - and I was lucky not to need chemo, but I definitely had the Rads to help 'mop up' any randoms ..... cos I didn't even like that 3% risk!
Knowledge is power, @MrsMorrisey - and the $5000 will be 'well spent' if it means you don't have to have chemo xx
Take lots of Deep Breaths, try not to get ahead of yourself .... take one day at a time, one hour if needed xx. Take care - No argument, chemo is unpleasant, even for people like me, who had a good run. But like @AllyJay, I didn’t want to regret not doing something I could have done, later on. If you are confident that you will stand by your decisions about treatment no matter what, then you are in a good place. But if you are uncertain, then maybe it’s worth more thought/discussion about your next steps. Best wishes whatever you choose, it’s not easy.
- @MrsMorrisey
Try not to be annoyed! Your original scan showed a cyst. Your Specialist is proactive. Some of us tend to get tied up in knots as time ticks along waiting for tests and results. Your Ultrasound will give a clear picture!
Take care - It's the questions of statistics and the fact that we don't know on which side we will be. The 97%...or the 3%....and there's no "Stop" "Rewind" button. Very often, the oncotype test puts you in the same position as $5000.00 before...a number, a percentage...a statistic. If I passed a shop advertising 3% off all handbags, I probably wouldn't even bother, but that same statistic in a different scenario seems a lot larger. Remember, these statistics for breast cancer relate to hundreds of thousands, even millions, not just the individual, their cousin and the other ladies in their book group. The MCG holds 100 000 spectators. If a fire was to break out, causing a stampede for the exits, and 3% were crushed to death...that would be 3000 dead people. I doubt that their family and friends would not be content if they were told "Well 97% were fine". For myself, I asked the question that if I declined the chemo, and it did return as stage 4...would I still be happy with my choice or would I wonder if I might have been one of those small percentages?
- Apologues to anyone that finds this insensitive relating to their own experience.I’ve always been very uncertain about chemo and the long term effects.The dr gave me no certainty but the oncotype will.To be honest I’m scared the test will come back positive and I’ll have to do it anyway after spending $5000
i am really struggling with my decision.Not sure anyone can help but it helps to write it down. - I have heard the term 'bulky uterus' far more times than I'd like recently.
