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
- No worries. I think I wrote a post saying I would do it a while back. Best wishes to you too x
- Thanks @MrsMorrisey for your speedy reply. Silly me, I thought that you’d opted for the for Oncotype test. At the end of the day, the reality is that we have to grapple with our individual percentages and projections and I’m so glad you’ve reached the decision that is right for you. Very best wishes for your radiation treatment in May and thank you for your feedback.
- Hello D63
Three ops is pretty full on for you, I had two and that’s enough.I had/have a different point of view to some others as I did not do the oncotype test.My thoughts are too much emphasis is put on an expensive test which provides no guarantee just more specific statistics.It should not be that expensive either!On my Predict portal my overall benefit percentage is 3%. To me that risk/beneft ratio is not one I want to take so I turned down the test and chemo.The onco wasn’t even sure I’d need it and only 4 rounds were on offer. She left it up to me.My logic said to me that the cancer was contained in DCIS, it was removed and it is gone.I feel like I’d be taking too many risks if I didn’t do radiation so I will do 15 rounds in May with Tamoxifen to start after that.We all make decisions based on lots of factors and each to there own I think. - Hello @MrsMorrisey. I’m a bit similar to you in having Stage 2 IDC with no node involvement, thankfully.I had the original lumpectomy followed by 2 re-excisions in the space of 3 weeks, because what was thought to be a 8mm mass turned out to be more like 16mm and was rather poetically described after the first re-excision as being in “a dust cloud of DCIS”. Because the tumour was a mite greater than 15mm, the option of chemo (in addition to rads and tabs) was laid on the table. Like you, I’ve opted to do the Oncotype testing and probably have at least another two weeks wait for results. My natural instinct was to adopt a scorched earth approach and have chemo - my tendency is to always choose the hard road - but I am trying to be very deliberate in considering the risks/benefits of chemo. Would you mind me asking you if you found that the Oncotype results helped your decision making?
- My surgery was in Jan & my Rads finished at Easter .... and I could have waited till after my trip to Norfolk Island in May, too - but I chose to have it over & done with BEFORE my break! 4 months would be within the 'acceptable' range - but most of us would prefer to get it over & done with as early as we can xx
take care - Rads won’t be starting until 15 May!That’ll be 4 months since first op. Seems a big wait.
- I think that is a question for your Rad Onc, @MrsMorrisey. I've heard that you can't have Rads in the same spot more than once .... but I also know someone who HAS had 2 lots of rads in the one spot ....
To be honest, IF the cancer came back in the same breast with me - I reckon I'd give it the chop 2nd time around - I was prepared for that the first time, if the surgeon considered it the better way to go .... - Hi all. I have a question which I forgot to ask the dr.
If you have radiation and the cancer comes back n the same breast, is your only solution more surgery?
I was told that rads affects the skin integrity and future healing so what happens if it comes back? I know you can only do rads once on a certain area. - Saw lymphoedema nurse today and had some laser on the cording. Feeling a lot better. Boob is still swollen but not more than it should considering I’ve had two surgeries in 6 weeks!! Poor body.Also saw radiation oncologist. Three weeks radiation therapy starting in May.Feel like my celebrations from Monday have been somewhat dulled but I spose that’s cancer for you.
- Hi @arpie no it’s not hot and know what to look out for.I’ve made a tentative booking at my BS for next Monday. I figured that gives it time to settle but long enough for their to be enough fluid build up to warrant aspiration.
