Forum Discussion
The wait is frustrating and worrying. And so many questions!
Hello, I have been recently diagnosed and it has been a whirlwind of events. I had a lump on my left breast which I was confident was just a fibroadenoma but went to have it checked out anyway. The GP sent me off for a mammogram and ultrasound, then core biopsies of said lump. Whilst having the core biopsies the radiologist asked if I had noticed any changes in my right breast. I had not, neither had the GP. He said there was a lump there too and should be biopsied but I would need a separate referral. I booked an appointment for the following week. In the meantime I went back to the GP and the results from the scans and biopsies confirmed a fibroadenoma in my left breast and that the lump in the right was probably the same. We decided to go ahead with the biopsies. feeling confident it was benign I had no concerns abut the results. Until, taking my daughter to her first day of high school I get a call from my GP reception suggesting I bring someone to the appointment with me! I felt my world cave in. Thank goodness my Mum was with me. I had breast cancer.
Everything happened so fast initially. I was diagnosed on the Tuesday, saw the breast surgeon specialist that Thursday and had surgery on the Monday! Now I'm home 1.5 weeks after surgery, relieved that the cancer has been removed but frustrated waiting on a treatment plan. It was stage II, ER+ and PR+, and node positive. Do I opt for chemo (there is no way I can afford the oncotype DX testing)? Do I use the cold cap thingy or just shave (maybe I'll dye it pink too!)? What about dose densing (more chemo over shorter time so I can get back to normal work sooner)? Radiotherapy? Hormone therapy? The waiting is frustrating, I just want this all to be over and done with. I'm worried that I won't have enough sick leave left for those days I may need off during treatment. How will I provide for and support my darling daughter? Will I be able to pay my mortgage and other bills? How much will the treatment cost?
There is so much going through my head right now... :'( :s :/
Sorry I went on and on... Just needed to get it out. <3
Everything happened so fast initially. I was diagnosed on the Tuesday, saw the breast surgeon specialist that Thursday and had surgery on the Monday! Now I'm home 1.5 weeks after surgery, relieved that the cancer has been removed but frustrated waiting on a treatment plan. It was stage II, ER+ and PR+, and node positive. Do I opt for chemo (there is no way I can afford the oncotype DX testing)? Do I use the cold cap thingy or just shave (maybe I'll dye it pink too!)? What about dose densing (more chemo over shorter time so I can get back to normal work sooner)? Radiotherapy? Hormone therapy? The waiting is frustrating, I just want this all to be over and done with. I'm worried that I won't have enough sick leave left for those days I may need off during treatment. How will I provide for and support my darling daughter? Will I be able to pay my mortgage and other bills? How much will the treatment cost?
There is so much going through my head right now... :'( :s :/
Sorry I went on and on... Just needed to get it out. <3
54 Replies
- @kmakm Yes I'm having the same treatment. How are you going with it? Have you experienced any of the side effects? They have given me the option to use the cold-cap to reduce hair loss. Did you try it? I don't really like the idea of being in the Cancer Unit any longer than necessary. I'm thinking I might just cut my hair short anyway.
- @katwat Good heavens! My breast surgeon says he's often assisted by his sister. She has the same initial as him and their mail gets mixed up sometimes!
Are you having TC chemo? That's Docetaxel and Cyclophosphamide. I'm having four cycles of that at the moment. If it is that cocktail, feel free to ask me any questions.
And great attitude about the arse kicking! Best wishes for Monday. K xox - Oh and it turns out my oncologist and GP are brother and sister!
- Had my oncology appointment this afternoon. We talked about the gene testing, way too expensive for me, ridiculous actually! Anyway, we decided to go ahead with chemo, only 4 cycles, starting Monday. Now it feels like this shit is real! Thought I was being super calm and positive after the initial shock. Felt like my body was shutting down after leaving the appointment. Wasn't a good idea to go get my bloods taken then, veins had gone into hiding... :p
Time to kick this C in the arse! B) - Ohhh no braver than anyone else here, thats a certainty. We are all joined together through this, I think it helps to give back to others too...it is the toughest thing Ive ever been through...so we all get it here...implicitly. Hugs xoxo M
- @melclarity From what I've read of your posts it sounds to me as if you've been extraordinarily brave. Chapeaux. And you are so generous with your experience. It's appreciated. K xox
- @kmakm it was published by the National Breast Cancer Foundation here's the link
https://nbcf.org.au/news/research-news/breast-cancers-produce-own-estrogen-to-evade-treatment/?utm_content=article_estrogen-treatment&utm_medium=social&utm_term=Article%2CMarcomms%2CResearch&utm_source=facebook
Once I finally had a mastectomy it was a year after treatment and the lumpectomy, pathology of the breast tissue was perfect there was no trace of anything, which I was clear after the lumpectomy originally. So whilst you sought of go oh great news after a mastectomy breast was perfect and clear...its like hmmm it was preventative to stop it coming back, there was nothing wrong with the breast.
The specialists actually don't know what happened in my case, in their opinion with my over treatment there was no way I could have had a recurrence and yet I did in the same spot. So safe to say surgery, radiation or tamoxifen didnt work and they just dont know.
I'm heading into 3yrs clear 2nd time and honestly I dont think much about it anymore. I was unlucky, but theres no crystal ball, I think it just comes down to Ive done all I could and thats all I can do really.
Everyone is different for sure, but have to admit Ive suffered more from treatment than anything and I'll never be back to where I was physically, so your life is fully compromised absolutely. I just move forward as best I can as we all do. x - @melclarity True. It's really is incredibly difficult and fundamentally challenging to the core.
Interesting what you say about Tamoxifen not working in one out of three. Can you recall where you heard that?
I am curious about "all pathology was perfect"! Do you mean all your pathology numbers indicated that Tamoxifen should have worked, ie prevented another tumour? - @kmakm oh that's interesting, I know its big in the States but not used so much here. I did ask my Oncologist about it but he said the same thing its very expensive and not widely used because of that. I know ladies Ive spoken to OS have said they found it useful in making a decision for treatment. I would have thought too we would have something more available to go together with our diagnosis from pathology uuugh.
Having said that, I was over treated for DCIS in 2011, I had a major lumpectomy, radiation and tamoxifen for 4yrs. I had a recurrence inspite of all of that worst luck, though its been reported that Tamoxifen doesn't work in 1/3 of cases. So at my 2nd diagnosis in 2015 I had a tumor 2.5cm ER+ only, no node involvement, I couldnt have radiation twice, so my only treatment available was chemo. 1yr after treatment I saw a genetic counselor and I was BRACA 1 & 2 negative, and together with all my Specialists decided on a single mastectomy/diep flap reconstruction Feb 2017. So its super hard to know if you are under or over treating, I feel Ive over treated all the way even now with a mastectomy as all pathology was perfect and like the Oncologist said theres no way of knowing at all, whether it would have or wouldnt have come back again. As you said it really comes down to what you want and can live with I guess. Uuugh its all tough going no matter what.. xx Melinda - @melclarity It was deemed useful for me, and was raised by both my breast surgeon and oncologist. EndoPredict. Thanks to the generosity of my parents I did it and followed the indicated advice, which was clearly that chemotherapy would have a curative benefit if some random cells had escaped and were looking for somewhere else to roost. No regrets.
