Two months after finding the lump
Hi BCNA community, Today is exactly two months since 14 June 2018, the day I found the lump in my right breast that changed everything. I thought it was as good a reason as any to introduce myself...
Forum Discussion
Thanks so much @AllyJay @Sister @kmakm and @"Kiwi Angel" for your kind and helpful responses.
@kmakm, thanks for referring me to your TC thread from earlier in the year. I have had a bit of a look at it, and I am sure I will refer back when I am in the thick of things. You are right that it is important to wait until I am ready, as learning too much can be quite overwhelming. My medical team have all been very good at telling me about the big picture in general terms while advising me to focus on and learn about the next step in front of me, and I have been trying to do that. I am learning about the side effects I will or might experience from chemo, which I am a bit nervous about. I have always been a person who likes to know a lot about what is going on and my work involves a lot of reading and research, so I have had to try to limit myself from reading too much, especially if I am having a not so good day.
@sister, I am fortunate to have a lot of leave as I have been with the same workplace for 15 years, so I could take the next 6 months off work on full pay without needing to dip into my super. This is a relief as I am out of pocket several thousand already (I am sure there is a thread somewhere about how costly some treatments and tests are - even with or despite medicare and private health insurance), and we have mortgage payments to keep up. I would not be able to continue in my usual position, due to lots of urgent deadlines, responsibility and long hours. My boss has arranged for someone take over my position for the next few months, but there are other non-time critical projects I could do if I can work. I am not sure if I can work from home, which might be better than trying to make myself presentable for the office, and I want to avoid catching anything while undergoing chemo. As you mentioned @"Kiwi Angel" I might need to work for a sense of normality through all this.@AllyJay - I have thought about meeting with my boss to ask about whether I could have an arrangement where I take leave and come back if I can. It is possible from our previous conversations that he may be open to that.
I am thinking of alternatives as well - like self study, art or craft or something not too demanding. It could be a good opportunity to do something different.
My GP has been fantastic. She has a strong focus on overall mental as well as physical health and has raised that while I am coping well at the moment, this could change down the track and and I should see someone about it if I need to. What my GP said was very quite similar to Dr Carrie Lethborg's excellent speech at the Plan B conference (which was the only one I had time to livestream on the day). My GP has suggested that if I have the leave I should take advantage of it as recovery may take longer than I expect. I am aware that my GP has several other patients with BC, including other women of a similar age to me, so she has experience with this.
I will also check out the rescue pet thread. This is our new fur baby (hopefully this works). Your fur Angel is beautiful @"Kiwi Angel" - one of our other cats is a long haired grey that my partner found as a stray kitten.
@kmakm, thanks for referring me to your TC thread from earlier in the year. I have had a bit of a look at it, and I am sure I will refer back when I am in the thick of things. You are right that it is important to wait until I am ready, as learning too much can be quite overwhelming. My medical team have all been very good at telling me about the big picture in general terms while advising me to focus on and learn about the next step in front of me, and I have been trying to do that. I am learning about the side effects I will or might experience from chemo, which I am a bit nervous about. I have always been a person who likes to know a lot about what is going on and my work involves a lot of reading and research, so I have had to try to limit myself from reading too much, especially if I am having a not so good day.
@sister, I am fortunate to have a lot of leave as I have been with the same workplace for 15 years, so I could take the next 6 months off work on full pay without needing to dip into my super. This is a relief as I am out of pocket several thousand already (I am sure there is a thread somewhere about how costly some treatments and tests are - even with or despite medicare and private health insurance), and we have mortgage payments to keep up. I would not be able to continue in my usual position, due to lots of urgent deadlines, responsibility and long hours. My boss has arranged for someone take over my position for the next few months, but there are other non-time critical projects I could do if I can work. I am not sure if I can work from home, which might be better than trying to make myself presentable for the office, and I want to avoid catching anything while undergoing chemo. As you mentioned @"Kiwi Angel" I might need to work for a sense of normality through all this.@AllyJay - I have thought about meeting with my boss to ask about whether I could have an arrangement where I take leave and come back if I can. It is possible from our previous conversations that he may be open to that.
I am thinking of alternatives as well - like self study, art or craft or something not too demanding. It could be a good opportunity to do something different.
My GP has been fantastic. She has a strong focus on overall mental as well as physical health and has raised that while I am coping well at the moment, this could change down the track and and I should see someone about it if I need to. What my GP said was very quite similar to Dr Carrie Lethborg's excellent speech at the Plan B conference (which was the only one I had time to livestream on the day). My GP has suggested that if I have the leave I should take advantage of it as recovery may take longer than I expect. I am aware that my GP has several other patients with BC, including other women of a similar age to me, so she has experience with this.
I will also check out the rescue pet thread. This is our new fur baby (hopefully this works). Your fur Angel is beautiful @"Kiwi Angel" - one of our other cats is a long haired grey that my partner found as a stray kitten.