Unsure about surgery choice
Hello, newbie here. Diagnosed 3 days ago with G2 estr+, prog+ Her1+. Right breast, two lumps (around 1,5 cm each, very close togheter ), one nipple adjacent. I am not a small breast one but i woul...
Forum Discussion
@Simo Welcome to our wonderful forum & to Australia! So much good advice above but we all like to add our little bit extra!! I had DCIS Dec'17, stage 1 but aggressive & had a lumpectomy with clear margins. i am small breasted & during the surgery, my surgeon took tissue from below my breast to fill in my gap. My cut was low in my left breast & now you would hardly even know I had surgery, she did such a good job. I had rad but no chemo or further medication...very lucky. So, it is possible to have small breasts, a lumpectomy with clear margins & come away with boobs looking virtually the same!!
Everyone is different & there are so many decisions to make. Be guided by your medical team, not Dr Google but the choice is yours at the end. Read info from BCNA & Cancer Council websites or brochures from the medical waiting rooms. Take someone with you to all appts or record them/take notes as there is a lot to take in. I found a McGrath Breast Care Nurse from their website & emailed her. She is wonderful & I can ask her anything & all the dumb questions or things I forgot to ask or dont understand. She is medically trained so can advise me on what I should do. They can also counsel you & your family if others need support
Cancer is like another language. i still dont know half the stuff written on here as it hasnt pertained to my situation but we learn quick! Try to focus on the here & now & what you DO know & not what MAY happen as it may not eventuate. Things change all the time & stress fuels cancer so dont waste your energy worrying on something you dont need to. Easier said than done but i learnt very quickly. i worried about things that may happen in the future & they never happened. Decisions that I thought i would have to make were made for me by my medical team & I agreed with them all & I havent regretted any of their decisions. Tomorrow I have my 2 year mammo & get the results from my surgeon straight after. I hope to tick off 2 years & I am very lucky that my life now is pretty much as it was pre-cancer.
With your surgery coming up quickly, try to focus & you & getting yourself mentally prepared. Get some meals in the freezer & spend time with your kids. Accept help/meals/shopping/driving kids from anyone as they want to help. As @arpie mentioned above, there are lots of support groups for kids out there & they do amazing work.
I know the next week will be hard but soon your surgery will be over, cancer removed. the care in the hospital is amazing. I had a wonderful breast care nurse who fitted me with a free bra, gave me a goodie basket of gifts including a beautiful pink pillow that I clutched lovingly for weeks after. We are all here for you. Dont be scared & take each step as it comes. Breast cancer care is amazing with so much support so you will not be alone. Wishing you love, prayers & strength. xx
Everyone is different & there are so many decisions to make. Be guided by your medical team, not Dr Google but the choice is yours at the end. Read info from BCNA & Cancer Council websites or brochures from the medical waiting rooms. Take someone with you to all appts or record them/take notes as there is a lot to take in. I found a McGrath Breast Care Nurse from their website & emailed her. She is wonderful & I can ask her anything & all the dumb questions or things I forgot to ask or dont understand. She is medically trained so can advise me on what I should do. They can also counsel you & your family if others need support
Cancer is like another language. i still dont know half the stuff written on here as it hasnt pertained to my situation but we learn quick! Try to focus on the here & now & what you DO know & not what MAY happen as it may not eventuate. Things change all the time & stress fuels cancer so dont waste your energy worrying on something you dont need to. Easier said than done but i learnt very quickly. i worried about things that may happen in the future & they never happened. Decisions that I thought i would have to make were made for me by my medical team & I agreed with them all & I havent regretted any of their decisions. Tomorrow I have my 2 year mammo & get the results from my surgeon straight after. I hope to tick off 2 years & I am very lucky that my life now is pretty much as it was pre-cancer.
With your surgery coming up quickly, try to focus & you & getting yourself mentally prepared. Get some meals in the freezer & spend time with your kids. Accept help/meals/shopping/driving kids from anyone as they want to help. As @arpie mentioned above, there are lots of support groups for kids out there & they do amazing work.
I know the next week will be hard but soon your surgery will be over, cancer removed. the care in the hospital is amazing. I had a wonderful breast care nurse who fitted me with a free bra, gave me a goodie basket of gifts including a beautiful pink pillow that I clutched lovingly for weeks after. We are all here for you. Dont be scared & take each step as it comes. Breast cancer care is amazing with so much support so you will not be alone. Wishing you love, prayers & strength. xx