Waiting game

Best wishes @Siewli. Speedy recovery from surgery. 💐

That's great that the wait has been reduced @Siewli .... Check out what to take to hospital (specially the charging cords for you phone/ipad etc!) in the post mentioned above ..... front opening PJs and maybe even a lightweight cardigan for the cooler evenings now ....   Just before my own surgery, my brother asked if I was taking 'before pics' ... and I'd never even thought of it .... so I did!!   (Not that I've gone back & looked for them .....) but ... just a thought!  xx

You'll be amazed at how much better you'll be feeling afterwards knowing it is 'gone'! xx  

Take care & all the best xx

My surgery (remove right breast and right arm lymph nodes) is being push forward to this Thurs 19 May! A bit worry and nervous about the op. Hopefully I will recover fast.

I am having my surgery n treatment in Wollongong hospital. In Wollongong hospital, there's a Cancer Care Clinic.

Good on you for contacting McGrath, @Siewli!  I hope you can hook up with her soon.  

There isn't a dedicated Stage 3 Group at this stage that I am aware of ..... but if you add 'Stage 3' to the topic - I am sure that those who are Stage 3 will respond .... You can also ring the Helpline & have a chat (not on weekends tho, sorry) ... the number is on the blue banner at the top of the page. xx. Or on the 'discussions page', you can also put Stage 3 into the 'search' area to see topics about Stage 3. 

Out of interest - do you attend your Medical appointments in & around Wollongong or do you have to travel to a bigger town for your appointments & surgery?  I am rural & had my radiation at Port Macquarie & stayed at the Rotary Lodge there at a very reasonable cost - and could still claim on the balance too.  In NSW we have a compensation scheme for rural travellers re medical costs, called IPTAAS (Isolated patients travel and accommodation scheme) ... click here to register:    https://iptaas.enable.health.nsw.gov.au/
 .... So basically .....  if you have to travel a total of 200km or more within a week to numerous appts - you can claim for petrol reimbursement and a portion of accommodation as well, if required. 
If a single trip is further than 100k each way, you can put as many claims, as they individually occur.  There are a few forms to fill in tho .... and also Can Assist (https://canassist.org.au/) can also help rural folk with expenses - eg fuel and food vouchers ..... I think the closest branch to you is either Shoalhaven or the Southern Highlands ..... but you can chat with them on Facebook to see if there are any closer branches - they are fairly prompt at replying, even on weekends!  Rural Offices:
https://canassist.org.au/about-us/local-branches/

Take care & all the best. xx

@arpie Thanks for the info. I haven't got a breast care nurse assign to me yet. But I did look up Mcgrath foundation for a breast care nurse in my area, and ring her up. She will ring me up this Monday n touch base with me. I just wondering is there a Stage 3 discussion group that I can join in BCNA?

Hi @Siewli - great that you are feeling OK again - this disease is a real roller coaster (particularly in the early days xx) particularly with the emotions.  Whack up any questions here & we'll do our best to support you xx

Having a treatment plan will help settle you. .... was there any word on the Breast Care Nurse yet?  I hope you get linked up with one soon.

In the mean time, maybe check out this post - it has a lot of info on 'other things' we get up to on the forum - your garden, art & crafts, pets - even some funny bits, for a real giggle.  There are links to what to take to hospital with you, as well as 'tick sheets' re questions to ask your team & monitor how you are going xx 
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/23477/a-big-welcome-to-all-our-new-members#latest

take care and all the best  xx

Hi @Siewli, glad your ok and also that you have your Treatment plan. Now that you have a plan it will feel better. You have a path to follow and it's going to be fine. You will feel a bit more control back. Please take one day at a time and one treatment at a time. Prepare for each treatment and work with your medical team to get through it all. Best wishes 

@VSP n @arpie Thanks for all the response. I got my PET result n lymph node result, so I'm in Stage 3. 😔PET scan shows only right lymph nodes n right breast have cancer cell..other part of the body is cleared. I m kinda at ease that my treatment plan is out now. Remove right breast n right arm lymph nodes, then follow by chemo n radiotherapy.