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Jennt28's avatar
Jennt28
Member
13 years ago

1 year ago today...

Hey everyone, today is 1 year to the date since I got my diagnosis after a day at the breast care centre filled with mammogram, ultrasound, fine needle biopsy and core biopsy. Yes, all in one day! The clinic, where I had never been before, works on a "last man standing" system. Everyone is given morning appointments for mammos and then those that are clear get to leave and the others stay through each of the next steps. I was there at 9.30am for my mammo and was the LAST ONE TO LEAVE at nearly 5pm :-/. Looking back now, I can remember starting that day thinking it would be a quick appointment to confirm what my doctor had said was probably a cyst. I thought it was going to be interesting to see if mammos are as uncomfortable as everyone always said they were (I didn't think that it was). Little did I know how much more pain was to come that day and through this entire past year, and that one mammogram was the only one I will ever have in my life. It was close to Christmas and a new fancy mall had opened recently in the heart of Sydney. My hubby works in the city so I was supposed to meet him after he finished work and we were going to go Christmas shopping and for a nice dinner (date night!!!). Instead, he got a call from me at 3.30pm to leave work and come to the centre. He arrived to be whisked with me into the doctor's office - and the words BREAST CANCER. It wasn't the date night we planned... After we paid over the first of what would be, over this past year, many thousands of dollars in medical expenses, we walked over to the shiny new mall. First thing we did was find a shiny new trendy bar and order a drink each. Then we just sat in shock for a while before wandering aimlessly through the multiple levels of shops. We didn't buy anything at all for Christmas - we had no heart for it. We had dinner at a shiny new burger place. I remember the burger tasting good. Have suggested to hubby a few times over the past year that we go back there, but he hasn't been keen. Maybe it's psychological? So much has happened since that day, I could fill a book. There is only one thing I have loved that has been new this year - the meeting of all these other women sharing the experience. Thanks for being here - and sorry that you had to be here... Love ya, Jenn

2 Replies

  • Mich_x's avatar
    Mich_x
    Member
    13 years ago

    Hey Jenn

    I also have a similar story to yours from back in 2006 where I went through the full process of being there all day and being the lucky last man standing to be told that they are only cysts. Pheewwww Lucky me. But yes what a process.

    Second time not so lucky though. It took days for me to get a diagnosis and for me it was a 1 year anniversary of diagnosis on 25th November 2011. This time I was told sorry but it is breast cancer not just cysts this time.

    My husband and I were in shock and speechless and also in denial for quite a long time until my BC could be denied no longer.

    It has been a hell of a year with so many ups and downs but I have survived and so did my hubby and kids survive to see me still alive and kicking after the twelve months.

    This New Year I have so much to be grateful for and celebrate. My diagnosis brought my hubby and me so much closer, I have met one very special special pink sister who we supported each other the whole way through our journeys and we will be soul sisters for the rest of our lives, I have met so many beautiful beautiful people through this fantastic website. I got to go to Sydney and be part of such a fantastic and educational conference and see so many of the pink sisters in real life and to celebrate with them all.

    I am working towards becoming well again by eating a healthy diet, drinking less alcohol, walking for a min of 30 mins a day and doing gym and pool based exercises.

    I have two new grandchildren due to be born in January and April of 2013. I am so grateful I am alive to read your post and so many other posts, some happy with good news and some not so happy of which my heart goes out to them all. BC sucks, cancer sucks but being alive and living every precious moment and being with our precious loved ones is something I will never ever take for granted ever again.

    Congrats to you and wishing you everything good and happy for the rest of your days.

    LOL, Mich xoxo

  • NaturalBel's avatar
    NaturalBel
    Member
    13 years ago

    Dearest Jenn,

    I was so amazed by your story that half way through I read it out to my Dad, who has arrived, at 63 years of age from SA, to help out for a few months as you know.  Your write it brilliantly, although I was shocked at the one day express system you went through, I thought it was better than the casual, 2 weeks of appointments separately taken to be told my news.  Here you are one year later.  I discovered I have breast cancer during the month they call Breast Cancer Awareness month, great timing, I thought.  The morning we found out, my husband and I stood outside our cars and started crying, saying "What do we do now, we are supposed to go to work?".  On the way home I needed petrol, and he had to get out of his car and pour it into my tank for me.  I cried the 30 minutes out to our house in rural Swan Bay, following him on auto pilot.  The main thing that keeps me sane is this website too, and to be able to read your story and those just like it and think, "Im not alone!"  So many women have it, its just my turn.  Love to you too, Bel Mc