And so the reality finally hits !

Wow Rachel, you have really had quite the "ride"!

I think if anyone had told us twelve months ago that we would have been through all of this, survived and still remained positive I don't think I would've believed I had it in me.

Sending positive thoughts your way xx

Stay strong x

Melissa

Hi Melissa,

Wishing you all the best from Adelaide. I have had a similar "ride" the past 3 months. It was back in early March I noticed discharge from my left nipple.  I thought to myself "this is not normal". Didn't think much of it as there was no pain but still decided to go to the gP to get it checked out. I also had the tests - mammogram and ultrasound which both came back as "non suspicious"...My GP referred me to a breast surgeon and then my journey really picked up pace!

I was booked in for a left duct excision in mid April. This showed cancer cells in the milk ducts. It was here I thought to myself "I have breast cancer". I went on to have a wide local excision a couple of weeks later. It was when the pathology came back from this at my follow up post op appt with my surgeon I got the news..the cancer had spread and some had even invaded outside of the milk ducts. Prior to this the cancer cells had been contained and was called DCIS. The only option for me was mastectomy and I decided to have reconstruction at the same time. this was booked in a couple of weeks ater (after 2 appts with the plastic surgeon).

Obviously as I am typing this I survived that surgery but I didn't realise until it happened to me, the pain i would suffer.  I was in hospital for 8 days and as I had a TRAM FLAP reconstruction, the abdominal wound (ie pain) was HUGE (it went from one side to the other). Unfortunately about a week after discharge I had a haematoma in the reconstructed breast and had to go back to hospital to have this drained.

Sorry for the LONG post, but i wanted to share my journey with you. This whole thing has happened..I think a positive attitude has helped me along the way, over the past 3 months.  It will be a long recovery. I am at home recovering and getting better each day. You will have your "ups and downs" (I still do).

Cheers from Adelaide.

Rachel H

Cheers from Adelaide.

Hi Donna,  it's funny isn't it , I have no need for and couldn't really care less about whether I have ovaries or not (have kids, single and probably only a couple of years out from menopause lol)  and yet it was the first time I've questioned any of my treatment ??

Take care of yourself x

Melissa

Hi Melissa,

we are all different and some it hits like a brick wall to start with others its a slow realization and then there are those like you that it takes a while.

Your doctor is right, just baby steps, little by little. I had my ovaries out 1 year past my breast surgery on the completion of my treatment and I said, can it wait I have had too much over the last year. I was given a resounding no, we need to do it now! That sort of hit me too, but for me and my age there was no issue I had no attachment to them anymore so was happy to see them gone, just didn't want another surgery.

Good luck moving forward, I hope all goes well for you.

Donna

Hi Tracey, thank you for your kind words.

i was given very good advice early on by my doctor , just to take it one step at a time, one bridge at a time which has helped me greatly.

i wish you all the best with your treatment x

Melissa 

Hi Melissa, I'm feeling for you as I found the lump in my right breast in December last year, and then woke up just after New Year with blisters all over my right nipple. Due to the roller coaster ride, it was not until mid February until I had my mastectomy. I know that it just seems like one thing after the other and you wonder what else is around the corner. Once you have all the information you need, and you can negotiate a treatment plan, things will settle for you, and you can get on with moving forward. I hope that your surgery and treatment goes well for you. Take care, Tracey B ??