And so the reality finally hits !

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.