Forum Discussion
Andrea66
hi everybody, well this is my first time of posting so hope I'm doing it right! 6 months ago I made the decision to move from central coast of NSW to QLD. My beautiful family with grandchildren are much closer now. And so my new life was beginning or so I thought! In April I was contacted by breast screen to go for another " precautionary " mammogram as a recent scan had shown an abnormality???? Nothing really to worry about???? All of the staff were lovely and I was poked,prodded,biopsies but still confident it was all just " precautionary " 1 week later I had to return for the results. Is there anyone you can bring with you I was asked? Now I'm starting to worry!! The dr was lovely, the nurse was lovely as they gave me the " unfortunately it's not good news "!!! My head was spinning, I didn't cry, just sat like a stunned mullet !!! My daughter in law held one hand and the nurse the other. Invasive ductal carcinoma, only very small, which was a good sign! One week later I'm meeting with my surgeon who said it looks like it hasn't spread so the plan was to have a lumpectomy and sentinel node removal then most likely a course of radiotherapy. 4 weeks later operation ! Dr seemed quite pleased and confident but would have to wait for pathology. 1 week later bad news, not clear margins and sentinel node had cancer. Dr was so supportive and explained everything and gave me options as to further action. 5 days later I went back with my decision to have left mastectomy with node clearance. Operation scheduled for the following week. CT and bone scan were done and unfortunately the CT scan revealed a clot near my collar bone, operation would now be delayed 2 weeks as I now had to give myself daily clexane injections!!! Not to be outdone under my arm developed a huge infection which meant a course of antibiotics. 2 nd operation finally happened almost 4 weeks after the first!! Waking up after that operation with a drain inserted was quite a shock as before surgery my dr had said normally she doesn't use them. I was beginning to realise by then that I was far from normal !!!! After spending 3 days in hospital I went home drain had become my new best friend.... Not!!! 5 days later I'm back for my check up and results. Feeling very positive, I can do this and then.... Unfortunately out of the 19 nodes that were taken another 5 have cancer and the original size of the tumour was to be found somewhat larger!!! 2 weeks on I have now seen my oncologist and decided to go with all the recommended treatment , 6 months chemo, 3 months radiotherapy and 5 years hormone therapy! I feel my whole being has been turned upside down, inside out and exposed for the whole world to see!!! I feel as though I have gone from a strong confident person to a quivering mass of jelly! My family are so supportive and my sister and niece have come out from England to spend sometime with me. I feel surrounded by love but at the end of the day I am so very scared. I've been poked, prodded, had every test,scan imagaginable and wonder how I'm ever going to get through this. For the last couple of months I read all of your blogs and I am amazed by your stories, your strengths and your courage. I just hope some of it rubs of on me!!! So sorry for going on and on but I will end now. Take care everybody and hopefully I will get a bit more positivity back soon! Xx
19 Replies
Thank you xx
thanks for sharing your story. I'd definitely be wary of Santa from now on!! What a terrible shock for you. I must remember that hormones is actually horrormones!! Yes some days I actually feel like I'm in a little boat on a very big ocean just getting continually tossed around emotion wise. I'm looking forward to having one pain free day again as ever since the first op I have had so much medication for pain and infections I feel like a walking chemist shop!! Before all this happened I used to maybe visit the dr twice a year, now I feel like I have a season ticket for the hospital and Drs!! Still today has been a good day so I am thankful for that. Yes one day or an hour at a time, so long as I'm moving forward!
xx
Thank you so much for support. I'm always moved by everybody's stories/journeys . Everybody is so different and yet the same struggles and worries and concerns. I do feel that this site has been a huge help to me particularly because everybody has experienced this horrible "thing" so it's not like people giving you advice on something they haven't personally gone through.
xx
Thank you so much for your reply, I'm looking forward to one day looking back on all of this that's for sure! I think it's just the constant having to wait for tests/results and now treatment. It seems like it's taken ages to get this far but I haven't moved off the spot!
Xx
Good for you love!
Hi Andy Pandy!
You certainly have been through alot!
I was diagnosed 25/12/15 (thanks Santa!) a rush of tests, scans, core biopsies (New Years Eve!) sugeries and recently a bi lateral mastectomy with expanders, which is where I m at now....currently having fills before i have to have rads.....Oh and they started my hormones (i call them horrormones) early too, so ive been on them for the last month (but they're not so bad really) Like you, my cancer had pread to my nodes and the actual tumour was discovered to be way larger than the mammogram and ultrasound showed.....it was 7cm (70mm) even the surgeon was shocked!!!!!!
A whirlwind of emotions ensued......one wave after another....But.....you have got through it! It's surprising just how strong we are.....Our inner warrior rises, dagger drawn and preapres for battle!
It seems all too much some days that's for sure! Just remember you are allowed to have a bad day, scream, cry, throw a tantrum! as long as those feelings don't take over your life (seek help)....it's all par for the course.....the lesson i learnt was to take each day as it comes....hour by hour if need be (i had every side effect known during chemo, i was a write off!).....remember to breathe....really breathe......
You WILL, CAN, and ARE doing this! and remember we're here too....cheering you on!
Tracy
Hi and welcome to the site, this site is here to download how you feel. Everyone on here has a story to tell, it is tough trip to be on. I'm 2 years on and my trip kept changing but I'm still here an trying to move on. Good luck with your treatment and visit often we give you support that others can't give as we have been there and we are all at different stages
One day you will be like me and 4 years down the track. My news, you have cancer seems like yesterday. There will be good bad and really bad days but you do it and you get through it. No never back to normal but a new normal. I wish you all the best adean
Thank you so much for caring. I've gone from initially thinking I can do this but over the past couple of months after reading so many ladies posts I've come to the conclusion putting my thoughts and fears out there might actually help..... and it has! X
My goodness you have been through so much. In hindsight if I knew then what I know now I would have opted to have both breast removed because although all other scans/tests are looking good with the way my luck has gone I don't feel confident. I'm so lucky to have moved when I did and family and friends are so loving and supportive. I'm dreading starting the treatment but at least I feel there is now a plan! When I read all the posts other ladies put up I feel nothing but total admiration for all of them and the bravery and strength that shines through is amazing. As I said I'm hoping it rubs off on me!
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