Confused Brisbane?

Hi AJG, I understand your anger at finding your breast cancer. Like you, I never missed a scan either, but I had a grade 3, 21mm tumour that was also missed in these scans. I had an old lump rechecked, as I suddenly became alarmed by it, even though it had been checked before and had been there for over 10 years. Three months before this, my scanning mammo showed nothing. My Dr wasn't worried, but sent me for a repeat mammo and an ultrasound. The mammo was still clear, and the ultrasound showed that this lump was only fibrous glandular tissue. However under this there was a 4mm cyst like lesion. We did a fine needle biopsy just incase, and this is how I discovered I had invasive breast cancer. The lumpectomy and radiotherapy that was to follow was considered not a big deal by the medicos. Unfortunately the lumpectomy showed the tumour to be much larger at 21mm, and very aggressive. I went back to theatre and had a mastectomy, and then required chemo. As a precaution I have since had the other breast off, as I decided that I wouldn't easily trust a mammogram again. My reconstrution is now complete, and my hair has regrown, but is still curly. I am on femara, for the next 7 to 10 years, which is an estrogen blocking drug. There are alot of us, who have been very thorough in checking for breast cancer, and have still wound up with it. It is a bugger, but at least you now know, and can begin your treatment. For the record, I was lucky with my chemo, as it didn't knock me about too much at all. I wish you all the best. Write down a list of questions so that you can ask your surgeon everything that is on your mind. Your surgeon should talk to you, and if he doesn't, perhaps get a second opinion. It is also good to take another person with you, as it is so hard to take everything in and remember it all. Love Chris xx