I was told yesterday

Hi Georgie, I remember like it was yesterday, hearing the Dr tell me that I had invasive breast cancer. The lump I was having checked, had been diagnosed as fibrous glandular tissue, and the accidently discovered ( cyst ), that no one was very worried about, turned out to be the cancer. Like you, I wasn't even concerned that my results would show cancer, and when they did, I had to ring my husband who was on business in Perth, ( I'm in Sydney), and tell him the news over the phone. He was able to get on a plane that afternoon and be back for my specialist appointment the next day. It is not the sort of news you want to tell over the phone, and then there is a long wait for them to get home. This all happened 16 months ago, and I'm on the otherside now and doing well. I had a lumpectomy first, followed by a mastectomy and 10 nodes removed a few weeks later, due to the aggressive nature and size of the tumour. I came home on Christmas day. Since then I have had 4 cycles of chemo, a second precautionary mastectomy, insertion of bilateral tissue expanders, and in January had the permanent silicone implants fitted. I will be having my 5th hair cut on Friday and my hair has come back very curly. I will be taking femara, an anti oestrogen tab for the next 5 to 10 years. As the others have said, the time will go quickly and soon it will be behind you. I too advise you to take someone with you to all appointments, as it is hard to remember everything while scared to death. I wish you well, and trust you will get all the support you need from your family, friends, and us. Love Chris xx

It was only in October that I felt exactly as you are feeling now after learning of my bc diagnosis. You will find things move extremely fast and once you have an idea of what surgeries are needed and what treatments are required you will feel a whole lot better and more in control. I had multiple cancers in both breasts and had no choice but to follow my surgeons advice and have a bilateral masectomy... A decision that I have never regretted. I don't miss my breasts at all... I like to think having the masectomy has given me the best possible chance of seeing my children have my grandchildren. I had a bilateral node clearance which showed 6/21 and 2/21 nodes involved... Not the results I had hoped for. I will have my 4th cycle of AC chemo this Friday then will commence 12 weekly taxol chemos followed by 6 weeks of radiation. Chemo has presented many challenges... Clots on my lungs etc but I am still smiling and finding something to smile and laugh about everyday. Life will change.. You will face many challenges but if you look hard enough you will find the positives, though they may not be visible yet. You will have many difficult decisions to make and will hear news that you wernt ready for. There are so many amazing, strong women here ready to hold your hand and walk this with you. Reach out and take our hands. Wishing you all the best as you start your journey. Mel :)

as much as none of us want to be here, the reality is that we are and we can support each other thru the hard days and celebrate the achievements (like great scan results, end of treatment phases, etc)

The beginning of this detour in ur life can really feel like a rollercoaster ride u want to get off, but go with what the docs recommend, they are the specialists and tick each box off as it comes along..u will get there.

like Julie said, contact a breast care nurse-either directly thru the hospital or ask at ur next appt. She should make sure that a BCNA My Journey Kit will be ordered for you-an unbelievable resource which will help not only you but family and friends too...u can also order one thru the BCNA website

feel free to add me as a contact, my profile is set to public so u can see it and i am on facebook too (find me under my name) there is plenty of support out there.  Ask away, sometimes u may need to vent--we have all been there and we can help

Good luck with your appt

Looking forward to seeing u about here

Sam  :)

 

 

as much as none of us want to be here, the reality is that we are and we can support each other thru the hard days and celebrate the achievements (like great scan results, end of treatment phases, etc)

The beginning of this detour in ur life can really feel like a rollercoaster ride u want to get off, but go with what the docs recommend, they are the specialists and tick each box off as it comes along..u will get there.

like Julie said, contact a breast care nurse-either directly thru the hospital or ask at ur next appt. She should make sure that a BCNA My Journey Kit will be ordered for you-an unbelievable resource which will help not only you but family and friends too...u can also order one thru the BCNA website

feel free to add me as a contact, my profile is set to public so u can see it and i am on facebook too (find me under my name) there is plenty of support out there.  Ask away, sometimes u may need to vent--we have all been there and we can help

Good luck with your appt

Looking forward to seeing u about here

Sam  :)

 

 

Hi Georgie - you are going through the worst time emotionally - it takes a while for it to sink in but do take your husband or other support person to all your appointments as its so hard to take everything in. Its difficult, but you have to put your trust in the medicos you will be dealing with, make sure he/she is a good one, and just go with it. I was diagnosed in November last year and for the first few days kept wondering when I was going to wake up from this bad dream. That first week, the tests and the diagnosis, was really the worst time,but then you get going with treatment and it feels good to be doing something. Like Julia said, this is just a hiccup in your life, things will return to normal one day, just look after yourself and get involved in a support group and/or this site, its a great help. Any questions, just post them, someone will be able to answer or lend a sympathetic ear!

Good luck Georgie with the diagnosis and treatment.

Julie

Hi Julia and thanks for your response, it sounds like you have had a huge year and that you are coping well and being strong.  right now I am just terrified of what is ahead of me.  Thank you for your advice on my appt withe the surgeon tomorrow I will get my husband to right everything down so we can both remember what was said.

Thanks again Georgie

Hello,

I can remember back to that same moment of shock and disbelief.  How awful for you that your husband was not able to be there to support you, but glad for you that he will be back for next appt.

Before your appointment, write down anything that comes to mind that your surgeon can answer and get your husband to write down what he says as it can be hard to remember everything.

I was diagnosed almost a year ago and had 2 operations then had a mastectomy as the margins were not clear from first two ops.  Then had chemo and radio and am now on Tamoxifen tablets for 5 years.

On the bright side...I found the time to pass very fast and the doctors and nurses are fantastic .  If you need to have all that I had, I think if you just view it as a hiccup in your life and now looking back with all the treatment over I feel relieved but also stronger to have faced it all.

Make sure you contact a breast care nurse at the hospital and they will guide you through this first phase.

Good Luck with it all and keep in touch with us.

Julia

 

Hello,

I can remember back to that same moment of shock and disbelief.  How awful for you that your husband was not able to be there to support you, but glad for you that he will be back for next appt.

Before your appointment, write down anything that comes to mind that your surgeon can answer and get your husband to write down what he says as it can be hard to remember everything.

I was diagnosed almost a year ago and had 2 operations then had a mastectomy as the margins were not clear from first two ops.  Then had chemo and radio and am now on Tamoxifen tablets for 5 years.

On the bright side...I found the time to pass very fast and the doctors and nurses are fantastic .  If you need to have all that I had, I think if you just view it as a hiccup in your life and now looking back with all the treatment over I feel relieved but also stronger to have faced it all.

Make sure you contact a breast care nurse at the hospital and they will guide you through this first phase.

Good Luck with it all and keep in touch with us.

Julia