In the Beginning

Well our dear Shirley has said it all really, but i will say the my journey kit from bcna is a godsend and has all the information you need at your fingertips,and its free so make sure you order it. The waiting to see surgeons etc, is always the worst, and yes a week feels like a year, your reactions of taking the breasts off are normal, but i am sure like everyone you will go through a lot of emotions and decisions before you make the final one. I was diagnosed in 2008, and had a lumpectomy, chemo, radiotherapy and am also no on Arimidex for 5 years, and have just found out i now have osteoporosis (a side effect of Arimidex, which i had to get lol), I wish you luck on your journey, and please keep comming back, this is a great site with a wealth of information from women who are going through it or have travelled it, and we know everyon is different, but we do have breast cancer in common, feel free to add me to you contacts, Good luck we will be thinking of you.

Thank you so much for your loving support  message. I can feel the love ooozzzing out of the words.I live in Bundaberg Qld.  My hubby is 55 and I am 49. My three daughters are 29, 27 & 24 years old. The oldest and youngest live in Rockhampton and my middle daughter lives in Maryborough Qld. My mother and father also live in Rockhampton (which is my home town before finding Bundaberg). This is my second marriage and my husband is my soulmate.  I work Full time as administration officer for an Aged Care Service. I have worked there for 13 years and we they are like my other family. Most are ex nurses and now working with the elderly putting services into their homes.

I find all the waiting for appointments to see specialists and surgeons etc the hardest. I just want it gone, off, removed. As far as I can tell my lump is contained in my right breast and not gone anywhere. I would rather have them both removed. I was thinking in bed last night, trying to go to sleep. If I get both of my breasts off, my clothes wont fit anymore. They will look like sack bags. I think of the weirdest things sometimes. Clothes not fitting is the least of my worries i guess. It's a good excuse to get a new wardrobe..hehehe.

I am still waiting for pap smear and blood tests to come back, so I'm praying there is no other cancer anywhere. I have noticed lately (the past three weeks or so) how tired I feel and feel like i'm dragging myself around instead of my usual bounce. Another thing I have noticed is my pelvic bones (not muscles) hurt, ache at night when I'm trying to go to sleep. The pain sometimes wakes me up during the night.I thought it might have been athritis or something.  Does anyone else have this? I just have this feeling inside my stomach that their is more than just a lump in my breast. Surely a lump the size of my thumb can't make all this pain happen. Maybe I'm paronoid. I guess I will bring all this up with my Surgeon at my appointment next thrusday.

So thank you Shirl again for your lovely reply and hope we can be "breast buddies forever".

PS I also have a warped sense of humour, hoping it will get me through all this.

Take Care.. Chrissy xo

Hi Christine - I'm Shirley .... welcome to your new extended family and friends.  Thanks Mum for finding this web site. 

It sounds as if you have a very supportive family, hubby, parents, children (how old are they by the way?) - that is half the battle.

The next few weeks will be like a whirlwind for you and you will feel as if your head is spinning as you go from appointment to appointment.  It's important to take someone with you to each of these as you won't absorb all of this information on your own - so an extra pair of ears is essential.

One of the people you will see will be a breast care nurse, she will organise for you to receive the "My Journey" kit - you will find this invaluable with plenty of reading matter, a journal and very importantly a DVD that you and your hubby can sit and watch together (don't forget the popcorn LoL).  If for any reason the kit does not get ordered then you can order it here on line.

I'm not going to tell you not to worry, because you will .... there will be plenty of "deep and meaningfuls", tears, anger and regrets - trust me you will go through the lot.

I was diagnosed on 13th Jan this year and had a mastectomy and lymph gland removal on the 28th.  The decision to have that rather than a lumpectomy and partial gland removal was right for me, it may not be right for everyone.

I was fortunate in as much as the cancer was contained in the breast and hadn't gone travelling through my body so I didn't need chemo or radiotherapy.  I am on Arimidex for 5 years.

Whatever news you receive when you see the surgeon, pop in here and let us know how you get on.  No matter what the result there will be someone on line with a similar diagnosis who will be able to give you some insight as to what you may expect.

That's the "name of the game" here .... support - support - support !!!

Where are you .... let us know and we can help you find a support group close to home.  i know you have got us now and we are really wonderful (yes I have a rather off-beat sense of humour) but we can't share a cuppa or a glass of wine with you or hand you a tissue.

Take care of yourself and stay strong ..... remember you don't have to do this on your own.  You are surrounded by family and friends who love you and now you have all of us .... aren't you the lucky one!!!

Cheers ... Shirl xxx