It all began when I found a lump in my right breast while have a shower about 2 weeks ago. I waited a week to see if anything it shrunk or disappeared. It didnt. So I rang the made an appointment to see my GP. She ordered full tests, blood, pap smear, mammagram, ultrasound, Fine needle aspiration. The next afternoon about 5:15pm my Gp called to say they have found cancer cells and to come see her tomorrow at 2pm. After I picked myself up off the floor I called my hubby (at work), parents, daughters (3 of them) and my good friend/boss. They were also in shock.Hubby came home with red eyes and very upset to be with me. After a long night and morning the appointment time came. With Hubby in tow we go in to talk with my wonderful GP. She went through all the results and recommended Me booking into Breast surgeon to take it from there. She rang the Surgeons office and booked me in for one week. A whole week I was thinking to my self. That's a life time to wait. So that is where I am today. Waiting and trying to be hopeful and positive. My mum found this website for me to join and have some support and make new friends. Thanks Mum. Hope to meet many new pink friends.

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

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

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 for your thoughts and caring. I can really feel the love beaming off this website. It's so full of info and wonderful helpful souls. I have ask for you to be a contact. I was also wondering about the side effects of Arimidex. If I would have to have the drug for 5 years if I had a total mastectomy? Or is it the done thing you go on even if you dont? I told all my work buddies today. What a loving caring bunch of people I work with. I have had many hugs and many tears today already. Probably many more to come - no doubt. I made an appointment to talk to a Breast Care Nurse on Monday. So looking forward to that. Definately the waiting is the hardest and trying to keep busy to keep my mind of things. I think I'm doing all I can for now until the surgery decision is made. I'm a bit worried about my mum. She seems to be taking the news very badly. she lives about 340klm away and is 69 y.o. She is the one that pointed me in the right direction of this website. Maybe she should join too for some comfort and support. What does everyone think? Looking forward to chatting with anyone who is willing to let it all hang out. Chrissy D xo

In the Beginning | BCNA Online Network

13 Replies

Christine_Denni
Member
15 years ago
Thanks Tanya for your message. I do realise I'm getting ahead of myself talking about medication etc. My mind is just racing thousand miles an hour. I have to learn to stop and breathe, relax and slow the brain up a bit.

Cheers for your help

Chrissy
Christine_Denni
Member
15 years ago
Thanks for all your help and advice. I really feel right at home on this website. I am certainly going to get my mum on to this site. I cant wait to receive "My Journey" Kit. Most of my work mates are about my age maybe a little older and we have had the local Breast Care Nurse (Margie Mears) to have a talk to everyone about 6 months ago. I have an appointment with Margie on Monday for a talk, So I'm looking forward to that. My second daughter and her partner have just arrived for a surprise visit. So I'll catch up with you tomorrow.

Have a great night Cheer Chrissy.
moira1
Member
15 years ago
hi chrissy,

We certainly would like your mum to join us, as we are trying to support not only bc sufferers, but their families and friends as well. As we all know, we are the ones going through the journey, and sometimes that made slightly more difficult when we have to worry about our close ones as well, so by building a network on here, we cann all help each other. re the Arimidex, there are different hormone medications and i am sure your doctors will discuss your options if you need them. The telling people can be a bit of a strain, and the pamphlet in the My Journey kit, is one you can give to friends or leave in the tea room at work, it also helps them knwo how to cope and react. keep on Typing Chrissy, we are all here for you X
w_a__kaz
Member
15 years ago
Hi Christine, yes life just through a spanner in the works but dont forget that in this day and age breast cancer is quiet treatable when found early enough. Mine had spread into 14 of my 21 lymphnodes but after a mastectomy, radiation and a good clearance am told i should be good for another 20 years or more. at the time i thought that wasnt much but forgot i was 44years old so not to be sneezed at. we are all different so if one drug doesnt agree with one person it may agree with you. i am on arimadex and for 2 years have had no problems, one day at a time and i found i needed a sleeping tablet every now and then so I could shut down the brain get a good sleep and look a lifes challenges with a fresh perspective. Nice to see you have a great supportive family and if there anything like mine (including 90 yr old grandma) your in good hands but dont forget to take the phone of the hook or get hubby to screen calls if it gets too over whelming and you get sick of repeating yourself or talking about it all day, take control dont let it control you and your friends and family will understand you will call them when you need help or support. We're all thinking of you enjoy the weekend, relax a little and chat soon, Kaz
w_a__kaz
Member
15 years ago
Hi Christine, yes life just through a spanner in the works but dont forget that in this day and age breast cancer is quiet treatable when found early enough. Mine had spread into 14 of my 21 lymphnodes but after a mastectomy, radiation and a good clearance am told i should be good for another 20 years or more. at the time i thought that wasnt much but forgot i was 44years old so not to be sneezed at. we are all different so if one drug doesnt agree with one person it may agree with you. i am on arimadex and for 2 years have had no problems, one day at a time and i found i needed a sleeping tablet every now and then so I could shut down the brain get a good sleep and look a lifes challenges with a fresh perspective. Nice to see you have a great supportive family and if there anything like mine (including 90 yr old grandma) your in good hands but dont forget to take the phone of the hook or get hubby to screen calls if it gets too over whelming and you get sick of repeating yourself or talking about it all day, take control dont let it control you and your friends and family will understand you will call them when you need help or support. We're all thinking of you enjoy the weekend, relax a little and chat soon, Kaz
Leonie_Moore
Member
15 years ago
Welcome to our "Club". I have never met such a vibrant and energised "group" of women. Every time breast cancer survivors get together we don't stop yapping and I always come away envigorated but EXHAUSTED!!!.The previous replies are full of great info for you and mirror what I would say. The best advice that my special surgeon gave me and I will never forget is - Don't panic until you get the diagnosis. I did panic but his words made me slow down and think logically. The waiting is the worst but heh there is always a positive - we learn patience!! Very good advice to take a companion along to every consultation. Your mind will be buzzing and you may think you heard everything but it doesn't stick. Another good idea is to take a list of questions. As I thought of something - I wrote it down. My poor surgeon rarely had a short consultation with me and my "companion". We will all be thinking of you and by now you will figure out that we are all here to support another "family member". I live in Rocky and have been trained as a Community Liaison Officer with BCNA so I'm in your "territory". There will be lots of decisions for you to make but if you get yourself informed of your options then you will feel empowered to make these decisions. It is your decision in the end as to what treatment you go with. My best wishes are with you. Don't forget to be kind to yourself - unimportant things can wait. (My motto is "If it ain't life threatening - forget it") Please add me as a contact if you wish so I can be here to assist you if you need.XLeonie
Tanya
Member
15 years ago
Chrissy

Welcome, and sorry that they have found cancer cells. Waiting is the worst part of all this and something we all do not like doing.

It will be good to talk to a breast surgeon on Monday and she will set you on the right track.

Regarding your question about Arimidex. - There are lots of different kinds of breast cancer which you will learn all about later. Arimidex is only for Post menopausal women (my menopause was induced during chemo when I was 36 years old) and only if your cancer tested positive to estrigen, I had a bi lateral mastecomy. Not all cancers are positive. Anyway until the surgeon knows what type of cancer yours is, you are getting to far ahead of yourself. There are so many different treatment options, so try not to think that far ahead until you know what you are dealing with.

Great that you have good support.

Tanya
Tanya
Member
15 years ago
Chrissy

Welcome, and sorry that they have found cancer cells. Waiting is the worst part of all this and something we all do not like doing.

It will be good to talk to a breast surgeon on Monday and she will set you on the right track.

Regarding your question about Arimidex. - There are lots of different kinds of breast cancer which you will learn all about later. Arimidex is only for Post menopausal women (my menopause was induced during chemo when I was 36 years old) and only if your cancer tested positive to estrigen, I had a bi lateral mastecomy. Not all cancers are positive. Anyway until the surgeon knows what type of cancer yours is, you are getting to far ahead of yourself. There are so many different treatment options, so try not to think that far ahead until you know what you are dealing with.

Great that you have good support.

Tanya
Christine_Denni
Member
15 years ago
Thank you for your thoughts and caring. I can really feel the love beaming off this website. It's so full of info and wonderful helpful souls. I have ask for you to be a contact. I was also wondering about the side effects of Arimidex. If I would have to have the drug for 5 years if I had a total mastectomy? Or is it the done thing you go on even if you dont?

I told all my work buddies today. What a loving caring bunch of people I work with. I have had many hugs and many tears today already. Probably many more to come - no doubt.

I made an appointment to talk to a Breast Care Nurse on Monday. So looking forward to that. Definately the waiting is the hardest and trying to keep busy to keep my mind of things. I think I'm doing all I can for now until the surgery decision is made.

I'm a bit worried about my mum. She seems to be taking the news very badly. she lives about 340klm away and is 69 y.o. She is the one that pointed me in the right direction of this website. Maybe she should join too for some comfort and support. What does everyone think?

Looking forward to chatting with anyone who is willing to let it all hang out.

Chrissy D xo

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In the Beginning

13 Replies

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