Just Diagnosed

Hi Karen,

I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma recently.  I had my surgery about 6 weeks ago and start radiation in about 3 weeks.  I'm being treated totally in the public system, no private insurance.

I've been lucky.  We caught it early and it hasn't spread.  At first the registrar told me I might need a mastectomy as I only have small breast but I  had a great surgeon who could remove it without taking the whole breast and gave me the choice of a simple cut over the lump to remove it which would leave a scar, or a more complicated cut around the nipple to remove the lump without an obvious scar but would have a bit more pain.  I chose the second option and I am incredibly pleased with the results, the scar around my nipple is barely noticeable, and they tell me the bit of scarring under my arm will fade with time.

You can do this.  Remember that you are just as healthy now as you were before they found the lump, the only difference is that now you know about it and are having the appropriate treatment. 

Attitude is everything. As a nurse said to me the other day, "You have cancer in your life, but cancer is not your whole life".  Take one day at a time and handle things as they come up rather than worrying, and you will be fine.

cheers

Mira