Forum Discussion

rhopkins's avatar
rhopkins
Member
11 years ago

More surgery

Greetings from Adelaide!

Hi girls. Just thought i'd post a quick update on my progress. Less than a month ago i was diagnosed with a type of breast cancer called DCIS. I have recently had my second surgery (last monday, 11th may) which was a wider local excision of my left breast.

I came home yesterday after an overnight stay in hospital and recovering slowly. The site itself is a little tender (of course..haha) but my specialist came to see my while in hospital (the morning after which was yesterday) and said that early reports are that they found more cancer cells in the milk ducts than he had thought. Depending on pathology results, which i should receive by Friday, will determine next mode of treatment. Basically I received good and bad news - good news was that eventhough there were more cancer cells, there were still confined to the milk ducts at this time and had no spread into other parts of the breast. Bad news - I may need to have a mastectomy if the cancer cells were too extensive.

Well that's it. I'm trying to keep positive about the whole thing. I wanted to thank EVERYONE that replied to my first post. Receiving all the online support has been utterly amazing! I am really getting more support that I thought. One thing I would really love is to receive a physical HUG. I think if someone did do that, i might even crumble finally. :(

On top  of all this diagnosis I am looking for administration type work here in Adelaide. Not only will it help my financial status, but also my psych. I need a job for my self-esteem if you know what i mean.

Well, I think i have bored you all enough so I will go now. I am about to go and check out some online job sites...

Cheers

Rachel H

dcis

7 Replies

  • Louise_Macgrego's avatar
    Louise_Macgrego
    Member
    11 years ago

    Hi Rachel

    After my routine yearly mammogram in December 2013, I was also diagnosed with a DCIS in my left breast, very small, only .6mm which all came out in biopsy, as a lumpectomy showed no further cancer, this meant no chemo or radium which was great. As a further preventative, I had my ovaries removed in April 2014. As another level of screening, I saw a geneticist in October 2014 and as I had no really strong family history (mother's half sister had breast cancer in her 70's, father's neice died of ovarian cancer), my geneticist thought it would be unlikely that I would test positive. I decided to have the test anyway, because, in my mind, I wanted to do all within my power to prevent the cancer from happening again. I'm glad I did have the test, because I tested positive to the BRCA2 gene. After consulting with my breast surgeon, Dr Jenny Gough at the Wesley in Brisbane, her recommendation was a bilateral mastectomy with immediate TRAM flap reconstruction. The choice was mine, and I agreed with her. So 5 weeks ago (11 April 2015) I had my operation. It was a very big op, 12 hours, but I was in extremely good hands with both Dr Jenny Gough and her team and Dr Eddie Cheng as my plastic surgeon and his team. I cannot thank them both enough, for their meticulous, brilliant and expert care. They are both so very kind and experts in their field, and their dedication to their patients is outstanding, reassuring and comforting. I would also like to thank Dr Andrea Riha, my cardiovascular specialist who, due to my Factor V clotting gene, has ensured I have been safe right throughout my long surgery and post op. Between them all, I certainly have the A TEAM looking after me so very well, for which I and my family will be forever grateful. I am recovering very well 5 weeks later, have a lovely flat stomach and some lovely new breasts. Still lots of swelling but that will go. And to answer the big question, am I glad I did it, the answer is 100% yes. My pathology came back with atypical change in both breasts which, if left, would have eventually turned to cancer somewhere down the track. So I am very glad I made the choice I did, and look forward to hopefully living a long life now free of breast cancer. I hope that all your results come back with the answers you're hoping for, but should you have to have a mastectomy, I am happy to talk to you further about the surgery I have had, I am very fortunate to have had a very positive experience. Personally I think it is very important to have the right surgeons around you, and a positive attitude also helps. I wish you all the best and happy to help in any way I can. Cheers Louise

  • Kazzi's avatar
    Kazzi
    Member
    11 years ago

    Hi Rachel,

    Hang in there. I keep getting told one day at a time.  All the best for Monday.  Will be thinking of you. 

    Spend the weekend doing things you like to do.  I'm splurging on a hairdresser later today in preparation for a friend's baby's christening tomorrow.  I find I worry about the silliest things like how to tell my hairdresser. (oh dear)

    I'm in sunny Sydney, sending a big virtual hug to you in Adelaide.  I've come across some truly inspirational people on this support network.  It's keeping me going. I get my results Thursday.

    Be kind to yourself

    Karen xx

  • rhopkins's avatar
    rhopkins
    Member
    11 years ago

    Hi Kazzi,

    Was supposed to hear back from the surgeon today regarding the results, but am yet to hear. I suppose as he's in new zealand...:) I have an appointment with him on Monday morning at 8.30 am so I suppose that's not so bad.  Besides, there wouldn't been much that i could do in 2 days! hahaha..

    I am a little scared about the mastectomy itself.

    I am trying to  keep positive about the whole thing.

    Cheers

    RH

  • Kazzi's avatar
    Kazzi
    Member
    11 years ago

    Hi Rachel,

    I feel like we're in the same boat with shifting goalposts.  I'm also recovering from a second surgery re-excision right breast.  My first surgery showed mucinous tumour bigger than expected, pathology also showed DCIS in tissue margins.  I was on such a high after the first surgery but then plummeted after I got the pathology results.  I'm waiting now for more results to see if tissue margins are clear, if not, it will have to be a mastectomy for me. It's like waiting for exam results when I didn't know the questions.

    Good luck with your results and job hunt.  I agree with you re- online support.  It is truly amazing.

    Take care

    xx

  • Cook65's avatar
    Cook65
    Member
    11 years ago

    Hi Rachel 

    thanks for the update. Sorry that it is more than you first thought. I felt as though in the first few months that every time I saw the doctors that the goal posts got moved. I think a lot of others have this happen also. Just keep taking one day at a time. I'm in Melbourne so am also too far away for a physical hug but know that I'm sending cyber hugs to you. Take care. Karen xox

  • TonyaM's avatar
    TonyaM
    Member
    11 years ago

    Hi Rachel, sorry to hear you are waiting AGAIN for pathology results- bad enough waiting after the first op.I hope you don't have to go back for more surgery but if you do,we'll be here for you. Big hug, Tonya xx

  • Hazel_M's avatar
    Hazel_M
    Member
    11 years ago

    Hi Rachel, glad to hear you are recovering well from your second operation. I wish I could give you a physical hug, but I'm a little far away, up in Queensland. If you can, focus on the good news, that is has not spread to other areas. I hope you don't have to have a mastectomy but if you do, you will get through that too. Plenty of support here, keep in touch. Good luck on the job front, all the best,

    Hazel xx