My Diagnosis

Hi Lorraine & Em

I too am going through BC for a second time - the first at age 35 in 2003.  Shortly after I felt a thickening in my other breast and asked my breast surgeon to check it out for me...the ultrasound and mammogram showed nothing but dense tissue.  Every time I had a mammogram or ultrasound I asked again about this thickened area but was told "we have checked it out and there is nothing there". I wish that I had been more forceful and asked for more tests (in fact I wish that I had had the other breast taken off at the same time as the first but I wasnt' in a position to make that decision at that time!!).

Last year when I had my ultrasound and mammogram I was told that I had a cyst on the outside of my breast which had a lymph node inside it - and that I may be able to feel it.  I wish that they hadn't told me that "I may be able to feel it" as this turned out to be right near the area where my second breast cancer was diagnosed this year!  I had been feeling it for a few months (probably 4-5 months) but thought that it was just the cyst!  If they hadn't said anything I would have got it checked as I am normally so vigilant!!

 I have just finished my chemo now and luckily there was no lymph node involvement....hopefully this means the end of it! 

Be vigilant girls and, if in doubt, make sure that you get it checked, and continue asking questions until you are satisfied!

Good luck Em.

Louise x

hi Em, you really seem to have it all together with the wedding plans good on you!!!!, and you are right everyone is different, i have known women to only have chemo days off work, then carry on as normal, so also keep that in mind with the other side of being sick with it, the thing is to get through it, i think sometimes we get to the stage, where we get fed up being ill, when we dont really feel ill  but thats something else to get through,  i am from scotland and if you havent been to europe you wil have a ball, (and if you have, you will still have a ball hehe) so concentrate on yourself through treatment and aim for it, and if you cant do the back packing thing, you can work it out, there are so many aussies in europe, which makes it easier to find places to go over there once you are there, and travel is cheap (not like here). please let us know how you go, as i say, laugh, cry, shout or just chat its all allowed here.... as i say "better out than in" (well thats an old scottish saying for passing wind but we can use it as well lol)  keep in touch, Regards Moira

Hi Leonie, I hope I don't come across as condeming anyone because thats not what I want to do, I just want people to be aware about getting the correct pathology information from their GP and if they feel its not right they should seek further advice with the support from their GP. I wish I had requested a copy of my pathology after my first FNA, at the time I was totally unaware that I could do that, I thought I was not allowed access to it.

Yeah I'm still planning my wedding, I'm a very organised person and managed to plan nearly the whole wedding in the 6 weeks before being diagnosed. I even bought my dress which luckily can be altered to fit my new shape. Honeymoon is on hold at the moment my breast care nurse has mentioned that I many not be up for backpacking around Europe only 12 months out from chemo and radiotherapy. So I am planning to see how I am after all treatments before booking the honeymoon or a modified version of our original plans. Chemo effects everyone differently I listened to other people's stories about how crap it was and took that on board but kept telling myself we are all different. I find I am emotional and physically tired after it for about a week and then I bounce back and have two fantastic weeks. Hope all goes well, Em

So sorry to hear your story.  It is not fair that you have to go through this so young.  Good on you for not giving in to the information that you  were receiving.  I have had a similar situation but I am not condeming anyone - it just makes me more determined to read all the reports more closely.  I am awaiting oncology appointments to know what treatment I will have to receive.  I was first diagnosed in Oct 2006 and had a lumpectomy, radiation and hormone medication. (I had no lymph node involvement)   I now have had a very large lymph node removed from under my armpit that was totally full of tumour which had also escaped.  Good news no major organs have been affected at this stage.  I was on 6 monthly ultrasound and mammograms until a year ago.  Looking back on my reports, this lymph node was noted as being of 2cm size in the previous 6 monthly report (18 months ago).  Of course 2 doesn't sound big to the normal person and it was noted to be checked - in a couple of months!!!  At the next 6 month check this node was not noted so that is why my specialist decided to "give me a break from radio activity" and it was decided to leave the tests for 12 months.  However in the 18months the node grew to 25mm (yes if it had been reported in mm in the first report I would have been more alerted)  I'm from the old school of inches not metric. The outcome may have been the same 18 months ago but the tumour would not have possibly escaped.  I will be "lining up" for chemo as well as radiation therapy this time.  I am emotionally fine with it all - UNTIL it all happens - that will be my test.  Are you still organising your wedding etc. ?   I hope so - it is always good to have things to look forward to.  I am looking forward to attending the 16th International Breast Cancer Convention in Taiwan in November this year.   Like the rest of us in "this Club" enjoy every minute of your life - it is now about NOW. XLeonie

aww sorry to hear  lorraine you have it again, and thank you for sharing it with us, this is a message to all us on here, we just don't know if or when it can return, i hope all goes well with you, and i'm thinking in 99 there wasnt sites and support around like this one, so feel free to come on, unfortunately you have been there and are about to go there again, a double whammy, so i'm hoping this time round, we can give you an extra bit of support, and if you are up to it, i am sure you will have a great amount of info for others travelling the road for the first time, so please keep in touch with us and let us know how you are going. good luck  regards Moira

This is my 2nd go with bc...first in '99.Wish I had have had the foresight to get them both removed like you did.I use to joke that " I had kept one boob so I would know where to put my bra"

The nurse at  the screening clinic thought I only had thickening but if it bothered me to see the Dr.She didn't seem too concerned so I waited till my next visit to my GP.Luckily she sent me for more tests ...she said we better, because Of my history...anyway at least they found it and now it will be treated.Like u I do get a bit grumpy when I think I may have avoided a more serious cancer had they got it 3mths earlier.

My advise to all breast cancer ladies ...get the more in depth tests for the rest of your life.I thought because it had been 11 years since my first mastectomy the free breast screen would be ok.

Good luck Em your are a brave girl

This is my 2nd go with bc...first in '99.Wish I had have had the foresight to get them both removed like you did.I use to joke that " I had kept one boob so I would know where to put my bra"

The nurse at  the screening clinic thought I only had thickening but if it bothered me to see the Dr.She didn't seem too concerned so I waited till my next visit to my GP.Luckily she sent me for more tests ...she said we better, because Of my history...anyway at least they found it and now it will be treated.Like u I do get a bit grumpy when I think I may have avoided a more serious cancer had they got it 3mths earlier.

My advise to all breast cancer ladies ...get the more in depth tests for the rest of your life.I thought because it had been 11 years since my first mastectomy the free breast screen would be ok.

Good luck Em your are a brave girl

Welcome to the club nobody wants to be in, and sorry to hear about you being misdaignosed, you are onto it now, and hopefully will be back on your feet without too many more drama. please feel free to come on here any time, as you say bc doesn't discriminate and unfortunately on here there are ladies on here young and older, the good thing about that is there is a wealth of information and support  for all ages. Family and friends are great to have around, but talking with others who are going through or have been through the journey you are about to take certainly helps, so if you want to laugh, cry, shout or be angry this is the place to come. we cant hold your hand, but we can give suppport.  no question is stupid on here, so feel free to come on any time, and i always think by helping myself i am helping others, please let us know how it is going, are you still planning your wedding, honeymoon etc? good luck and feel free to add me to your contacts, take care keep in touch, we are all routing for you..... Regards Moira

Welcome to the club nobody wants to be in, and sorry to hear about you being misdaignosed, you are onto it now, and hopefully will be back on your feet without too many more drama. please feel free to come on here any time, as you say bc doesn't discriminate and unfortunately on here there are ladies on here young and older, the good thing about that is there is a wealth of information and support  for all ages. Family and friends are great to have around, but talking with others who are going through or have been through the journey you are about to take certainly helps, so if you want to laugh, cry, shout or be angry this is the place to come. we cant hold your hand, but we can give suppport.  no question is stupid on here, so feel free to come on any time, and i always think by helping myself i am helping others, please let us know how it is going, are you still planning your wedding, honeymoon etc? good luck and feel free to add me to your contacts, take care keep in touch, we are all routing for you..... Regards Moira