Pathology Results from Lumpectomy/Sentinel Biopsy

Hi Ronnie, Sorry I haven't been back here for a while. I have always had casual work so it was easy to say yes or no depending on how I felt. I had such great support from my team mates so it was never hard and in many ways it felt as though I was fighting the disease by keeping on going. Otherwise I felt I might be just sitting at home doing nothing but feel sorry for myself, so getting up and going out felt good.

I hope your treatment is progressing well. I am off for my 2 yr mammo and ultrasound, blood tests etc on May 5 so keep your fingers crossed please !

take care

magicmum

I have been to hell and back darling and not by the scenic route!!! LOL By the sound of it you have been put through the wringer too, for a lot more ailments than what I have had? Please know how sorry I am that this has happened to you, but let it give you more strength than ever before. When i got my PMR the doc thought I had cancer then. Thinking I had dodged a bullet and only had the 'Polymylagia Rheumatica' I had a better acceptance even though it had certainly tested my faith in the medical profession!!! Then when I got cancer I wondered why my body had upped the ante as it were? 

I try to look at what has happened in my life as a true test of me as a person, and sometimes i feel better for it. Other times I feel so inferior to the universe and wonder what this whole plan is all about? I had to say 'Why me repeatedly with the PMR and accept it for its face value, but cancer?  Well...? That was a whole different ball game?

My husband and I would cuddle together on the bed and I would ask him '"Why had this happened to me?" He would say "Nobody knows, but just take notice of the fact that you live in the best country in the world to treat your cancer." "Any other third world country and you would surely die!" And you know what he is so right. We have access to all the most recently developed treatments for all cancers in this country, and survival rates are higher now than even 10 years ago. So just keep the faith huny ok?

I hope you have great results and will be thinking of you next week. Take care Always XXX Mia.

Mia, I have had  rheumatoid arthritis for approx 6 years and it has been under control with medication. I used to be a Bookseller for many years when suddenly afew years ago I kept getting terrible pain in my hands to the point I couldn't close my fingers and I kept dropping books at work and fould it difficult to put books on shelves. It was an awful time until I saw my rheumatologist and received the appropriate treatment. I still have my days but generally I feel alot better. Since then you can add High Blood Pressure, Carpal Tunnel, and Diverticulitis, to my mix of ailments. All are under control although I have had afew hospitalisations last year. Now I am diagnosed with BC. It's not that I feel sorry for myself, it's more anger that I have been diagnosed with something else which is even more serious. There seems to be no let up for me the last 7 years, it's always been something medical. Afew hours ago I had abit of a sob again because I am in pain but my husband is doing a great job looking after me as usual. Let's hope tomorrow I feel better. 

Thanks for your great advice especially about jotting things down in the " My Journey " diary. I have written afew things in there already but although I am a " bookworm"  by trade and love to write, at the moment I seem to have lost abit of interest. I love to write jingles and have won afew things over the years for my writing so maybe when I start treatment I will write a small journal about all this journey of mine. I hope I can anyway.  

Mia, you have been through so much and you truly are awesome, as all the other ladies here too so I will take alot of good vibes from you and I am sure they will give me strength. Regarding the exercises, yes I have been doing them atleast 30 to 40 times a day like the physio said, but I am careful not to overdo it. I wasn't given the pillow but I spoke to my Breast Care Nurse afew days ago and she said she would look into trying to get me one. If she can't then I have had a lovely offer from a beautiful lady on this site who is happy to give me her cushion if needed. Lots of many caring people in this world and it's lovely to see.  I never thought of wearing my bra to bed but thanks for the idea, it might help me too with the soreness. 

Thank you for telling me alittle of your journey Mia, and I am so happy you are happy and healthy. Truly inspirational. Look forward to hearing more from you and I will definitely keep you updated. 

Take Care

Ronnie xx

 

 

 

Thank you for your kind words sweetheart :)

I too could not bare to lose all of my hair in one go and got it cut much shorter than usual. many people including strangers told me how much better my hair looked and healthier, go figure huh??? LOL I knew what to expect after the surgery to a degree but there can always be exceptions to the rule, if you know what I mean? The anasthetic they gave me made me sick for quite a few days even after going home, so maybe that could be why you are feeling sick?

The chemo nurses told me that by the second treatment I would lose my hair, which it did like clock work!!! I found it so strange that it is nothing like the movies in Hollywood where a cancer patient's hair would fall out in clumps in your hand. I found if I drove with the car windows down and a strong breeze blew over my head it would hurt quite a bit. It felt like my hair and not my head that was actually hurting (strange but true). So after the second treatment I would brush my hair and small clumps would come out in my brush. By the third treatment the brush hair got thicker and the hair left on my hear got thinner. I had a few whisps of hair left and someone said to me why i should shave it all off. i told them I wanted to feel partially normal at least so it could stay. LOL

The doc told me not to drive for 5 days after surgery, and when i was 5 days down the track going stir crazy at home, I ventured out for a drive. It felt so good being away from the constant reminders all around me of what I was going through. In particular my family!! I know it sounds horrible, but seeing all their faces all the time with the 'poor you' stuff really annoyed me somewhat!!! LOL I can laugh about it now of course but then? well let;s just say I had to break out of the cancer norm. 

With the FEC treatment I was experiencing blindness issues because of the nausea meds they gave me. The doc threw me into hospital and gave me a brain scan and found nothing. Later they came to the conclusion that because I suffer migrains (without pain) it was the meds that caused the blindness. Once they changed my meds I felt so much better and the blindness issues stopped thankfully., So it is important to write everything down as it happens in a diary like I did. Let's face it, you can't always remember everything right? This helped the docs pinpoint every little thing that was wrong during the entire process .During chemo it is very important to monitor your temperature for signs of infection, I would take my temp then write it down in my diary also. I used the 'My Journey' diary the BCNA sent me in the mail, very useful.

So you have an Autoimmune disease too Ronnie? Mine is called 'Polymyalgia Rheumatica' and I have had it for about 8 years now. When I had genetic testing done after all my treatments were over I asked the nurse if there was a link with me having PMR with the breast cancer. But...of course the answer was "Sorry we just don't know enough" very frustrating indeed!!! At least I found out with that, that my breast cancer isn't genetic and as far as they know with the known BRACA genes I wont necessarily pass it on to my kids.

My rheumatoid specialist told me with the chemo it might wipe the PMR, unfortunately although it has improved somewhat it did not totally go into a remission. The Prednisone I was taking caused a lot of problems with the nausea because obviously, as you know, you have to take this med with food.

My Oncologist told me there would be issues and I was a challenge because of the PMR but they also gave me an increase from 75% to 85% with chemo treatment. of survival  I said to the doctor that 85% wasn't much of an increase over 75% and she just said "Mia if you can get 2% it is worth the risk" So I did it after refusing after the first treatment initially and being so sick, due to my own fault of course. I tried to not take the meds even after a good friend who  had Bowel cancer told me to, and of course the docs all said to. I thought that my body would make me better but of course with chemo it is all about medication. The stuff that makes you sick, and the stuff that makes you better. LOL !!!

Also, are you doing your exercises that the hospital gave you to do? Make sure you remember to do these at the pace recommended as it will help with your mobility later in your arm, just don't overdo it too soon ok?. The pillow they gave me for under my arm and breast helped a great deal too with the pain. Also I wore my bra a lot even when I was in bed for the pain and soreness. Wow, sorry Ronnie but all of this is just rushing back to me like a flood at the moment!!! LOL

Again, just keep crossing off the days and take care of yourself ok?  XXXMia.

 

 

 

Hi Mia, thank you so much for such a beautiful and inspiring post. I will keep a calendar and cross off the days when my treatment starts as you suggest and it makes sense todo so. I have been feeling sore and yucky all week with lots of aches and pains which I never had before I had my surgery last week, and I know it's upsetting me alot. I have had a couple of hot flushes too and feeling abit nauseas today and I don't know why as the only medication I am taking apart from panadol is for my rheumatoid arthritis and blood pressure, and afew vitamin D tablets. Margins are clear, 2 nodes clear and 1 node has one small micro. Does that mean that my pains all of a sudden relate to cancer spreading? I don't know. The mind is working overtime I think, but quite honestly I don't feel well this week. My cancer is grade 2.

I went shopping again today and even went to the hairdressers to cut my hair atleast 3 inches. It's a nice shoulder length now, was alot longer before. Couldn't cut it any shorter until I receive my treatment plan I guess. Like you, I am lucky to have a good support network of friends and family but I haven't even properly started this journey and yet I do feel alone, if that makes sense.  

I have taken afew weeks off  work but due back in mid April but I will see what eventuates as I may not be able to go back for awhile. I am going to make an appt with my rheumatologist too because I fear my Autoimmune disease will flare up big time  and I may need to adjust my medications for that. 

I have another week or so I was told yesterday before I receive all my pathology results and on April 1st I will see my oncologists for my treatment plan.  So I feel hugely overwhelmed with all this but I know that it got picked up by my usual 2 year routine mammogram so I am fortunate that I go to medical screenings. It's a good habit that I believe in thankfully !!!  

I wish you the very best too Mia and look forward to updating you, and appreciate your kind words of wisdom. I am so glad too that I have found this site and the support here, but today I really feel down but hopefully tomorrow I will be okay again, otherwise back to my GP.

Take Care 

Ronnie xx

 

Hi Margimoo,

I remember going to my first appointments in 2011 when I was diagnosed with a Grade 3, Stage 2 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma!!! I naturally took my husband with me as he would not have me go alone for obvious reasons. Not only was his support imperitive to my mind set about the whole situation, he managed to remember a great deal more about what was going to happen with my treatment. I of course was in massive shock the first day I seen my surgeon when he told me I had breast cancer that required immediate removal and to be followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Let me tell you my head was spinning totally out of control with this shocking news, but the doctor in charge explained to both my hubby and myself to concentrate on the task at hand. Namely the operation and removal of the tumor and lymph nodes. I asked him what would happen to my breast during surgery, and would it be removed while I was under once they knew the extent of the cancer. He gladly assured me that it would not happen that way and that he would only perform the Lumpectomy initially. I felt so relieved but also knew it would mean more surgery down the track if necessary. Luckily for me the 1cm margin on the tumor and the 3 lymph nodes were completely clear of cancer.

So all treatments are going to be different and difficult within themselves, but concentrating on what comes first and getting through that really helps with the cancer journey you are on. Take it one treatment at a time and cross those days off the calendar ok?

You WILL get through this no matter what your journey through breast cancer entails, just remember you have a great support network here with people who not only benefit through sharing their past experiences like me but those who are going through cancer too!!!  Take care Always and stay focused on the good that will result!!! XXX Mia

Hi Ronnie,

I so feel for you sweetheart!!!  So, So feel for you.

In 2011 when I had my breast cancer I had a biopsy for the initial diagnosis then a Sentinal Node Biopsy followed by the Lumpectomy to remove my 3cm tumor.  I had a grade 3 second stage Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. My margins were clear and so were the lymph nodes luckily. I can remember the anxious wait from first finding my tumor to the process of surgery and subsequent treatments. I felt so totally lost and alone!!! It seemed like this would never end. I endured 7 months of sickness, pain and yes suffering but I am here today because of it!!! Alive and kicking LOL!!!

Even though I had my family and friends to support me, they could not understand the anguish I was going through, (through my eyes). Then the support networks of 'Chicks In Pink' "Cancer Council' and the medical fraternity looking after my treatment, gave me a light at the end of the tunnel. My GP and great friend whom I have known for many years and has been through cancer himself told me to just get a calendar and just keep crossing off the days!!!  I did do this and believe me setting this small but massively important goal got me through the pain and sickness.When you face your challenges and demons in your life head on you can achieve absolutely anything!!!

Rest as much as you need and do not be in a hurry to go back to work unless you need to. In saying that I would have an odd shift when I felt better during my treatment working at K Mart. It did make me feel mostly normal again and the routine helped take my mind off everything.

Joining this on line forum has been truly inspiring to me too with my cancer journey, with the constant follow ups and check ups I am never far from my life's saga, but I know I am not alone when I can talk to lovely women like you. Take care Always XXX Mia.

Ronnie

Mine one with Er+PR positive 2, so I got TC as chemo drugs and H-Herceptin for ER drug, whole chemo round for a total of 6 which I just started 7MARC, and I cut my hair a week later (now only 1mm), H will last for 1 year drip, after 6 round will immediate for another 6 weeks (5days/weekly, first 5weeks for radio, the 6th week also radio, the Therapist said the 6th round is a kind of booster more specifically address on the tumur area), and then will start Hormone treatment - Tamoxinfen (should be tablet) for 5 years.  I haven't into menopouse yet, however, I prepare it may come early.  

This is the treatment plan I got.

U still feel tired of the wound because u just finish 1 week from the surgery, the wound may be small, but I felt the internal tissue has been "moved" and it heal itself.  I wonder it might not a kind of pain, but sore and tired right?   Lucky I got go sleep even without panadol, I feel better for every night, do u have the banana pillow?  It really help to release some of the pressure, you know we usually arm down, but now because there was surgery, the shoulder and the back given pressure to the wound insider, so the little pillow did help, just like someone give u a hand when you climb up to a Rock, I put it underarm when shopping (quick one); siting and home and even sleeping.  It's very comfortable.

Take good care of yourself, I am just a little faster than u, send me message anytime you like.

Xoxo - Rosanna

Hi magicmum, and wonderful to hear that all is well with you 2 years after your treatment. Was it difficult to work whilst doing the chemo ? I work in retail and something tells me it might be difficult to work in that environment whilst going through all treatments. I will see how I feel once my treatment is confirmed, hopefully within 2 weeks.

Thanks for your positive thoughts and best wishes, it's very much appreciated. 

Take care

Ronnie xx

Hi Rosanna, thank you for your advice and best wishes. I have also been told i have a small micro in the 3rd node whilst the other 2 were clear. I have clear margins too, but the surgeons are waiting on more results before they make a decision on a treatment plan. I worry alot as most people do but although they say radiation and hormone treatment, I  feel that chemo will be in the mix for me too. How many more chemo sessions do you have, and is radiation planned for you soon after the chemo finishes or do patients have to take a break first ? 

I have tried to relax abit more today by doing my normal things like grocery shopping and visiting a good friend, but I seem to have pain in my back and behind my neck which has come on since my Lumpectomy last week so I don't know why. I don't want to take too many panadols but if it keeps up another few days I will go to my GP. I am trying to lose afew kilos too so i am focused more on my eating habits, which is a good thing. I love reading your posts and I  always look for your updates. I will definitely keep you updated here on my treatment and how I am going in all of this. 

Best wishes and Take care Rosanna 

Ronnie xx