Hi everyone I was diagnosed with early stage high grade breast cancer on 2 October 2015. I have an apt with my specialist on Thursday 15 Oct (which has taken a lifetime to arrive)! I am thinking I will be having a mastectomy (right breast) at this stage next week (not confirmed). But in my own mind I am very confused. There is so much information and I am feeling quite overwhelmed - unusual for me! This network has been amazing already. I have great support around me with family and friends, but sometimes I think they are walking on egg shells so as not to 'upset' me and then I don't want to get upset so that I don't upset them - lol! I know everyone is different and as such treatments etc are different and affect each of us differently, but if I have a mastectomy how long would I be off work for? I like to run and again in my own mind I have myself running 10ks before the year is out - is that doable? Do I get breast reconstruction? I have a cruise booked for December, will I be well enough for that? Oh my gosh my thoughts are all over the shop at the moment! So many questions. Have a great day and thanks for being an amazing group of people. Cheers Lisa

Hi Lisa. Take a deep breath & slow down. Easy for me to say. Just take things one step at a time. You won't know the treatment plan until you see the specialist, so try not to jump ahead. There are so many variables in our treatment. Have you ordered the My Journey kit? I have had chemo first, & am having surgery at the end of the month, followed by radiotherapy. Did you have insurance on the cruise? Not saying you won't make it, but consider the possibility, and look in to your options. Even if you don't have insurance, you may be able to defer your trip, at this stage. Make sure you have support with you at all your appointments, as someone else will hear different things to you, and take it all in differently. Take care, Lyn

Thanks Lyn - yes that all makes sense. You're right it is about slowing down, breathing and taking one day at a time. Just a bit nervous I guess and not a good 'waiting around' person! Thanks again Lyn - have a sensational day!

Hey Lisa, first a big hug, and I'm going to slow breathe with you! That wait to see the specialist feels like your hanging by your thumbs, one one hand you want to know now everything that's coming, on the other it's to slow unbearably slow. i was the same I needed to know more but the process didn't allow for everything to be clear up front, a nice neat step by step that I could say confidently, ok, this will happen then that will happen, I had a fair idea but was difficult to start preparing my head with out concrete plans. you might be offered various options that you can take time to consider. I found that until surgery was done and final pathology on tumour and nodes in, no dr would commitment to a firm treatment plan, just a lot if 'it's likely, but we will see" conversations. three weeks after surgery I started chemo, I'm right in the middle of my treatment now, half done half to go, three months in total, then on to radiotherapy, so all up from surgery to finish intensive treatments will be about 6 months, if that helps you get an idea of the process? Having said tho everybody's treatment is individual so impossible to guess at your treatments. Hang in, hold on, stay strong, you can and will get thru this, you will find a way. Good luck on the 15th xxx hugs! Let us know how you go xx

Hi Lisa, it's very overwhelming at first, I found that it helped heaps if I took my husband to each appointment, and to have a list of questions written down for my appointments. I wrote down what Was discussed, so I had something to refer to afterwards. Take it 1 appointment at a time and read as much as you can along the way. Sending you a big cuddle, Trace ??????

Hi Lisa Maree. I too had travel plans for August and Christmas when diagnosed on 14 July. I schemed in my head how I would fit in a quick trip to Europe and also visit my daughter in the UK at Christmas. Sadly my treatment plan put paid to both trips, one of which was not insured but can be moved to May when, all going well, treatment should be over by several weeks. Having done 8 cruises in 7 years consider 3000+ people and their germs in a small, closed environment and if you have travel insurance there is always next Christmas to celebrate beating breast cancer on the high seas! Best wishes, Kym

So many questions | BCNA Online Network

14 Replies

Lisa-Maree
Member
10 years ago
Thanks Jan. Yes I realise I just need to be patient and take one day at a time. Good luck with the radiotherapy xx
Lisa-Maree
Member
10 years ago
Much clearer, thank you Lyn
Lisa-Maree
Member
10 years ago
Thank you, it did. Well all my questions answered anyway!
Lisa-Maree
Member
10 years ago
Hey Kym thanks for that, although I am still hopeful of going on my cruise, but I do hear ya!
Lisa-Maree
Member
10 years ago
Thank you Trace xx
Janiot
Member
10 years ago
Hi Lisa Maree

Trust some of your questions were answered on 15th

I was back at work 4 weeks after a nipple and skin preserving mastectomy and immediate reconstruction with implant.

I work 3 nights per week as an AfterHours Hospital Manager- having said that I am about to go on sick leave until 6 January. I started radiotherapy last week which won't be complete until 2 December and my job is too stressful to consider continuing during this process when I need to heal and hopefully preserve the implant.

My diagnosis was in July and surgery in August - it is a long journey ...

All the best

Jan??
lrb_03
Member
10 years ago
Hi Lisa, hope today went well & that you have a clearer idea of your treatment.

Thinking of you, Lyn
Flutter_By
Member
10 years ago
Hey Lisa, hope today went well xx
June1952
Member
10 years ago
Hi Christine

Not going with them for your 'holiday' this time ?

Summer :-)
Aizenev55
Member
10 years ago
Hi Lisa Maree. I too had travel plans for August and Christmas when diagnosed on 14 July. I schemed in my head how I would fit in a quick trip to Europe and also visit my daughter in the UK at Christmas. Sadly my treatment plan put paid to both trips, one of which was not insured but can be moved to May when, all going well, treatment should be over by several weeks. Having done 8 cruises in 7 years consider 3000+ people and their germs in a small, closed environment and if you have travel insurance there is always next Christmas to celebrate beating breast cancer on the high seas!

Best wishes, Kym