Forum Discussion

Kathyjane's avatar
Kathyjane
Member
10 years ago

UPDATE ON MY JOURNEY

hello all, 

Well, since my journey started, it has definitely been a whirlwind. In 4 weeks I have had another Mammogram, Ultrasound and Biopsy, with a Haemotoma to-boot. I have been back to get my results and yes it is Stage 2 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma 3 cm @ 4 o'clock. It seems I might have had this "thing" for around 12 months. I would never have found this and the Mammogram has saved my life.

I have since been contacted by my new Breast Care Nurse from Campbelltown, Therese and the new sexy breast care bra has arrived and I have to say is very comfy.  

I am seeing the Surgeon who gave me the news and she is great. I should be in hospital on July 25th and having a Skin Sparing Mastectomy with Sentinal Node removal. I will be either having a Reconstruction straight off or an Expander will be put in for a few months. I wont know about this one till next Tuesday when I see a Plastics Surgeon and discuss it with her. 

So that is where I am at at the moment ... just hanging in there and taking each day as it comes. It feels like Ground Hog Day over and over again. 

 

 

8 Replies

  • socoda's avatar
    socoda
    Member
    9 years ago
    Who would have thought that such an incredible friendship would develop from a breast cancer diagnosis. You my friend are the silver lining!!Xx
  • Kathyjane's avatar
    Kathyjane
    Member
    9 years ago
    Hi all,
    Well it has been many many months since I have posted/updated on the site. July was my last post. On July 28th I had my bilateral breast reduction. (I went from a DD to a B cup) but the Ca. is gone (fingers crossed). On the day of my operation the surgeon Dr Lucia Saliba found out that I had Sentinal Node involvement.. it turned out to be 44% KI 67.  So that meant I was going to have to have chemo... it turns out the Ca. I have/had was aggressive after all... Grade 2 42mm but first diagnosed at 33mm. I only had 1 node involved.. 
    Surgery done under the public system and could not complain at all about the treatment. Still getting used to the B cup tho tho, she even saved my nipples which im happy about. 

    2 weeks after surgery I was back at work... and the only other break has been over Christmas for 3 weeks while i had radiotherapy which i got pneumonia during it and was not well... but got through it. I had 2 doses of FEC and lost all my hair. that was devastating and I hated it.. and then the Oncologist put me on Pacletaxal and I chose to do only 3 doses.  
     (I dont think i need to justify my decision, so i wont). I had 16 days of Radiotherapy = 160 doses.. and finished that 3 weeks ago tomorrow (Monday). My hair started growing but around late Nov and I now have enough to not worry about scarves and hats...but I still hate having short short hair. 

    So,I was suppose to have started Tamoxifen but I have decided to wait for a few months and see what my body does first. I know it will suppress the Cancer if there is anything there... but again my choice. Apparently I am post menopausal which i had no idea I was ... thinking i was peri so this has been a good thing ...

    Well here I am Feb 5th and started this journey on June 6th,,, tomorrow will be 8 months and it has been a journey I wish on no one but it seems it just keeps happening... I have learnt so much about Cancer and treatments and emotions and everything else to go with it.. i can tell you all about side effects and feelings and it is something as a nurse I would hope I never had to do but it is real and it happened to me to give me this insight into all of this.. who knows what my future holds now but Ill get on with living and working and riding my bike and just talking about it to anyone who wants to hear so they are aware they are not alone and they can get through it being what ever choice they make.  

    oh and the one biggest thing that has been awesome out of all of this is my friendship with Cath whom I met on this site in July 16 and recommended Dr Saliba to me... she is one of my dearest and awesomeness friends and I love her to bits. 

  • jd48's avatar
    jd48
    Member
    10 years ago

    I was originaly told (post biopsy) rhat I would only need radiation and no chemo but then both the Urgeon and  Oncologist said because the bastard was grade 3 it meant 4 rounds of AC Chemo even though node was clear and the cancer was 2.5cm

    Initially I was feelong sooky at the sidden prospect ofnChemo but for me even though my margins were clear (I had a lumpectomy) they had found a 2nd tiny primart cancer in the margin... That sobered me right up and reminded that even tough the node was clear therr was still a potential there could be further microscopic cancer cells in my body so prospect of Chemo knockong them out became a welcome prospect.

    I will not lie - Chemo sucks and disrupts your life but I am still happy to be having it. I even found it upsetting when informed by Oncologost they would not continue with weekly chemo after AC rounds were done... Yes chemo sucks but just think about the long term benefits...

    No that I am in week 7 of my 4 rounds I recall what my Neurologist said before I started it all and I honestly recon it is best advice anyone has given me since my BC diagnoses...

    His words were "Chemo is Hell so simply accept you have several months of Hell to live through and you will.live throigh it and as miserable as it gets you will be OK when it is all done with".

    I have had my ups and downs and sometimes it felt like Hell but honestly as soon as you fogure out what thenissue is and deal with that sideffect the brain clears up and your spirit lifts... Some days did feel like the end of the world for me but honestly thinking back to them and how I felt is not at all upsetting as soon as symptoms were gone or bothersome...

    I would not worry too much now about how things will be. Plan for the worst (just in case), hope for the best but do know it is not all that bad as we imagine it to be and you will get through it ????????

    Hugs

    Jel

  • Kathyjane's avatar
    Kathyjane
    Member
    10 years ago

    Ok..that is interesting...

    I was told I might have to have 3- 4 weeks and 5 days a week of Radiotherapy. As I wont be allowed to drive for 6 weeks it put my work behind and then my mum will need to come and get me daily to get to therapy..

    I really didnt want Chemo.. but I guess I will wait to see what the Pro's and Con's are before I make a decision.

      thank you for your in put it makes me think about things and gives me other options. 

  • Brenda5's avatar
    Brenda5
    Member
    10 years ago

    You will feel better when the surgery is done and dusted. Its the worry and the waiting is the worst.

    I was lucky, after all the surgery and pathology reports were in I was only put on chemo for 4 doses and my radiologist said the cons outweighed the pro's in radiation therapy so we opted not to have that.

  • Kathyjane's avatar
    Kathyjane
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi 

    I have nothing at the moment.. They didnt say if it is HER2 or not just that it is stage 2 Invasive and 3 cm ... that is it. Mine has gone past DCIS and is now in the tissue. 

    I dont think they will know until i have the Mastectomy on July 25th at Bankstown Hospital and send it off then. 

    The not knowing is hard cos I dont even know if I will need Radiotherapy, or Chemo or what ever else is on the cards. 

     

     

  • primek's avatar
    primek
    Member
    10 years ago

    Such a lot to take in at the beginning. It all seems to be about the appointments... but at least then you feel you are doing something then not just waiting. Do you know what type of DCIS you have... like estrogen or Her2+. It woll be on your pathology teport. It's  good to have a copy. After removal they will test and measure again...just to be sure. Then your treatment plan  after can start. It is all very different for all of us.

    Hang in there. Kath x