I'm just on to get things off my chest (ha! made a funny). I had the partial mastectomy the Thursday before Christmas. The surgeon said that the results probably wouldn't come in until the end of last week. I hadn't heard by Friday afternoon so I rang him and he said they still hadn't come. So, I've been putting it down to Christmas holidays and things getting held up at the Path Lab. Still no call as of yesterday. Last night, I came to the realisation that there's a very strong likelihood that the surgeon is waiting to tell me face-to-face at my followup appointment on Friday which would suggest not so good news - fully mastectomy and possible lymph node involvement. I guess at least I'll have him cornered then. I'm trying not to jump at shadows but I only managed a couple of broken hours of sleep last night, even after sleeping tablet. I'm the sort of person who needs a plan and at the moment, I'm in the dark. I've hated the recovery from surgery even though I've bounced back better than I thought I would. I'm not so anxious about losing the breast, after all, it hasn't played nicely - more about losing more lymph nodes, cancer on the move and more surgery.I gave up lying in bed about 6am and went for a 4km walk to relieve the anxiety which is the longest distance I've managed since the surgery. Sorry about the raving but I need the release of telling someone, don't want to make family and friends more anxious as they can't do anything, and the cat isn't always a good listener.

Okay - update... I saw the surgeon this afternoon. My 2.5cm tumour was 4.5cm with no clear margins on 4 sides. I had 5 nodes removed with 2 cancerous and 1 showing signs. ER+ & PR+ (PR stronger than the core biopsy showed) and HER-.I'm going in on Monday afternoon to have mastectomy and axillary clearance (he did say how many nodes but neither my husband or I can remember). Then sometime after that I will see the oncologist to discuss further treatment which he thinks will be full-on. Leaving reconstruction optional for later down the track. He concurs with my GP that I won't be back at work in Term 1 and possibly not in Term 2 - luckily I have also come to that conclusion and have given work a heads-up.I can't really say I feel "better" but I do feel more settled after talking to him. I went to Dr Kollias as my GP said he was the one in Adelaide that she would go to if she had to (and he does seem to have good "reviews") so I'm trusting that he's good but his manner does instil confidence. I know that my anxiety will ramp up again by Monday and I'm far from a willing patient at the best of times but at the moment I'm okay - not great, but okay.One good thing - he's said that I have his permission when I'm in hospital to leave the ward and go out in the garden! Yayy! It's so seriously cruel to be able to look out of a glass door and see a balcony but not be allowed to open it and get fresh air and sunshine.

Shit, bum fuck indeed @Sister Anything cancer is to be avoided at all costs and having to deal with it when all the grown up medicos go on holidays is the seventh circle of hell.Good luck. Marg xx

@Sister never need to apologise here for venting or swearing when it is focused on the Bitch called Breast Cancer and treatments. some positives to focus on are ... Surgery is not being delayed, tomorrow you will see the Surgeon is someone going with you? I will share my tumour was 3 times what they thought it was and I had node involvement ...... I am now 5 yrs out with No evidence of disease I am a survivor.... Breathe we got your back Sister.... Hugs and energy to get thru the next bit of the roller coaster ride.... Soldiercrab

@Mollygirl & @SoldierCrab , my husband will be with me - he's got his own issues but has been a rock through this. I knew from when I had the surgery that it could go either way and I think I was mentally prepared for the breast to go but not for the nodes to be positive. And it broke my heart to see my kids falter when we got the phone call. When I was first diagnosed, my 15 yo son said to me that if he seemed like he wasn't concerned it was really that he knew I'd be okay. Now, of course, he knows that nothing's certain.Well, I've had some time to process things - now I have to get my questions in order to ask the surgeon.But thank you all for your support. I'll let you know what happens.

I continue to be grateful I got all the surgery agreed and done in one go. I opted for a full mastectomy (had partial as an option) and we knew at least one lymph node was malignant. 17 went (but only the tested one was malignant - no complaints, a significant number looked very suss!!). Yes, I have some side effects, no they don't wreck my life and I am 5 years so far with no evidence of disease. It's exasperating and exhausting but if you can, concentrate on the main game which is to get cancer out of your life. Best wishes

Bad night | BCNA Online Network

28 Replies

Sister
Member
8 years ago
Yes - he delivered my paperwork yesterday afternoon.
Romla
Member
8 years ago
PS I reckon you can tell a lot about a doctor who steps up to make appointments on the phone because his staff were too busy doing other things .He even delivered my paperwork to St Andrews on his way to do surgery! And as well as being a kind man he is a brilliant surgeon.
Romla
Member
8 years ago
PS I reckon you can tell a lot about a doctor who steps up to make appointments on the phone because his staff were too busy doing other things .He even delivered my paperwork to St Andrews on his way to do surgery! And as well as being a kind man he is a brilliant surgeon.
Rapunzel
Member
8 years ago
Hey @Sister , no worries about the swearing, I still do it (frequently and often). Try to chill out over the weekend, I'd suggest going for an amble around the botanic gardens for your whole family but it's stinky hot today in Radelaide. Maybe tomorrow? I remember being encouraged to get out of bed and amble about the hospital as much as possible, I was at the QEH and they have a lovely enclosed garden area there. Good luck for Monday, sending positive vibes your way. Let us all know how it went (when you feel like it).
Romla
Member
8 years ago
Hi @Sister I too have Dr Kollias as my surgeon and support every word said above - he was my anchor in a stormy sea - you can put your trust in this man as a professional and a human being.If you ladies meet up on the 18/1 would love to be part of it too. St Andrews was great DURING treatment but have been told of amazing AFTER treatment support staff at FMC provide which would have helped -guess there is no money in it when treatment ends for a private hospital.
primek
Member
8 years ago
@sister many more trips for me in next 5 years so we might catch up in the future. He was brilliant at planning appointments to avoid too much travelling. I live in Broken Hill..so 500k. He planned surgery detail with that in mind. A considerate Dr. Got all my body scans and oncology reviews done whilst seeing him. I was abke to have chemo here but remain with same team.
Sister
Member
8 years ago
Thanks, @Janny54
Janny54
Member
8 years ago
@sister. I too have Dr Kollias as my surgeon. He is a lovely man. The plan that he put into place for me in March last year took away a lot of the worry. He arranged Oncologist and Radiation specialist. There rooms called me to set up the first appointments. So I didn't have that dread of making the phone call. Which is good for me cos I tend to put things like that off.
I finished treatment on the 1st December and am just getting over the Radiation Burns.
Trust Dr Kollias. Good Luck on Monday xxxx
JanineG
Member
8 years ago
@sister well done for venting your stress and frustration. Perfect place to do it. Many examples of 'shit bum fuck' seem to exist in many of our worlds nowadays. Swearing seems quite therapeutic I find now lol. @Afraser I like your reminder about the end game thankyou. All the best @sister I hope things are better and easier than you imagine. Much strength Janine xo
Sister
Member
8 years ago
@primek I thought I'd seen on one of your posts that your surgeon is Dr Kollias. I'm happy to have him as my surgeon. It's a shame about the boob - he's done a fantastic job of the partial as I can barely see a difference and the scar is so neat (and attractive if you can say that about a scar!) and now it's going. I'm seeing him at St Andrews. We were just about to cancel our health insurance due to the cost when this happened so I'm trying to use it when it doesn't mean I have to pay big gaps. I would suggest meeting but I live outside of the city and I know I won't be able to drive safely by then if my recent surgery is anything to go by.
There must be something about the 18th - it keeps cropping up for people I know.
As for the RAH, despite what people are saying (and I do believe there's some teething problems), it's gorgeous! My father-in-law was in there for a couple of weeks recently and the rooms are like good hotel rooms. And it's spectacular at night when you drive passed!
Good luck on the 18th - hope all goes well. Gaye