I had a breast screen in mid June and by the 2nd July my right breast was removed. I would like to talk to someone in a similar position. I am 59, married, 2 children and 3 grandchildren and I live in Brisbane. I can't find any groups near my postcode.

Hi Lyn ... welcome to your new "extended family" ... one of BCNA's many purposes is to bring women together from all over the country to support each other through these fourms, groups and discussion b logs. I am in a similar position to yours' ..... I am 62, was diagnosed in January 2010 and had my right breast removed two weeks later. I had the choice between a complet breast and lymph node removal or a lumpectomy and some of the nodes. I opted for the former ... at my age breasts were not a necessity and the odds of reoccurrance were extremly slim. I must add that this was the right decision for me and my not be right for everyone. I am in a great relationship with a very supporting partner with 2 children, 5 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. My son and daughter and their families are in Perth and Darwin but their support through phone calls and e.mails was great. I live in a very small country town in western NSW so the people I am involved with on a daily basis (RSL Ladies, Tai Chi group, swimming group, my local pub and my partner's family) were my support group - not neglecting my wonderful Breast Care nurse and the Sunraysia Cancer Resource Centre. Let me know whereabouts in Brisbane you are living ..... I'll do a bit of digging around and see what I can find. I've "clicked" to add you to my contacts ... so thats a start LoL !!! In the meantime keep your chin up and stay positive!!! Logging on here is a step in the right direction - you will be able to chat with many women in the same position as yourself ... we may not be next door but we will support you every step of the way. Take care ..... Cheers .. Shirl xx

my diagnosis was the same as yours...I was given the option and I chose mastectomy. A part of me is regretting that decision now. Should I have had both removed? I am so lop sided and my prosthesis is so heavy. I would rather go without anything but it is so noticeable as I am/was quite curvy! Thank you for replying. I don't know who else to talk too even though I have a loving husband. He wouldn't understand and would think I was being silly

Hi again Lyn ..... I guess when the big question comes up - one or two - it would depend on why? Was there a chance that it may have travelled "next door", or did you have the heireditary gene. I know that when I have my 12mth mamo and ultrasound probably in Dec, if there's a hint that there could be anything there I'll be saying "get rid of it", but that's me!! I still haven't put any kind of bra on yet - a couple of reasons:- I have put on weight so to wear a bra would make my spare tyre bigger than my boobs. Secondly I was never blessed with big boobs so the fact that I am braless is not even noticable. Hopefully the weight will come off over summer when I am out and about doing more exercising than I am at the moment (which wouldn't have to be much). Now I'm going to be a bit strict here - a bit of a bossy boots!!!!!!! Have you spoken to your husband about this or are you just assuming he wouldn't understand? if you haven't mentioned it, think of this ..... he can't read your mind (we wouldn't really want them too would we?) so it's up to you to bring the subject up! Some men can be a bit clueless at time so you may have to use little words and short sentances.... don't mind me, I have a rather strange sense of humour at times!!! Will you let me know which area of Brisbane you are in so I can hunt around and find a group close to where you are. It's great that we chat here, but we can't do it over a cuppa and have general girlie talks on the computer. Chat again soon ..... as often as you would like to Cheers ... Shirl

I am in Bray Park, north Brisbane. How can you be not noticeable. One half of me points ahead and the other one points inwards. It is very noticeable. I have put on wait as well but I am hoping to lose a bit of that. My left one was clear but the cancer could still appear there. I wopuld have it removed immediately. It doesn't scare me but the deformity does. Also the cancer coming back is a worry. I am sorry if it sounds like I am a moaner but really I'm not. I'm very proud of the fact that I was out of the hospital the next morning and back at work by the end of the week. Thanks for 'listening', Lyn

Lyn, I don't think you are a moaner .... quite the opposite. It is a normal reaction to be frightened and uncertain - none of us knows what the future holds and we all go through the what-ifs and the maybees ... we would be totally devoid of feelings if we didn't run through this gauntlet of emotions. From my own experience I doubt if I would have been able to be out the next day and back at work a week later. I was fine the next day in the hospital but stil needed my "nanny nap" after lunch. Actually the staff insisted on rest time as they closed the wards to visitors. I was kept in hospital for 10 days as the surgeon wanted to have the path results before he let me go home. I might add I have no private cover and this was in a public hospital. These are personal questions, don't answer if you don't want to and tell me to mind my own business if you want to. Was it by choice or by necessity that you were discharged and returned to work so soon? Did you have follow up consults with your breast care nurse and/or your GP and your surgeon? Did you receive your BCNA "My Journey" kit and also your"My Care" kit with a bra sponsored by Berlie? Have you interests outside home and work - clubs, sporting groups, social groups? As I said, I'm not being nosey (just a natural born stickybeak) bus these are the things we'd be chatting about over a cuppa. Come and chat any time Cheers ... Shirl

fellowship | BCNA Online Network

12 Replies

Lyn11
Member
15 years ago
my diagnosis was the same as yours...I was given the option and I chose mastectomy. A part of me is regretting that decision now. Should I have had both removed? I am so lop sided and my prosthesis is so heavy. I would rather go without anything but it is so noticeable as I am/was quite curvy!

Thank you for replying. I don't know who else to talk too even though I have a loving husband. He wouldn't understand and would think I was being silly
ShirlO
Member
15 years ago
Hi Lyn ... welcome to your new "extended family" ... one of BCNA's many purposes is to bring women together from all over the country to support each other through these fourms, groups and discussion b logs.

I am in a similar position to yours' ..... I am 62, was diagnosed in January 2010 and had my right breast removed two weeks later. I had the choice between a complet breast and lymph node removal or a lumpectomy and some of the nodes. I opted for the former ... at my age breasts were not a necessity and the odds of reoccurrance were extremly slim. I must add that this was the right decision for me and my not be right for everyone.

I am in a great relationship with a very supporting partner with 2 children, 5 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. My son and daughter and their families are in Perth and Darwin but their support through phone calls and e.mails was great.

I live in a very small country town in western NSW so the people I am involved with on a daily basis (RSL Ladies, Tai Chi group, swimming group, my local pub and my partner's family) were my support group - not neglecting my wonderful Breast Care nurse and the Sunraysia Cancer Resource Centre.

Let me know whereabouts in Brisbane you are living ..... I'll do a bit of digging around and see what I can find.

I've "clicked" to add you to my contacts ... so thats a start LoL !!!

In the meantime keep your chin up and stay positive!!! Logging on here is a step in the right direction - you will be able to chat with many women in the same position as yourself ... we may not be next door but we will support you every step of the way.

Take care .....

Cheers .. Shirl xx

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