Forum Discussion
The Ripple Effect
My diagnosis, from a routine mammogram rather than finding a lump, has caused several of my friends in their 40s & 50s to have a mammogram themselves . Has this happened to anyone else?
My best friend, the one to whom I tell all the things, and my partner in my India endeavours, got a call back 10 days ago. 10 days of being on tenterhooks, 10 days of that sick feeling I know you all know.
She went to the clinic (in Perth) yesterday. Mammogram, ultrasound. They found two lumps. Biopsy. I had to wait a week for my biopsy results, my friend just 24 hours.
Benign. Both gloriously benign! I feel so insanely happy it's almost as if I've had a phone call to say my diagnosis has been a horrible mistake! Mind you, I'd be mighty pissed off about the chemo...
I wanted to share this joy. I haven't smiled much over last four months but I've been grinning all afternoon! :) <3 :)
My best friend, the one to whom I tell all the things, and my partner in my India endeavours, got a call back 10 days ago. 10 days of being on tenterhooks, 10 days of that sick feeling I know you all know.
She went to the clinic (in Perth) yesterday. Mammogram, ultrasound. They found two lumps. Biopsy. I had to wait a week for my biopsy results, my friend just 24 hours.
Benign. Both gloriously benign! I feel so insanely happy it's almost as if I've had a phone call to say my diagnosis has been a horrible mistake! Mind you, I'd be mighty pissed off about the chemo...
I wanted to share this joy. I haven't smiled much over last four months but I've been grinning all afternoon! :) <3 :)
21 Replies
- @sister So good
- I'm still amazed that I seemed to do it at just the right time for it to be found
- It's understandable but nuts eh @sister. I'd put mine off for a year but screwed my courage to the sticking place and did it. Thank goodness. My tumour was so deep, who knows how far gone I'd be before I was able to notice it.
- What a good idea @Rosie_BCNA. I've seen the egg carton of lemons around a lot. I think it's a striking image that delivers the message well.
I was sitting next to a lady while I was waiting for a prescription in the chemist today. She spotted my baldy head and cap and struck up conversation as she had the same head. Lobular 14 years ago. Recurrence, in her bones. She was quite cheerful and we talked chemo, treatments, her coulda woulda shouda regrets of her first treatment. It was such a thoughtful & touching conversation. I didn't know much about metastatic breast cancer before I came on this forum, despite my sister's experience (she kept much of her treatment private). The more people know and understand the better. More power to your elbow! - I do wish more of my friends would make their appointments. I think they're all too scared.
- Thank you @iserbrown and @Rosie_BCNA
- That is great news @kmakm
- Great news @kmakm! @Afraser and @iserbrown you may be interested to know BCNA has been working on a project with the designer of the know your lemons campaign. Corrine has designed a Communications Toolkit for people with newly diagnosed metastatic breast cancer using the metaphor of a dandelion. BCNA has partnered with Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance (MBCA) to adapt the toolkit for the Australian setting and it will soon be piloted in Australia. We will keep you posted with further details. Rosie
- Great news! What a relief for you and your friend. I found my lump when I did a stretching movement for my bad back (gardening) and decided to feel my stretched breast whilst I was at it. I'm telling everyone to check their breasts now. It was pure chance I found it when I did.
