DCIS and Mastectomy

Wow. I now realise how lucky I am with medical care - as I was diagnosed on 30 May 2011 and I had surgery for a mastectomy 9 June 2011 and i thougth that was too fast!! My surgeon was fantastic. I used my health fund, a private patient in a public hospital and i had no out of pocket costs. The hospital even waived the excess. It amazes me that we don't all have the same access to great medical help. Although I've been told my cancer was very 'polite' - it was taken very seriously. I live in Wollongong and was lucky enough that the hospital had a cancer clinic where i had my radiotherapy. I chose to have my chemo in the private rooms of my oncologist. Hope you get in soon Tina. Fingers crossed xx

Hi Kelly,  I am also 41 and found out 2 days ago I have DCIS, intermediate early stage breast cancer.  Whilst i have private insurance the out of pocket expenses are way over our heads so I'm going down the public option.  I live at the Gold Coast and have been told they are great but when i phoned yesterday to ask about wait times they told me they have over 500 referrals a day and it could be weeks before they get to it even though it was an urgent referral with a recommendation i have surgery within 4 weeks.  My doctor has now resent the referral and also phoned them so I'm hoping to get an appointment soon.  I just want the damn thing out.  Please keep posting your progress as I really dont know anyone in my area that is going through the same thing and I'm also overwhelmed and a bit dazed by it all.  take care xx

Annie and tonya said such supportive and encourging words theres nothing more i can add other than to say I too had a mastectomy June 2011 and u do get used to it tho I don't think u ever like it. I agree im not very confident naked anymoreI've considered recon but don't think I'm ready yet. Tho I've just turned 32 so it may b a good idea as I'm still pretty young. I fear what it will look and feel like. Photos the surgeons show me just aren't enough. Good luck with it all Kelly. Stay strong. ull b fine ;-)

Annie and tonya said such supportive and encourging words theres nothing more i can add other than to say I too had a mastectomy June 2011 and u do get used to it tho I don't think u ever like it. I agree im not very confident naked anymoreI've considered recon but don't think I'm ready yet. Tho I've just turned 32 so it may b a good idea as I'm still pretty young. I fear what it will look and feel like. Photos the surgeons show me just aren't enough. Good luck with it all Kelly. Stay strong. ull b fine ;-)

Thanks Annie and Tonya, your words have made me feel better.  It's definately a club I didn't want to join but now that I have, it is nice to know there is so much support out there.  I am confident that mastectomy is the right thing and as my partner says, I am still me and I will be well.  Big hugs back.

Kelly

Welcome to the club you dont want to join. You dont know it yet but you have thousands of ladies here ready to help you through this. We have all had a turn on the rollercoaster, some with more highs and lows than others.

I was one of the lucky ones, DCIS in one breast, had it off, went back and had the other off and had a double reconstruction. I wasnt going to have a reconstruction at the start but after 12 months decided to.

From now on its best to take someone with you to the doctors and they will be your ears and remember what is said at meetings. Write down questions that you want to ask. Once you have a plan in place its a little easier. try not to get too far ahead of the game, take it a week at a time.

We all have different breast cancers and we all cope in different ways. No matter what we will support you, even when you are rambling LOL.  Be patient, be good to yourself, take a breath and hug your kids. You will be OK its just very scary. Big Hug,

annie

Welcome to the club you dont want to join. You dont know it yet but you have thousands of ladies here ready to help you through this. We have all had a turn on the rollercoaster, some with more highs and lows than others.

I was one of the lucky ones, DCIS in one breast, had it off, went back and had the other off and had a double reconstruction. I wasnt going to have a reconstruction at the start but after 12 months decided to.

From now on its best to take someone with you to the doctors and they will be your ears and remember what is said at meetings. Write down questions that you want to ask. Once you have a plan in place its a little easier. try not to get too far ahead of the game, take it a week at a time.

We all have different breast cancers and we all cope in different ways. No matter what we will support you, even when you are rambling LOL.  Be patient, be good to yourself, take a breath and hug your kids. You will be OK its just very scary. Big Hug,

annie

I had a lumpectomy,full node clearance and radiation back in 2003-clear margins.But the cancer came back in the same breast(left)same spot 7 years later.So I had to have a mastectomy.Recovery from either operation is the same. Obviously,it is more confronting to lose the whole breast but I was surprisingly ok when the nurse took the dressing off.I'm a c cup and wear a prosthesis which once I'm dressed,I forget about. My husband is fine but I admit I don't do"naked"anymore. In hindsight,I should have had a mastectomy in the first place because now I have limited reconstruction choices due to the radiation.I'm still not sure if I'll do recon.I have adjusted to having one boob but it doesn't mean I like it or want to flash it.I was just so  relieved the cancer was gone and it hadn't spread.You will be ok and adjust in time.Please blog back for support or if you have any questions.

                                     Tonya xx