Thankfully I know more this time.
So, 7 and a bit years after a Stage 3 E+ PR+ breast cancer diagnosis in the left breast, I am facing some changes in the right breast. Picked up in yearly mammogram/ultrasound. Nobody has suggested it is cancer just yet but given my history I am booked in for a core biopsy next Monday. I am very clear in my head about what this means for me. I have been happy with my choice of single mastectomy for the last 7 years but am not about to take any chances with the remaining breast. Regardless of the results of the biopsy, it’s days are numbered. Monitoring changes in a very dense breast is not what I want. Having had a mastectomy I am quite ok about having a second one, especially if that is all I need. The changes are new since my mammogram and ultrasound last year. Just goes to show that keeping up our regular checks is sooo important, even in our current Covid 19 world. Very reassured by the excellent treatment of my situation by the staff at the Radiology facility this morning. I was treated respectfully and everything was clearly explained right then and there. As you can imagine though, I am finding it hard to concentrate on anything else at the moment. Will be glad when the biopsy is done and we have the results. But I am sure that a mastectomy is what I want regardless.
Struggling
Hi ladies, away with my family spending some quality time but last 24 hours been so emotional and stressed, was diagnosed with TNBC early Dec, having 4 rounds of chemo, 16 rounds of taxol and then surgery - unsure at this stage what surgery as having genetic testing in a couple of weeks to see if I am a carrier for bracca 1/2. I had my first chemo 31st Dec, all went ok and other than first day where I had severe nausea that night the next 5 days I was just really exhausted - going into my 2nd post treatment i seem to be going ok. The thing is, the last 24 hours there is a burning pain in my tight breast and it’s sore and right arm aches - I had a needle biopsy the day before my chemo as ct showed a lesion in breast node so it is just over a week ago now and the side of my breast got really bruised and where they stuck the anaesthetic to numb the area still feels tingly and swollen, my husband says when he was looking at the ultrasound and needle was going in she was really pushing hard to grab the samples and they stuck 3 needles in to get enough, results came back fine and was benign so was a relief but I am stressing as it’s really sore still- has anyone had similar experiences with biopsies as all I can think is that this terrible diesels has spread even though my Scans mid Dec were clear. also I wonder if chemo is working and I know I am being stupid as I have only had 1 session and everyone is different but reading the side affects like hair falling out before 2nd cycle ( I am having a few strands come out only, more like malting but not much) nails going black, mine are fine at the moment, it’s not like I want these things but physiologically I feel if these things start to happen chemo is working - it’s such a mind f**k. sorry for the long winded post but just needed to release xx
New Blood test (hopefully soon) that does away with biopsy!
This popped up in my news feed this morning - being developed by Queensland University! It seems that cancer DNA binds with gold molecules ..... identifying cancer in the blood with out the need for invasive and painful Biopsies! Abu Sina Research Fellow, The University of Queensland Laura G. Carrascosa Postdoctoral Research Fellow, The University of Queensland Matt Trau Professor, The University of Queensland Hopefully they kick off human trials soon ..... and made available to everyone Read all about it here: https://theconversation.com/one-test-to-diagnose-them-all-researchers-exploit-cancers-unique-dna-signature-108078
Waiting for results
Hi all....happy I found this place to share and learn :) Sooo....I had the re-call after mammogram. No lump as such, just little white area on mammogram. Visit to Breast Clinic for more mammograms and ultrasound. Results showed suspicious 7mm papillery lesion so had 7 core needle biopsies taken. No actual cancerous cells in core biopsies, but as there was also mucin? fluid found with extravasation, which apparently can also be in cancerous lesions, they wanted to take out whole area to be sure. Had surgical biopsy done last Friday, go back for final results on the 31st October. Resting up off work this week and although sore as expected, getting easier each day. Thank goodness I have Netflix! Finding this the hardest part, waiting....wondering which rabbit hole, if any, I’ll be going down next :/
On the roller coaster
Hi everyone. Waiting for my biopsy results. Left breast with one huge 6cm and few smaller ones. Ultrasound showed no lymph nodes affected. So as I’m trying to prepare. I am in NT and would like to know about your breast surgeons etc. I’m thinking of travelling interstate for the surgery. My reason is our public hospital made a huge error with my colleague. The path results showed she had reoccurring bc and they booked her in for mastectomy. Only to find out 2 weeks later there was no bc and she did not need the mastectomy and their pathology made the mistake. So having said that you can imagine my gut is saying no, no to the hospital and all it’s bc staff. If you’re comfortable to share your experience and surgeon info etc, is really appreciate that. Putting it blunt, I don’t have control of the lumps but at least I can have control of choosing the hospital and surgeon. Thanks. Would love to hear your thoughts.
2nd operation DCIS
Hi all, Was diagnosed in Feb this year with high grade DCIS, 3 small tumours. Lumpectomy 3 weeks ago. Pathology report came up with not clean edges. The surgeon said I have two options, do another re-excision with most likely radiotherapy and endocrine therapy, or mastectomy. I have a family history of breast cancer. Has anyone been through this desición before? What was your experience like? outcomes? Thanks for sharing
Newly diagnosed, WLX / Lumpectomy - What's next ...
I had my routine MG at BreastScreen in mid-Nov 2022, and got called back to do further MG, US and biopsy after 2 weeks. On 8/12/2022 got told I'd got breast cancer ER+, PR+, HER2 pending. BreastScreen had also arranged my initial Oncology appointment in the public sector in a week time, and told me that my surgery would likely be in early Jan. Everything happening so fast, surgery for WLX (lumpectomy) and SLNB (3 nodes) was done on 5/1/2023. And result got back in 2 week time. It is breast cancer NST (15mm), Stage 1, Grade 2, -ve on all sentinel nodes, ER+/PR+/HER2-. In the post surgery visit, the registrar told me that I will have radiotherapy and hormone therapy. As for chemo, he told me that although it is HER2- and -ve on sentinel nodes, all the cases he'd seen for my age group would also have chemo. I'm thankful that all my treatment so far seems to be in a timely manner although I'm in the public system. But at the same time it's kind of in the dark and I can only see and make one or two weeks plan as I would have no idea when my next treatment starts, and for how long. My first radiation oncology appointment will be tomorrow and I still have not much clues in what should I ask. The medical oncology one is in March. So I guess, in between time I'll be occupied by radiotherapy. It always puzzle me that I hadn't do any CT / PET scan to check if any cancer got to other part of my body. Should I rely on the -ve sentinel nodes result? Or is it the public practice that they won't do the CT / PET scan if sentinel nodes are clear? Or should I ask for it? Who should I have it check out with? Although I've got told that my case is handled by the multidisciplinary team, but I only get to see each specialist one at a time, when one specialist had finished his/her work then move on to the next.
