Do I stay or do I go?
Not your average post. Originally a backpacker from the UK, been in Aus 5 years and have moved onto a work sponsorship visa with my employer. I live in a very remote area and it is a 4 hour flight to my nearest 'treatment centre'. Two weeks ago it was confirmed (via biopsy) that in my left breast I have a 2mm invasive mass, and 10cm of non invasive DCIS. I had a contrast mamo and PET scan (no result yet) and scheduled for an MRI on the 6th June, and appointment with the surgeon to discuss options on the 10th June. My breast dr said the surgeon will recommend a mastectomy due to the large area of DCIS. Possibly chemo, radio and hormone therapy. They are also talking about what I want to do with my eggs. I am so scared, and I am not sleeping. I am only 34 years old without children. I don't know what to do, do I stay here in Australia and undergo the treatment recommended and stay near the hospital with the mother of a friend (who has also had breast cancer and has said she is more than happy to support me through required treatment). I love my life here that I have built over the past 5 years, and I love my job. I am scared I will lose my job with the next few months of treatment coming up (very little can be done remotely), my visa is tied to my job. I may get deported mid way through treatment? I dont know? I know I should speak to an immigration lawyer but I am already inundated with administration from cancer. My family back home are very supportive and will support whichever decision I make. They and I am also wary of the health care system back at home (which isn't in great shape). If I go home, I will take all my diagnosis letters and scans, but I will still have to start this process again from the start and basically be told twice I have cancer and they want to chop my breast off. I wont be able to get a job due to appointments and treatment, and wont be entitled to benefits as I haven't paid tax in my home country for 5 years. Its not just cancer anymore, I am not scared of the cancer as such as my whole life here being ripped away from under my feet. Sorry for the long post. I just don't know what to do for the best. Either way, I need to stay here until I have the full picture and know what the surgeon wants to do.
? Chemotherapy
Please HELP!! Hi everyone, i am 45 years old and i have recently been diagnosed with; ER positive Ki-67 positive Tumour size 12mm Toumour has been surgically removed 6 weeks ago with clear margins from right breast. Tumour grade 3 2 x Negative nodes I was told that i need radiation therapy and endocrine therapy. But i was given the option to decide if i want to have chemo as well! I am really struggling with making this decision whether i should have chemotherapy or not. Or do i just do Radiation and endocrine therapy. I was wandering if anyone has been in similar situation as me and how did they decide on treatment plan?
Newly diagnosed - Triple Negative - Chemo underway - Family history
Hi everyone, Well this is the group you really don't want to join, but it appears to be a great resource and source of support, so here goes. I was diagnosed with a triple negative tumour in my left breast on 9th May (grade 3), following a biopsy. I count myself lucky in that I have been part of a High Risk Breast Cancer Clinic at RNS Hospital since 2018, when I found I had the BRCA2 gene mutation. I have a strong family history of breast cancer, with my father having breast cancer at 64 and ultimately passing away at 68 from secondary cancers (way too early - he thought he could massage away the lump). His mother had breast cancer as well and my mother had ductal breast cancer in her 70's. So the annual mammograms, MRIs and ultrasounds since 2018 may have been a nuisance, but they picked up this cancer. I knew something was up when they did the mammogram and kept on calling me back into change again for another scan and then bringing forward the ultrasound appointment, where they did the biopsy. I am going to remember the call I received from the breast specialist's office saying that I needed to come and see the specialist "today" - no delay. I burst into tears and knew straightaway. I'm ahead of my parents in having been diagnosed at 59 - thinking of postponing my big family celebration weekend away in late July until after all this! Quickly into an oncologist and the treatment plan set up within a week. Because of the triple negative category, I'm starting with 6 months of chemo - first 3 months weekly sessions of Pembrolizumab ('the' new immunotherapy drug my oncologist says has only been approved in the last few months), Paclitaxel and Carboplatin - then 3 months of 3 weekly cycles of Pembro, Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide. Following that, they hope the tumour will have shrunk and they will then do surgery to remove the remainder - with the decision then on a lumpectomy or mastectomy. Radiation is a possibility after that. My twin sister (same genes of course) had a double mastectomy as soon as she found out we had the BRCA2 gene in 2018 and her initial reaction was to 'get them off' - but I'm following the treatment plan suggested - and I think a bit grateful I don't need to make that decision yet. I am down 2 weeks of chemo. The side effects I've experienced so far are the usual fatigue (have been trying to work in mornings, but I'm quickly realising that's even hard), inability to sleep the first few nights (the steroids I understand), yukky mouth sensation, slight nausea in morning with cooking smells, some slight rash spots on face - and the worst, the bloating/constipation (I won't share the details but I'm quickly realising I need to change up diet and liquids). I don't have any great questions just yet, but look forward to interacting with you all in the future and thank you in anticipation. Sorry for the essay. KathyTriple Negative diagnosis - Mindset challenges
Moderator moved @Andrea_S post from activity section to the main discussion forum: Hi everyone! My name is Andrea. I got diagnosed late November with TNBC, and I’m 6 weeks into chemo and immunotherapy. I’m 47 with two kids - 15 & 13. My side effects haven’t been too bad so far. Lost my hair and taste. My biggest hurdle is my own mindset especially when I have to go in for a long treatment. At this rate I go every Monday for differing hours but I really really dread having to lie there for hours. Music is the only thing that’s seems to help. Plus some meds to help me sleep a little worked. Thanks for letting me share. I look forward to hearing what others are going through. ❤️Recently diagnosed
Hi all I am new here and while would have preferred not to know about this network, I have found comfort and such helpful advice in the My Journey resources and these posts. I am a 64YO wife, mother and Nanna who loves my job caring for young people. I was diagnosed with TNBC on 20 July, following a mammogram. The shock was just overwhelming. I have found the negative overthinking and anxiety levels very difficult and something that took significant effort to keep in check. I had surgery 4 August and am due to start chemo in 10 days. I am hoping to be able to keeping working during chemo🤞 on some level, so would love to hear any advice or hints around this and preparing for chemo. Take care and thanks for posting your stories and taking the time to read my post 🌸
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.
Finally diagnosed triple negative metaplastic bc
Hi, l'm fufan, and new to the site. In May I found a lump. By September, after two ultrasounds, a mammogram and a core biopsy, I was told it was probably nothing to worry about. In November, still with a lump, I returned to the GP who sent me to a surgeon just to be sure. Then quickly followed a lumpectomy and a diagnosis of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. Because I have an implanted neurostimulator for back pain, I was unable to have an MRI. PET and CT scans indicated no spread beyond the breast. Next a mastectomy and a new diagnosis of triple negative metaplastic breast cancer. It was then decided not to touch the lymph nodes, but move straight on to TC chemo. This is scheduled for 17 February. Meanwhile, my mastectomy wound is resisting healing and the surgeon has put me on antibiotics which inevitably have brought me thrush! I’m over it, and my journey has hardly begun! I would particularly like to hear from anyone who has had metaplastic bc: I know it’s rare, and I can’t find much support Also, there seems little written here about COVID-19 infection. Are you all isolating or what? I’m vaccinated and boosted, but very reluctant to venture into the community while undergoing chemo. What do you think?
Triple Negative breast cancer diagnosis
Hi, I have found out this morning that I have triple negative breast cancer. My Chemo starts tomorrow and I am overwhelmed with saddness and aprehension of what lies ahead in my future. It will be 2 weeks tomorrow since I had the scan. My whole world has been turned upside down.
Triple negative breast cancer
Hi, I’m 34 and just been diagnosed with Triple-negative breast cancer. It hit me hard as I have 2 small children 3 and 9 months and had to stop breast feeding instantly and have a lumpectomy n sentinel node resection. I’m very thankful I’m stage 1, so far lymph nodes r clear but get final results next week. Was a grade 3 tumour that I caught early. I’m looking at chemo, genetic testing and double mastectomy or radiation but thinking of the mastectomy. Just needing info on chemo for this type and how your effected by it? Will I get very sick and loose my hair? How fast do you recover between cycles? I’m in a bad dream that I can’t wake from! Has anyone had this and not had chemo? thanks guys x
Getting ready for Chemo, any advice?
Hi beautiful women, I’m new here, I’m a 33yo mum with 3 kids, recently diagnosed with hormone +, stage 3, grade 3. Had a double mastectomy and lymph nodes removed on the 30/3, going to see the oncologist next week and start Chemo. Would love some advice on preparing for this, recovery from surgery has been hard but chemo is more daunting to me...
