Choosing a surgeon (Melb) -New diagnosis overwhelm
Hi there, Im 49 and had my first routine mammogram in September- no family history or symptoms. They discovered calcifications, had a biopsy then 5 days ago I was told I had breast cancer. Stage 2-3 6cm aggressive.That’s all I can remember to be honest as I was in so much shock. Got referred to my GP in the afternoon and had to get referrals to a surgeon. With no time to think and still in shock our GP recommended Dr Sarah Kemp at Cabrini Malvern and a friend (and gp) recommended Dr. Melanie Walker at the Epworth in Richmond. It was so overwhelming and fast. Im someone who can’t make even the smallest of decisions eg what shoes to wear in the morning! lol We have met one surgeon as they had an apt the next morning. Do I meet the other as well? Keen to know is anyone had experiences with these breast surgeons and their team? How do I choose? Any advice would be very much appreciated. Feeling very overwhelmed and stressed! also worried about work and finances… I guess that’s another question!
DCIS Diagnosis (Breast Cancer 8yrs ago)
Moderator moved @cancer_warrior62 post from 'Activity' section to dedicated post in 'Newly Diagnosed': cancer_warrior62 Don’t know if this is the right place for this but I’m struggling each day as it gets closer to my surgery date. I had breast cancer 8 years ago, stage 2 her2 positive had a lumpectomy, did chemo- radiation- Herceptin and 5 years on Tamoxifen, then end of May this year at my routine mammogram they found I had cancer again in the same breast this time it’s DCIS but next week I’m booked in for a Double Mastectomy. It’s hit me harder this time round and I’m crying at the slightest thing even though I’m trying to stay as positive as possible and also joking around with family to lighten the mood about it but anything could trigger me off. I’m always wondering what I’ll look like after as I’m not going to do a reconstruction. I may later down the track in a few years depending how I feel and it’s too much for me to go through. Any advice would be appreciated.
Another sister reporting for duty
Hi all I’m Linda, a 54 yo from the Barossa Valley in SA, a wife, mother to 5 humans and 1 furkid, a lover of all things Disney & Robbie Williams and living with a fairly new diagnosis of DCIS. Historically, I’ve had 3 lumpectomies previously between 2003-2015 and been having regular mammograms since. In late January 2024 I had my 2-yearly mammogram, no symptoms although I did tell my husband I had a bad feeling on the day. Four weeks later I got a call from BreastScreen SA asking me to come in for further testing on an area that looked a little abnormal but likely to be benign calcification. The following week I attended my appointment and had further mammograms, an ultrasound and a very uncomfortable core-biopsy. Two days later I attended the results clinic with my husband where we were told the pathology came back malignant and I had Grade 3 DCIS. It was not what I expected to hear. Within 24 hours I’d seen my GP for a referral, seen a private Breast Surgeon and had a date for surgery (hookwire and wide local excision). Surgery was done on 08/03/2024. Side note - I’m a Clinical Nurse and a very empathetic, supportive and caring person who has cared for many patients in my career including providing palliative care to a dying friend so he could die at home in the arms of his wife. I’m also resilient when required but make no mistakes, I am a hot mess right now. I’m a practical person who likes facts, likes organisation and control of my life so this waiting period between surgery and my post-op appointment (scheduled 22/03/2024) with my surgeon to get my pathology results is challenging me, draining me and playing merry hell with my emotions. Although I don’t know what I’m dealing with until I receive the pathology results and I appreciate there are such worse BC diagnoses than mine, so I sincerely hope I’m not offending anyone else, but I can’t help but question my mortality. What is wrong with me? Working in the Theatre sector as a Clinical Nurse gives me the advantage of knowing inside information on which health practitioners are considered top of their industry. So I know I chose a great Breast Surgeon but my over-active mind is wondering why he hasn’t done a CT scan, PET scan or bone scan to check me out thoroughly. I’ve had no blood work done. I lost 25kg in 3 months late last year which was attributed to an IBS diagnosis, but what if it’s related to my cancer? I have no family history due to being adopted. I reached out to the local McGrath Breast Nurse several days before surgery and was told I’d get a house visit my first week home - that was last week and I’ve heard nothing. No follow-up call, nothing. I know it’s only DCIS but I’m screaming out for support and I can’t talk to my friends about this - it’s just repetitive and often a very draining conversation. Sadly, I have a very fractured relationship with my mum so am getting next to no support or acknowledgment from her so it’s just all a bit heavy and dark for me at the moment. What I’d give for an “I love you” from my mum! I’m guessing that come Friday that I may start to feel a little less lost and vulnerable as at least decisions can be considered once the pathology is known. Am I right? All of this is overwhelming as heck to me and I’m not sure what I should be asking at my appointment on Friday. You don’t know what you don’t know!! So any guidance is gratefully received. In closing, I’m sending each and every soul the squeeziest of hugs and best wishes for a positive day. Thanks for reading my blurb! Linda xx :(
Newly diagnosed - double mastectomy
Hello everyone, I'm new on here and sending hugs as we all need them <3. Firstly I am not great on computers but have read the helpful notes about posting so here goes. I had a recall from my mammogram and as this had happened before I was not really worried and thought it would be a false alarm. Then when being examined I was told that I needed a core biopsy and again I thought that they would find nothing and it would be ok. It wasn't ok and I went to our local breast clinic where I was told I had DCIS. As this was precancerous I thought this would not be too much of a worry. I was told I would need a lumpectomy and five weeks ago had the operation. Small scar not too bad, hoped that was that. No, I got a call from the surgeon the following Tuesday to say that they had found cancer in the margins and had not taken enough out and so wanted to operate again in 3 days, opening up the same scar but making it larger to get it all out. Well to cut a long story short, the lab result from the second lumpectomy threw up something "unexpected" which means that the only sure way to get rid of the cancer is to do a double mastectomy as the other breast is probably a timebomb too. Still reeling from the shock of it all to be honest and feel like I am in some parallel world where I am in a nightmare but everything else is normal. I am dreading the mastectomy but also know it's the best thing to do. It's all a bit of a whirlwind isn't it and trying to be brave and positive to family. I am going to watch the BCNA Webcast this coming Wednesday (the kids have explained what it is) which I think will be very helpful. Thank you for reading and I'm glad this online meeting place exists.
Take 1 or Take 2 breasts
Newly diagnosed with DCIS. Surgery scheduled for the right breast. Conflicted over whether to take the left as well. Will the difference in look and feel be a substantial mental health element? Will the risk of getting it in the left be a significant health concern that will dog at me? The ongoing checking for the left .... Or is this over treatment?37 year old - just diagnosed
Hi ladies, I have been diagnosed with early stage, grade 2, DCIS in early January (ER+, PR+ and HER2 negative). Since then I had lumpectomy with clear margins and sentinel node biopsy. Sentinel node biopsy found a tiny speck of cancer cell (less that 0.5 mm) and oncologist is pretty sure it did not spread anywhere else and they call it micro metastasis. I have done CT scan and bone scan just in case which are all clear. I was expecting radiotherapy and hormone replacement therapy as a treatment as mentioned by my surgeon. I was totally shocked to find out that oncologist is recommending invasive chemotherapy as a treatment (i believe it is called AC chemo). I am totally scared and petrified and can not come to terms with chemo. Just thinking about it makes me go into panic mode. I have seen another oncologist for a second opinion and he also suggests chemo as a treatment for me purely based on my age and the other indicators which are kind of on border line. I have just ordered Prosigna test as recommended by oncologist. Just waiting for results it's making me so nervous. I have two kids aged 8 and 4 and don't know how am I going to go through chemo if I have to (i know it is totally up to me). Wondering is there any ladies with similar age and in similar position and what is your opinion on chemo? Like I mentioned I am totally petrified of chemo and how would my body handle it. I am very skinny person and don't believe I would handle chemo good. Even breast care nurse told me I am too skinny for chemo and to try to eat up in case I decide to do it. Any experiences shared would be greatly appreciated.
