So ... I received a Breastscreen NSW reminder for my 2 yearly mammogram!
Who else has received their Mammogram Reminder after being diagnosed & treated? Last week, I was a bit surprised to receive a reminder to have my 2 yearly mammogram as I thought there might be some sort of communication between the various health professionals & the organisation .... then again - why WOULD they know about my ILC BC? So far, I've received a written letter, an email & an SMS to my mobile phone - so they are really keen to get me back!! I thought a letter explaining why I wouldn't be going back would be in order. This is what I wrote. I'll let you know if I get a reply!! Hi guys, I’ve received my reminder for a mammogram, but I was diagnosed with invasive lobular cancer 6 months after my previous mammogram, which wasn’t picked up by it. There is no breast cancer (or any cancer) in my family, so this was (and still is) a real shock to me. I’ve had surgery (Jan 2018) and also radiation and am now on hormone tablets for the next 5 years+. Apparently I have dense breast tissue, but I wasn’t advised of this by Breastscreen NSW and that it would be beneficial to have an ultrasound for earlier and better detection rates. Breast Screen Western Australia advises their clients with dense breast tissue to do this. It is time for Breastscreen NSW to do the same. I will be having yearly mammograms and ultrasounds as a part of my ongoing breast cancer management, so would request that you remove my name from your reminder lists. I only hope that I am not one of the 30% who then randomly go on to develop metastasised/Stage 4 breast cancer, irrelevant of the ‘good outcome’ of my surgery, Rads and tabs. It really is a lottery. Much more research is needed in this area, to determine WHO will get Stage 4 and WHY? Tissue and bloods should be taken from all having surgery, to provide material for researchers to work with! I would be interested if a radiographer could take a closer look at my last mammograms with Breastscreen NSW in 2017 ... to see if, in hindsight, anything could be detected on them, now that we know it was there all along? It was in my right breast. What do you reckon? Not too rude??
Contrast enhanced mammography
Another year down and happily another clear scan. My surgeon said that from next year Peter Mac are doing contrast enhanced mammograms where they pop an iv in, inject the dye then take the pics. Royal Melbourne has been doing it so PM have decided to try it too. Done in conjuction with tomosynthesis it gives a far clearer picture of any early stage breast cancers that can sometimes be missed particularly if you have dense breast tissue, like me. Also it can lessen the need for further ultrasounds, MRIs and biopsies. Don't know whether anyone here has had one yet? If you want to know more there are several good sites on the net. I looked at www.breastimagingvictoria.com.au It gave a pretty good overview.
One year on. Happy anniversary to me....well kind of
One whole year since the end of radiation. Well, it was actually yesterday but, unsurprisingly, I forgot about it until today. I remember at the start when I questioned the surgeon as to how long all this was going to take he said "Well you can pretty much write off most of the next year" It seemed like such a long, long time and such a huge mountain to climb . But, as it does, time keeps on ticking and here I am. Some days it feels like only yesterday and sometimes it feels like a lifetime ago. So yee ha, heading for the two years since surgery. While fantastic it also means here comes the scanxiety again soon. GULP! Love Ya xoxoxoxo
One year post surgery
I had a lumpectomy and one node removed February 2020, node all clear and good margins taken from lumpectomy, then radiation for three weeks. I have an appointment with my oncologist in 2 weeks and saw a surgeon ( not mine, I’m public so whoever was on I suppose) in December. I had to ask him if I was going to need to have a mammogram before seeing the oncologist. Is it normal to have a mammogram one year after surgery?
Do I or don’t I ?
I am 66 yes old - 3 years post lumpectomy and radiation Each review I’ve had means painful mammograms ( due to dense breasts) and ultra sounds - finishing off with a mammogram biopsy - yes at every review ! I’ve just had my third year review with the inevitable biopsy - results came back today as negative So here I am - emotionally spent - if it was just the mammogram and u/s then I could deal with that but it’s the lonely humiliating experience of the mammogram biopsy and the wait for results - I can’t explain to anyone who has not experienced the impact of a cancer diagnosis - then treatment and the emotion that you go through during the reviews I want to focus on life not think every time there is pain - my mind starts thinking and while I can bring my mind into the now - this is taking it’s toll i want to have a mastectomy - I need to do something positive - take control of this monster and be boss of it - not it of me My daughter is also on this journey - I know what to expect - I don’t need or want reconstruction - I want peace My husband thinks I’m nuts going down this road - how else do I find this peace ?
Sore breasts post treatments (lumpectomy)
Hi guys had my first year mammogram February 2nd 2021 all clear thankfully Apparently I have skin thickening post radiation and quite a bit of scaring etc but I was wondering does anyone still have tenderness in their Breast 9 months post surgery my dog jumped on me the other day and landed hard on my operated breast which really hurt will they ever feel normal again? or is this part of the new normal I also find if I stop stretching my arm for a few days my armpit feels tight again