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??3.8KViewsSign in to react to this post112Comments
Indefinite referrals
I am just over 5 years since diagnosis. Both my oncologist and surgeon still see me each year. So I see one of them every 6 months. I have had an indefinite referral for my oncologist for 4 years but have always got a new referral each year for the surgeon. Last time my GP said “I’ll do an indefinite one this time to save you having to come in just for a referral each time”.I was happy with this. So today I arrive for my surgeon review and hand over my referral. I have my visit and all is good, yay! Then I go to pay and make my next year’s appointment and the receptionist says you’ll need a new referral. I say that I thought my doctor wrote an indefinite one and the receptionist gets really weird and rude. Goes on to say that if I insist on using it then she won’t be able to put through the Medicare claim and I will have to go into Medicare myself and do the claim. I have never had any trouble using the indefinite referral for the oncologist. They always put the claim straight through for me. The surgeon’s receptionist went on to be really ridiculous. She did not give me a card with my next appointment on and when I asked for one she carried on bizarrely insisting that she had already given me one. Her behaviour was really unnecessary and instead of leaving the appointment over the moon that I am still cancer free at 5 years I was completely rattled by her treatment of me. Has anyone had trouble using an indefinite referral?1.2KViewsSign in to react to this post23Comments
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 ?1.1KViewsSign in to react to this post24Comments
Fine needle biopsy suggested 3 years past original treatment mascetomy side
hi all I haven't been on here for a couple of years. I'm 3 years to the day of original diagnosis, lumpectomy then mascetomy expander chemo radio. At my annual 6 month ultrasound/ bloods a what they call suspicious newly found lump has been found only small in mascetomy and node clearance side - first my oncologist said don't worry looks like possibly a cyst then he consulted with original bc surgeon who suggested fine needle. I'm totally freaked out. After all the treatments and trying to return to work neuropathy finally got the better of me. I'm just wondering my oncologist said up to me to biopsy or to wait 3 months have another ultrasound. Over the past 3 years I've had 3 cysts turn up in remaining breast that was suggested to do biopsy but I said no and now they are smaller and not suspicious I'm quietly terrified that this is happening again and I never thought it could reoccur in totally removed side - thoughts / experiences appreciated hugs899ViewsSign in to react to this post28Comments
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?799ViewsSign in to react to this post13Comments
Far out this brings it all back
Didn't know where to go have not been active here for awhile but need a shoulder to cry on. Had my 5 year mammogram was supposed to be the one to send me back to breast screen. All excited I thought that would be it but my GP just called need to discuss my results. I can't do all this again. I'm still recovering from the first go around,. Appoint 8 o'clock tomorrow going to be a long night. Guess I'm up for a biopsy will take it one step at a time. And will worry about it later.602ViewsSign in to react to this post30Comments
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 again598ViewsSign in to react to this post26Comments
Lumps n bumps
quick question which is probably irrelevant but for moving forward. If I have lumps that pop up again is my go first course of action or breast care nurse at hospital? Asking generallybut I have another lump which might be a cyst ? Anyway have gp appointment in the morning but nervous as all f*** right now.549ViewsSign in to react to this post28Comments
Blood tests post treatment
Hi there again lovelies just wondering if any one is the same, I saw my oncol in feb and am due to see him again end of this month and he said at our last consult he didn't need me to do the three monthly blood tests anymore he said it wasn't necessary and would only do them if he felt it was. Is this what happens now?? I always get a bit anxious prior to getting them anyway but like the reassurance when I do get the results back that everything is ok. I will be two years next month since I was diagnosed (TNBC) and had my first mastectomy so was just wondering if this is how you guys all roll now too. Margie xx400ViewsSign in to react to this post12Comments
Does anyone else have a hard lumpy bit in the chest after a mastectomy?
I saw my surgeon for my biannual check up. I had a single mastectomy in 2015. I almost got away with the all clear but happened to mention again about a bony lump almost in the center of my chest but back to the left a bit. It often aches and when I move my arm a lot, bruises show up over the lump as its only a thin layer of skin above the bone. I asked soon after the surgery about it and he said it was just the breast bone but this seems higher than the sternum. Anyway, he has booked me in for a CT scan to check it out as the ultrasounds and xrays aren't picking it up. Trust me to be quirky. Could it be a rib broken during surgery or something?400ViewsSign in to react to this post16Comments
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