Time to process
Hi All, my intro post. Such a roller coaster of emotions and processing suddenly going from perfectly healthy to not! I had a Diagnosis 22/12/23 IDC with 2.9cm tumor and lymphnode involvement from BreastscreenSA. ER and PR +, Her -. (Xmas is harsh to get such news, both in the slow down of services and in telling nearest and dearest) It has taken a while (necessary tests, scans and byopsies), but looking at treatment beginning Wed 28/2/24 with surgery (partial masectomy, axillary node clearance). Then most likely chemo, radio, hormone therapy. Overactive imagination has been a problem, general stress/anxiety, and not sleeping well. It is settling a bit now, as Ive met surgeon and feel comfortable I am in good hands, met with Breast nurse (and now have a bright pink pillow and lovely accessories pouch for fluid tubes). I am participating in a clinic trial that I meet criteria on that I decided yes to assist. I am going ahead on a planned and booked holiday next week (which several family are also going), the surgeon was supportive on proceding with this as mental health positive. Then it is full steam ahead! I am fortunate to have supportive family, and some great friends, some who have had a bc journey themselves. Was concerned about work for a while, but Ive let the h.r. depts know (two jobs) of upcoming medical, and am scaling back for as long as I need (casual events hospitality - high energy, physical and customer facing, they will still be there when I can manage again!) So I think I am in about the best positive I can be for now! Not keen on whats to come, but ok to get on with what needs to be done! Thanks for reading, and thanks to all those sharing posts and info themselves - it has helped.
Newly Diagnosed Locally Advanced Breast Cancer
Hello Everyone I recently got diagnosed with what they thought was DCIS but after all the ultrasounds, MRI, CT, PET scan, and biopsies, the diagnosed me with stage 3, Locally Advanced Breast Cancer. I am 37 years old (hopefully reach level 38 in January), and in June 2023, I found a lump in my left armpit. Not very big. About the size of a grain of rice. I didn't think much of it until a month later, I found a lump under the areola of my left breast. I had found those kind of lumps before in my right breast and got them checked straight away but they all came back as benign cysts. But I did the right thing and went to my GP. Rather than telling her about the breast lump, I mentioned about the lump in my armpit instead. She had a feel and thought it was just a gland until she asked if I had found one in the breast as well. I said yes. Straight away she gave me referrals for a mammogram and ultrasound. But I was so convinced that it would just say it was a benign cyst again, that I put the referrals up on the fridge and left them there....until November. By the beginning of November, the lump in my armpit was big. But the one in my breast didn't feel like it had grown. But I went and got the mammogram and ultrasound done and a few days later my doctor called me back in. I still remember, very clearly, my doctor starting to cry and apologising to me. I should say, my doctor is a strong woman and I have never seen anything phase her but she was crying and I knew straight away the results. Fast forward to now and I am currently waiting to meet my surgeon and oncologist. I'm not expecting to see them until the new year, despite being a priority 1 with the hospital. My official diagnosis is Stage 3, locally advanced Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. It is ER+, PR- and HER2- (as far as im aware unless i read it wrong). The weird thing is, every female on my mother's side that has had breast cancer (my nanna/mum's mum, nanna's 2 sisters, my aunt/mum's sister) have all had it in their left breast but none of them have had it spread to the left armpit lymph nodes like i have. They were all stage 2. I'm currently trying to get my mum to go and see the doctor because when I got my diagnosis, my stepdad quietly told me that mum hasn't had a mammogram done in 16 years and 18 months ago she noticed the nipple in the left breast has become inverted. Sorry for the long introduction to my story. I still haven't fully acknowledged what is happening. I hear everything they say and I have read all the reports, looked at the imaging. But I feel like I am numb right now. Nothing is fully registering and I have had some people ask me why its taking me so long to feel something. I honestly don't know.
My Valentines Day Cancer
So My Story so far... Couple of weeks ago I decided to make an appointment with a new GP to get my Mirena out. Later that day I happened to put my hand on my chest and noticed a lump. I decided to wait for that appointment and mention it then. Over the next 2 weeks I occasionally felt it to see if it was still there and did notice I could see a subtile change in contour of the breast but managed to not let it worry me. To be honest I thought it was just hyper vigilance due to my strong family history and just a case of "Medical student disease". I'm a GP. In medical school we are told that at some point in time we will all succumb to Med student disease and we should all have our own GP to deal with it. It describes when a med student (or doctor) reading about some rare condition worries that they have in fact got it themselves. On Wednesday I attended my appointment. We discussed my Mirena and the reasons I wanted it out, and my GP brought up very valid reasons for keeping it, and we decided to wait to take it out. I mentioned I also wanted my Breast checked, and she wanted my overdue cervical screening done, We started "top to bottom". She said we should fully investigate the lump, mamo, US FNA, I agreed. She organised imaging the next morning then as I went to leave she said "the Mirena is the least of you worries" My heart sank and I could not get those words out of my head Next morning my first Mammogram (I'm 44) not as bad as I thought Then the US, I asked the sonographer how it looked, she said the Radiologist would come and speak to me, and they had a med student with them was that ok, of course. The Radiologist said it looked suspicious, I looked at the screen, A hypoechogenic spiculated lesion, when it's obvious there is very little doubt. She said she would rather do cores than FNA then started to consent me. As she described the local I said I was a GP, I've put in local hundreds of times. She said yes but she would treat me the same as everyone else, which was just what I needed, I'm the patient now and she was great. As I lay there as she took the biopsies I thought about the med student, that had been me not so long ago, the fly on the wall as people get bad news. The Radiologist said the Path would be back the next day and that I needed early referral to a surgeon and she would phone and let my GP know. As I left everyone said good luck, I hated that...it meant I needed it! I walked to my car with tears in my eyes. Then I phoned the clinic, my GP was not in for the rest of the week, then I phone a previous practice I worked at, spoke to the manager, she got me in with one of my colleges that day and he referred me,made the call and I have an appointment Wednesday with the surgeon I phoned my practice manager and told her I would not be in on Friday, my head was not in a good place to be seeing patients. Friday I phoned the lab, the results had been reported so I asked them to download them to my work, to a colleague. I made an appointment with a different doctor at my new clinic. As I walked into his office he said my doc had spoken to him, I told him I was expecting bad news. he handed me my path form and said, thats what you have invasive ductal carcinoma grade 2. receptors pending. He was amazing. I said I wanted the mirena out in case its progesterone positive. He said he hadn't taken one out in about 10 years but how hard could it be, I laughed. He did it so that I would feel more comfortable, despite the fact that waiting a few more days really would not have made any difference, and I appreciated it. I told him how I was worried about telling my partner, his wife died of Metastatic melanoma in her 30's. Although my prognosis is way better than hers ever was, this waiting has got to bring up issues for him, and I feel so guilty about that. My Doc offered to phone him that night to let him know I will be ok. He will also phone me after I see the surgeon. The weekend has been hard, I've just been so tired, I have had no motivation to do anything. Today back at work. results check, estrogen and progesterone positive, Her negative 4th patient of the day was new to the practice, she had a breast lump. I was able to focus on her and her needs, took her history, examined her and organised imaging. I got through it in a professional and I hope caring way, but it takes a toll. Patient in the afternoon came in for review, rescheduled from the Friday I didn't come in. Her eye had settled with the antibiotics I had prescribed, but she was still getting headaches that another doctor had put down to tension (probably correctly). But they are not like her normal migraines and she was concerned. past history of breast cancer, I decided to MRI brain to be safe, acknowledging that this may bring up anxiety for her. It's been a rough day... guess I here for support
New at this
Hi everyone, I was called in for a follow up at the Breastscreen clinic in Canberra in early January 2019 and officially diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma grade 1 shortly after. Waiting around for the surgeon's appointment has been hell and the more I read, the more terrified I have become. I finally had the surgeon's appointment on Tuesday and he assures me that this is a good diagnosis to have and the prognosis is good. It is still terrifying and the loss of control in my life and what the future holds for me is all consuming at this point in time. I was called yesterday with a surgery date of 13 February for a lumpectomy which thankfully isn't too far away so I have been reading allot of posts to get some ideas on what to take for my overnight stay and am working my way through putting together a list. I have a 6 week trip to Europe planned in early June this year and I am mentioning it to every medical professional that I meet in the hopes that the surgery and radiation will be over before I am due to fly out. I have travel insurance but the thought of having to cancel something that I have planned and research for well over 12 months would be disappointing to say the least. Even though I am assured that the prognosis is good, I had a meltdown at work yesterday morning, I just couldn't hold it together so I am home for the rest of the week and my supervisor said that she will do anything I need in order to support me whether that be going part-time for the moment, working from the office or at home. I am so grateful for the support of not only my colleagues but my close friends as well. One of my friends has been to every appointment so far which has been terrific as at least one of us will hopefully retain all of the information thrown my way. I live alone and have one grown up daughter who lives about 4 hours away and my friends and family are adamant that I am not coming home after the surgery. I am very independent and in a bid to keep myself busy and organised, I have been cooking up a storm and have enough meals to get me through an apocalypse. I feel more comfortable coming back to my own apartment rather than being a burden on my friends. To all you wonderful ladies that have been through a similar surgery, are you able to advise if it is realistic for me to be able to be home by myself for the first few days post-surgery please? I have been lurking in this forum for the past week and it seems like such a safe and supportive forum so I hope you don't mind me putting forward some questions as I think of them!!! I have met my breast care nurse and she seems lovely and I have also been out and purchased the post-surgery bras, button up pjs and dressing gown but feel free to suggest anything else that you wish you had thought about before surgery. I am looking forward to being a regular contributor to this forum.
Waiting Waiting and more Waiting
I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma grade 3 in April 2015.....had lumpectomy, chemo and radiotherapy. All mammograms and ultrasound since have been clear. Ten days prior to Christmas I noticed changes to my nipple of the same breast. The end of it actually looked like a wedge had been cut out.....this then very quickly changed to becoming more inverted to level but totally different to the other side including the areola having stretched to almost double the size. I saw GP just prior to Christmas and was extremely concerned but didn't think it would be due to old scaring. Had further mammograme and ultrasound but told that would only be due to scar tissue but he did a FNA. G.P rang me with -ve results and I was happy BUTshe is very concerned still and spoke to Breast specialist - he too is still concerned of being a false -ve. So now Im going for a core biopsy tommorow afternoon and see GP again Monday....... It's really hard as I can't tell my adult daugters until it is confirmed as they have their own dissabilities, all-be-it minor and dont cope ......
ILC & IDC found in left breast
Hi, Yesterday, I had my first specialist appointment to receive the results of my biopsy. The result showed that I had both ILC and IDC in the left breast. The iDC is 2.6 but the ILC was running in lines in the dense tissue. This measures about 6cm. I have been requested to get a breast MRI and a PET scan ASAP. I was working up to Tuesday and then I went home after the diagnosis. I'm finding it all a shock and my hope has diminished. Also, I have an elevated temperature and aches in my neck and lower back when i go to bed. This is relative a new set of symptoms and I've had them for a few days. I'm aged 49 and I have been relatively healthy and I don't tick the boxes for a person at risk for breast cancer. Further, I felt like I was over reacting by heading to the Dr a fortnight ago, I thought it was aging or hormonal symptoms that I was experiencing. Is there anyone else in our online community who has this diagnosis? Xx
Painful breast pre treatment
Hello, this is my first time posting, just wanted to say this is a great resource and hi to everyone on their own cancer journey. I first noticed a lump in my breast in about July 2019, went to get a check at GP in August, didnt follow up with referal until December. Got a Mammogram and ultrasound and they werent very impressed with how things were looking and as I had very dense breast tissue, I was also referred for an abbreviated MRI on which they found a second mass. I was referred to a breast clinic for biopsy, and received my diagnoses of Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (multifocal - 2 visible lesions) on Jan 24th. Grade 2 Early Cancer, MRI showed no visible lymph node involvement. Ive just been going through a process of working out what surgery options are best for me and have decided on unilateral mastectomy with diep reconstruction. I meet with the plastic surgeon in two weeks and then likely surgery on the 4th March. SORRY for the long winded explanation BUT the reason I am posting is.. I know they say that breast cancer usually doesnt cause pain, but Im getting quite an ache in the tumour that is closest to my skin (palpable) Should I be worried about this? Did anyone else have pain before treatment? Am I leaving surgery too long? Doctor says it is completely within a safe time period. Thanks in advance for advice.
38yo solo mama, what is happening?!
Hi everyone. I was diagnosed yesterday, a month after my first random trip to my sons gp where I asked her to just give her opinion. Right breast invasive ductal carcinoma. I’m sure that will start to roll off the tongue, everything here feels very foreign at this point. Question .. The GP is new to the area and wasn’t sure which specialist (surgeon?) to send me to. She’s sent referrals to both the local hospital and a plicate surgeon - but both sound like they’re going to take a few weeks for a consult. Not sure if I should call around and see if I can be seen sooner? Is it once I’m in they will make a plan and I’ll stick with them? Any advice would be wonderful, I feel incredibly out of my depth xx
Not sure where to turn for advice
Having been recently diagnosed with a 7.7cm tumour in my B-cup breast (luminal A, invasive ductal carcinoma) and no detectable tumours elsewhere, I've been scheduled for a mastectomy next week, followed by radiation, and possibly chemo, age 43. I don't want to have a mastectomy or subsequent treatment, for a number of reasons. Psychological firstly. Not having longevity as a goal. Not feeling I can physically show up and consent to disfiguring, aggressive and permanently polluting (of body) treatments - feeling that I'd rather die a natural death. Not fearing death. Not feeling any psychological aversion to what's in my breast, not feeling any pain or physical inconvenience from it currently. And also because if it hasn't spread in all the time it took to get that big, evidence that I've found seems to indicate it's not going to spread. (i.e. cancers between about 6cm and 15cm at diagnosis have about equal chance of also having been found in lymph nodes or elsewhere at diagnosis - the 15cm cancers were once 7cm but no greater chance of spread in all that time? Seems the horse has already bolted and is just hiding out dormant elsewhere in body already, or is just peacefully grazing in its own paddock and will never bolt, so either way what's the point in closing the gate / lopping the tit anyway?) I know this is such an unusual way of thinking and I'm having so much trouble getting relevant advice. If I don't get treatment what can I expect my body to do? I'm also very worried about causing distress to people close to me who still expect me to get these awful treatments, I feel pushed by their expectations to do something major to my body I feel personally averse to, I don't know how to tell them. Wondering how to not distress others in any way, seems to be the cause of the majority of my own distress. Any suggestions for where to turn for more advice, or if anyone has had similar thoughts, or evidence/articles to contradict the idea that cancer spreads early in its development if it's going to at all, or just impressions about this situation you might like to share, I would appreciate it. (I have just started seeing a general counsellor with no cancer knowledge, and have also contacted Cancer Council counselling and made an appointment but that will be in 3 weeks. I don't think they'll have the medical answers I'm after, anyway. More support and sooner and more relevant could be so stress-relieving.) Sorry for long post and weird topic.
It’s back for the third time 💔
Hi ladies, Some of you might remember me. I had DCIs for the first time in 2013 at the age of 22 years old, had a lumpectomy only not further treatment which is something I questioned back then and now still although I was brca 2 positive. September 2017 I had recurrence DCIs again in the same breast my only option was mastectomy only no other treatment needed because my margins were clear. I felt a tiny bump straight after my reconstruction, hoped it will show in my MRI it didn’t. Pointed it out to my doctor had US and they assured me it was a scar tissue, had a follow up 3 months later and it turns out it was a recurrence. Now here I am again Sept 2019 less than 2 years from my mastectomy going through IDC recurrence. Is it just really bad luck or because of my high risk I should had a lot more than just surgeries?! This is exhausting. Had my CT and bone scan and thankfully everything came all good expect for my ovaries being larger than normal. Meant to have pelvic US but because am not sexually active and never had anything going up there the doctor didn’t feel comfortable doing it neither did I. The thought of doing it freak me out and the thought of not doing it also does, because am not sure if am putting myself at more risk by doing! Surgery is also next week and I will be flat on one side 😢 as implant will have to come out and more skin removed. I’m hoping won’t need chemo but doubting it. any advise will be much appreciated 💕