Working while waiting for surgery
Hi all, was diagnosed 3 weeks ago today with early stage and was told I’d be having surgery pretty quickly. Ended up having to have more tests to eliminate issues in the other side and thankfully that all seems to be clear. But that has meant I still don’t have a date for surgery (I should find out tomorrow hopefully). My question is about how you’ve all kept sane during this ‘limbo’ period. My emotions and anxiety are all over the place, I can’t really focus or concentrate so I’ve taken a fair few days off work. I’m lucky enough that I can work from home (when I’m up to it) and my boss is awesome but I weirdly feel guilty about taking time off as though I should be managing this better. I’m conscious my surgery might not be for another few weeks so feel I need to work out better ways to handle this. Any inputs welcome! Thanks.Surgeon & Hospital Choices Melbourne
Hi, I am recently diagnosed with DCIS and 75 years old. I live in Melbourne and need to select a Surgeon and Hospital for either a Lumpectomy or mastectomy. Does anyone have experience with Cabrini or Epworth and also with the surgeons Sarah Kemp or Melanie Walker?
How did I get here?
Hi everyone, what do I say…I am in shock! I felt it was time I reached out to the community as I’ve been reading all your posts the past few weeks and now I really need support and reassurance. I am 56 and have a wonderful husband and three beautiful 20 something children. I had a routine mammogram in April (12 monthly due to Mum and sister both having BC in the past - both early and doing fine now) and diagnosed on 13 May with invasive carcinoma with micropapillary features, 17mm in size, ER/PR+ve HER2 2+equivaocal from biopsy and ultrasound/3D mammogram. A further weeks wait for HER2 ISH testing which was negative before surgery options were discussed. As I have size G breasts and the lump was apparently so small I opted for WLE with oncoplastic breast reduction as my Mum and sister had both had good outcomes with lumpectomy so I was confident with the reduction they would get good margins. Surgery was performed on 30/5 and I’ve recovered well. Here js the kicker…I went back for the surgery and sentinel lymph node biopsy results and first the surgeon tells me the tumour was 64mm not 17mm! Then he tells me there were mega metastases in the lymph node which was removed. On the pathology report it say ‘the lymph node is almost completely replaced by metastatic carcinoma with similar histological features’. The sentinel node was 28mm. Does this mean I have metastatic cancer? I am reeling…how did they get it so wrong??? And what now? The surgeon has said the next step is an auxiliary dissection which he has booked me in on 30/6 to do…20 days away! He said he needs to wait for things to settle properly after the last surgery with reduction. Meanwhile this cancer is travelling all through me… I am booked in for a PET with CT scan on Thursday which I guess they are looking for more metastases. Should I also be asking for a bone scan? I have not been referred to an oncologist yet, apparently that is after the next surgery but I really don’t understand why they wouldn’t be thinking to get me started on that now rather than waiting even longer. I just can’t comprehend the results I got yesterday. I have so many questions and I just feel like the surgeon is following a routine but I don’t understand why. After a sleepless night of anxiety through the roof I would love some words of advice from this amazing community. Thank you x
Lobular carcinoma in-situ
Today finally found out the I've a lobular carcinoma in-situ in my right breast. I've booked in for surgery on 20th October for right breast - dcis in-situ & right breast lobular carcinoma in-situ. I'll have a wire inserted by biopsy for surgery to mark the areas with magnetic markers. Afterwards 3 weeks radiation & hormone tablets. Im nervous about lobular carcinoma as I've read it can spread quicker then dcis. We're going away 5 weeks then straight into op Im not sure if this result is good or bad with lobular carcinoma or not Love to hear from other persons experiences. Huppy
Newbie…long story
Hi everyone, Newbie here. Never dreamt I would be joining this club, but who does ?! This forum and website have been so helpful to me over the past month. My journey started last June when I decided to speak with my GP about a tender spot right on the inside edge of my left breast. She reassured me that tenderness isn’t typically a symptom of breast cancer, but we would check it out. Got an ultrasound and mammogram. US identified a small mass, mammo some calcifications. Got an us biopsy around October, all clear. Then around Christmas I noticed some brown nipple discharge (took a while to accept it was coming from the nipple, thought I had spilt something…. Every few days in the same spot!!!). Back to the GP, another ultrasound. The report said there was “debris” in the duct, couldn’t exclude papilloma, MRI would confirm, surgical consult recommended. So off for the consult, after which I was told the discharge was due to trauma to the breast from the biopsy (they didn’t send me for the MRI). This was purely based on discussion and very brief examination. In hindsight and knowing what I do now, I would have pushed back and demanded the MRI regardless. Relief! But my GP wasn’t convinced. She sent me for an MRI then a consult with a specialist breast surgeon who, after looking at the MRI, immediately sent me for some MRI and stereotactic biopsies…2 in my left and one in the right. That was a bit of a marathon! I was convinced it was all a waste of time and money! I turned up to the surgeon for results unconcerned…obviously rather naive! “You’ve got a lot going on in your breasts!” were her first words. LCIS and papilloma in my right breast, DCIS and invasive Mucinous carcinoma in my left. I was speechless. Shocked. Bewildered. Confused. We briefly discussed next steps, but I couldn’t get out of there fast enough! I called my husband in tears. We went back together to the surgeon the following Monday, after doing a bit of research, lots of reading, and chatting with a wonderful McGrath Breast Care Nurse. After asking more questions, I decided on a left mastectomy and right lumpectomy. Plus sentinel node biopsy on the left. But I was so angry. How could the first surgeon send me away without really being sure??!! I went through all the feelings, disbelief, anger, sadness, grief, a bit more anger, and finally acceptance (mostly anyway!!). I realise I have to let go of the anger, and am taking it on as a learning - it’s important to advocate for our own health and not accept something too easily if it doesn’t seem right. Hubby and I had a two week holiday booked up north the following week, which the surgeon said was fine, so we booked surgery for August 13, ten days after we would get home. The holiday was great, we hadn’t told anyone at that point (except my mum and work). We were able to not think about it and had some really special time together. It was good to have the space and time to process what was happening. so now I’m one week post surgery, contemplating the future, keen to get back to everything I used to do. I had been training for a half marathon in September, which of course now won’t be happening. We are hiking the Overland Track in February, so that’s what I’m aiming for. I’m so very lucky to have an amazing, competent, supportive partner. He has taken the same time off work as me to support my recovery. He even washed my hair for me yesterday :-) Recovery is going pretty well, although I’m often still uncomfortable in bed. Getting the drain tube out a couple of days ago was wonderful! We go back to the surgeon next week (two weeks after surgery) for dressings etc and results. Fingers and toes are all crossed! Thanks for getting this far, there’s something a little cathartic in writing this down. I’ve really appreciated reading others stories, it helps with knowing we are not alone and the feelings are valid. Thank you :-) Belinda xx
DCIS lumpectomy yesterday
Hi yall, so glad this service is available. Just had my lumpectomy yesterday and feeling the blues. Biopsy results next week, hoping for the best, expecting anything. It seems that radiotherapy is likely, which I had hoped wouldn't have to happen. It will take over my plans for weeks!!! I am struggling with social isolation following leukemia with immunity issues followed up by a bad dose of covid last year. Was just starting to get it together then this happened!!! Feeling like a lightning rod for cancer atm. So really this is probably small potatoes in the scheme of things, but still not really what I had planned. Appreciate any input.Surgery and tail-end of a cold?
Hi everyone - I had a lumpectomy three weeks ago after a high grade DCIS diagnosis. Was due to go back last week for a re-excision to ensure clear margins but I’d caught a monster cold in the meantime. Surgery is now scheduled for Tuesday- I still have a bit of congestion and a bit of a cough which I think is post-viral. Has anyone been in the same situation? Is it likely to be postponed? On a completely side note, thank you all for being here and sharing advice and stories. It does make me feel less isolated. I’m 65 and my husband has been super-solid but he’s prone to extreme positivism which can be great but sometimes isn’t. We live with my 94 year old mother who quite probably doesn’t remember what’s going on. This would all feel very lonely without this online network.
Can't stop thinking about bad outcomes
Newly diagnosed ++- and scheduled for lumpectomy in 2 weeks followed by radiation if all goes to plan. I'm having intrusive obsessive thoughts about death, particularly dying during the surgery and what my funeral will be like. It's non stop and exhausting and I'm neglecting everything else. I've put together an 'instruction manual' for my husband so he knows how to look after our autistic son properly. Are these thoughts premonitions or just underlying fear? I want it all to stop!
Suggestions/Experience
Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice or experiences from others who might have faced a similar situation. I was recently diagnosed with invasive carcinoma grade 1 and have undergone a lumpectomy with sentinel node biopsy. The surgery also removed areas of DCIS, and thankfully, the pathology report shows that all margins are clear. However, the report also found extensive LCIS (lobular carcinoma in situ), and now my doctor has presented me with two options moving forward: Undergo a double mastectomy to reduce future risk Or opt for regular screenings every 6 months for the rest of my life (mammograms, MRIs, etc.) I need to make this decision before starting radiation, and I’m feeling really torn. A mastectomy is obviously a big step, but ongoing screenings come with their own stress and uncertainty too. If anyone has had to choose between these options, or has any advice, experiences, or perspectives to share, I’d be really grateful to hear from you. Thank you
