DCIS diagnosis & double mastectomy
Hi all! I am 38 with 2 young kids - 5 and 1.5, based in Brisbane and working full time. I was diagnosed with DCIS on Monday and am booked in for a double mastectomy, also removing some lymph nodes and a reconstruction in 2 weeks time. I have an appointment with the plastic surgeon to discuss reconstruction options on Friday, so this is all happening really quickly. There’s no family history of cancer and it basically came down to “being really unlucky” - but also lucky that I found lumps in my breast and followed through with all the medical appointments and tests. It’s overwhelming and I’ll be honest, I am angry at the world but it also is what it is so just need to tackle this head on. Any advice and tips in regards to what to expect after surgery, aftercare, exercise are greatly appreciated. Thank you.52ViewsSign in to react to this post1Comment
A crazy ride
On 22 October I went for my annual screening Mammogram and ultrasound. Whilst there they found a small cancer and performed a biopsy. Since then I have had a CT, bone scan, MRI, another Biopsy and a couple of specialist appointments. They are incredibly proactive and thorough. On Wednesday this week, I hope to find out if I will be having a lumpectomy or Mastectomy on 8 Dec. Surgery has been delayed to let me have a prebooked holiday which I am really looking forward to. If anyone has some advise on questions that I should ask my doctor about my surgery and treatment. Please let me know.93ViewsSign in to react to this post2Comments
Advice on how to prepare for TC chemo?
Hello everyone! First time of me starting a thread on here, hoping to get some advice from someone who’s had experience going through TC (Doxetaxel & Cyclophosphamide) chemo recently? I’ve just had a mastectomy with an implant reconstruction on my left breast after I had a recurrence after going through lumpectomy followed by radiation in 2024. It’s been very traumatic to say the least! Now I’m really freaking out about having to go through chemo as I’ve already been swapped to letrozole and Zoladex instead of tamoxifen which I was on before and I’m already having loads of hot flushes etc so adding other side effects on top of that feels very daunting! If anyone have any advice how to manage side effects that would be amazing! I’d love to at least attempt to not lose all my hair and eyelashes, eyebrows and maybe there’s some supplements I could take to make sure my skin doesn’t get too damaged during treatment? I’m going to bring in ice cubes/lollies to suck on as I’m having the treatment done but wondering also if there’s anything else I should be doing or bringing with me to the appointment? Thank you so much!147ViewsSign in to react to this post7CommentsOff for surgery
Morning All, Really grateful to have found this forum. I was diagnosed last week, 6 Oct, and like many of you, came as a total shock. I have invasive ductal carcinoma, 95mm, ER+ PR+ HER2-. I’m have a double mastectomy on 3 Nov. I’ve been reading a lot but was after some tips for hospital and anything you found helpful to help recovery. Thank you all x167ViewsSign in to react to this post5CommentsRecently diagnosed
It's been a week!! Breast screen contacted me Tuesday with my biopsy results. Currently on holidays visiting a sick friend in Canberra so my conversation with Breast screen was in a video link. Had not expected to hear Breast Cancer. Dr advised lumpectomy and I now have an appointment with a breast surgeon back in my home town, Adelaide. Seeing her 26th Oct. I am approaching my 69th birthday and feel my girls have served me well. I am seriously considering double mastectomy, no reconstruction, going flat. Has anyone else had these thoughts? I have a maternal history of breast cancer and have been having breast screening every 12 month. I have always referred to my screenings as Russian Roulette....96ViewsSign in to react to this post1CommentDiscussion about surgery with Surgeon
Hi all, I have been diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and I have my first meeting with the surgeon on Thursday. I know to expect surgery soon but dont know if this will be lumpectomy or mastectomy. I know that this will be one of the things to discuss on Thursday but I am curious if there is a 'choice' - in a sense part of me just wants to be told which option but I wondered if anyone here made a decision one way or the other and how they felt about that? Am also putting this query in the treatment thread as I have not posted before and not sure which is better for this. Thanks for any thoughts.368ViewsSign in to react to this post17Comments
To take Tamoxifen or not to take it.
Hi, Im awaiting my oncology appointment which will clarify if I need to take tamoxifen for my situation : Grade 1 tumours, bilateral masectomy recently done, less than 7mm tumours each in size (multifocal) no lymph. Hormone receptive cancer. Does anyone have a similar profile above and been told they won’t need tamoxifen? I am dreading taking this drug. If I have grade one tumours and a bilateral mastectomy my chances are already so low of recurrence…🤞112ViewsSign in to react to this post1Comment
Telling my toddler and child I have breast cancer
Hi All, Last month I was diagnosed with IDC and 2 weeks ago I had a single mastectomy. I have a 3 and 5 yr old who I am struggling on how to discuss this with them. So far for all the surgeries and appointments we have told them 'Mummy has a sore booby' which has been enough for them. However I am likely to need chemotherapy and I with the likelyhood of hair loss I will need tell them more about what is going on. I have done reading online into how to do this however it seems to all be directed at older age groups. My children I dont think would understand cancer or even cells. We tell them to brush their teeth so they doing get bugs eating their teeth so I am worried to say I have a bug in my booby to them and scare them of bugs! Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I was wondering if anyone had found a good little video or book to help them understand what cancer is?158ViewsSign in to react to this post3Comments
Mental health and new diagnosis.
Hi all, been struggling really bad finding out i have cancer in my right breast early diagnosis. I dont know what sort as i cant cope with the details of it all. I have seen the doctors and waiting MRI appointment and surgery date. I am really struggling with the anxiety and the moving forward bit. I suffer with anxiety and depression quite badly. I was given the option of just having the two lumps removed or the whole breast. I cant decide which option will help me move forward better. So firstly is there any mental health accept to this organisation? I only have my hubby to rely on who is also classed as my career. I am unsure which option to go with as my mental health plays a big part in my descion. I need to make a descion that i can be happy with and wont make my anxiety worse. Unsure of who to talk to or where to go for help.208ViewsSign in to react to this post2Comments
So confused, scared and teary
Hi all, I was just diagnosed yesterday with DCIS intermediate grade 2 and told to get off my HRT patches immediately. I have 3 areas in the one breast so I think i will need a masectomy. I have been contacted by Peter Mac in Melbourne regarding my referral and just waiting on confirmation of my appointment date. My brain is saying if I had to have cancer this is the one to get but my emotions are being ridiculous, so teary inside but cool and calm on the outside trying to support everyone else. If I do need a masectomy i want to have reconstruction surgery on the same day with a small implant but Im so worried as 6 months ago I was let go at work due to business downsizing and ive really struggled to find another job, my mum has just passed away and any savings I had have helped with the funeral etc so basically I am seriously going through hardship and only just paying my rent on my job seeker payment. I am so scared that I will find out going through this process there are some unexpected charges that arent included, all the sites say peter mac is free and I am bulk billing but Im so scared that my health is going to held back due to financial stress. Has anyone had this process done at peter mac, chose the medicare bulk billing option and was their reconstruction covered? Sorry Im really rambling here but its so much easier to type this to a stranger than someone I know. xxxxx623ViewsSign in to react to this post7Comments
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