Diagnosed 2 Days Ago
Hi Everyone, I was diagnosed with breast cancer on Wednesday. I found the lump 3 weeks ago and saw my doctor straight away so it’s been stressful waiting for the results. My Auntie made a full recovery from dcis 17 years ago so I am not scared or worried. I have my CT scan in 3 days (Monday) and will get my results On Wednesday. I’m waiting on an appointment at the Breast Cancer clinic which will entail an 800km round trip. Also waiting to see how to manage time off work (I’m a teacher). Currently having a couple of weeks off while I process this curveball and find out my plan. I’m so impressed already with the support from my doctor and the McGrath Nurses in just the past 3 days.
Newly Diagnosed - TNBC - Mantis
Hi All I received my breast cancer diagnosis a few weeks ago after finding a lump in my right breast. I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy on 24th August. My tumor was 25mm and fortunately margins and two nodes were clear but it's triple negative with a Ki-67 of 50% so I have an appointment with a medical oncologist next week to sort out chemo. The overwhelming panic has settled a little but wow, a diagnosis changes everything! I have three school-aged kids and really worry about how this will affect them. The triple negative and high Ki-67 terrifies me. I have the My Journey Kit and have been in touch with the breast care nurses who have been great. Any pearls of wisdom for staying sane during this process would be greatly appreciated.
Diagnosed 2 days ago
From @Caroline71 Hi Everyone I am new to the site, just turned 48 and only diagnosed 2 days ago with stage 3 invasive breast cancer.It has spread to my lymph nodes and the muscles in my chest and I still have to have scans to see if it has gone to other organs. I am utterly devastated as I only had a scan in December and it was clear but I developed a large lump in my breast out of nowhere I put it off for 2 months as I thought it was another cyst as I had one in the left breast which is why the scan was done in December I did not realise that breast cancers could appear that large out of nowhere and then to be told it is advanced and spread already has hit me like a ton of bricks. I have not seen the oncologist yet as I am waiting to be contacted i am absolutely terrified and depressed as well.I am worried it has spread to my liver or lungs as I have been having back pain and shortness of breath for months now,I am scared of the chemo and how sick I will be. i watched my dad die of stage 4 lung cancer last year which came out of nowhere and he only lived 5 months after diagnosis after developing sepsis as a side effect of the chemo. I am just a absolute mess and have no one I can really talk to. i have a 25 year old son and the thought of dying and leaving him has me so devastated I am feeling hopeless and depressed and like I just do not want to have to go any further sorry for such a depressing post and feeling sorry for myself. just needed to get things off my chest and hope to hear other people’s experiences on how to deal with it all
Information Overload!
Hello lovelies, I was diagnosed just over a week ago with invasive breast cancer in my left breast, after finding a lump. I went for a mammogram 2.5 weeks ago where they took core biopsies. Since then it has been an absolute whirlwind of appointments, questions, information dumps and just trying to find a minute to breathe and process it all. Of course, all while managing 2 littles on school holidays, home and work. I am just reeling from all. How do you even begin to work through it? Not much of an introduction, I know. Not really sure what to say, other than Hi!
Dark days
Just diagnosed this month, 1.5.cm invasive tumour, plus 3mm by 3mm tumour I couldn't feel. I am 46, have had regular mammograms and ultrasounds for years due to lumpy, dense breasts. I self checked religiously and I still didn't feel this lump until it got to 1.5cm. I had lumpectomy and sentinel nodes out one week ago, and now find 5 out of 6 nodes have malignant cells, and the margin around the larger tumour shows carcinoma insitu that needs to be removed, so I am having a full mastectomy Monday plus full axilla node removal, portacath inserted and I will start chemo before Christmas. I have 4 children, youngest 7, oldest 16 and telling them was horrendous and watching their fears and answering their questions. Trying hard to keep going as normal and reassure them I will do all I can to be here for them. I have a CT of chest and abdomen today that surgeon tells me is just a baseline for the oncologist for chemo but I am terrified it will show metastisis somewhere in there and it will be too late. Its been one month since I found this lump and made an appointment that day with my GP and I feel like this diagnosis/surgery/treatment thing is taking forever. I just wanted it out the day I found it. My husband is amazing and this is bringing us very close as we realise we can't take each other for granted any more. I have a very supportive family and have so much to be thankful for when others struggle through alone. But, feeling very alone and scared right now. Thanks for reading.
Urgent Surgery advice
Hi everyone. I’m in need of some urgent advice about breast surgery options. I have been given two different opinions by two different surgeons and I need to decide ASAP, which to go with (surgery April 16th). I’m 36, with grade 2 & grade 1 invasive ductal carcinoma 2-3 lumps in a line at 10 O’clock(in line with underarm), ranging over a 5cm area, no children/Small C cup. Dr Cindy Mak initially recommended a nipple sparing right mastectomy, with immediate implant and radiation. I was afraid of capsular contracture because I heal poorly/radiation. She now wants to try removal of the cancer in one large lumpectomy (scar from under arm, along side of breast). Then a second surgery to perform a LICAP flap reconstruction (I think they take a flap of fat from under the arm to fill the void?). I’ve lost weight over the last few weeks so I don’t have a huge amount of fat. She said I’ll be at least one cup size smaller and my nipple may be off centre. She could try fat transfer to help at a later date. Dr Elisabeth Rippy suggested that in trying to keep my breast, I may end up with a less desirable shape/aesthetic result. She recommended a full nipple sparing mastectomy (scar hidden under breast fold) with an expander. Then radiation, followed by a second surgery for implant placement and fat transfer. I was wondering if, given your decision again, you’d try to keep your breast tissue at all costs? And if unhappy with the size and shape, have a breast implant/augmentation at a later date? Is it even possible to have a breast implant after LICAP and breast radiation? Does radiation change the texture of a natural breast so much that an implant is impossible afterwards? Or because the cancer is so large, is a mastectomy safer? I’ve read that your initial surgery & shaping is very important in relation to future aesthetic outcomes. I really don’t know how to make a decision this important with so little information. I would really love any advice (or even other surgeon suggestions in Sydney, for a final opinion). X
Out of control and in shock
Where do I start? I recently changed GPs and was working on a general health check you know the one do these tests everything will be fine no drama - always has been. Trot off for a mammogram and then followed the chaos. Mammogram revealed 3 lumps still at yeah so what knew about those been there for 6 years one is a bit odd shaped yeah was last time too. Gp did urgent referral to surgeon again no ones stressed at this point. Biopsy done hurt like shit but it did last time too. Week later the hammer falls bc diagnosis her2+ es + and initially pr + lump on ultrasound measuring 3cm have subsequently had more tests than I thought possible bone scans ct lumpectomy and more radioactive substances pumped in slightly (looking for the positives) better news on post surgery pathology only her2 and es positive and no lymph node involvement lump only 18mm but grade 3 have had a busy week of appointments with oncologist and radiologist and more forms and more tests to come chemo to start 25/7 port insertion 24/7 along with echo TCH once every 3 weeks for 4 doses and herceptin by itself for a year 6 weeks radiation post chemo and then hormone therapy after that cant deal with with telling people feeling overwhelmed tears at random times so worried about so much stuff most of it stupid can't sleep all night which is probably making other things worse......And, we're back
Hi friends, I was involved in the BCNA online discussion five years ago when I was diagnosed with DCIS. It helped me immeasurably, it was also just helpful to write down my thoughts and fears and have others respond. I was 38 at the time with 2 small boys and one baby girl. A harrowing time post mastectomy and navigating reconstruction with parenthood and work as a clinical psychologist. In October just gone, I noticed a lump under my mastectomy scar tissue. I worried for a moment and then convinced myself it was just scar tissue. Then in December I had my yearly MRI/US/Mammo and lo and behold, I have cancer again. This time it is invasive. I feel so ripped off. So, I'm back here to say hello, that although I sound a bit cross, I have been relatively calm as I go from one appointment to the next. I am probably catastrophising a lot less this time. My PET scan suggested no evidence of it anywhere else however there was some activity on my ovaries (which have been suggested to be cysts) that are being investigated next week. I have had a lumpectomy last week. My surgeon reported he achieved clear margins however he is discussing with his team today about whether the margins are clear enough to not warrant further surgery. Further surgery means complete deconstruction of that breast again and this time a reconstruction would be complex because I would have no skin left. So, looking forward I am staring into 2020 with potential further surgeries, discussion about whether to remove the other breast, possible oophorectomy, radiation and hormone treatment and whatever else I might require. Hmmm, not what we had in mind for 2020. I'm not sure what I need. Perhaps a reminder that I can do this over again. It feels hard second time around, and scary because we thought we had it sorted. I am not sure if the landscape is even darker through a cancer lens but I look at the state of the world and for the first time in my life I'm really worried for my kids' future. While I am a professional who works in the mental health field and am pretty stable most of the time, I feel low and particularly uncertain about things ahead. Its not a good feeling. If anyone is reading this and has lost a loved one in the fires, or lost their property/business/livelihoods I send love and best wishes for recovery. Thanks for reading xx
Triple Neg, diagnosed 4 wks ago, have had 2 cycles of AC chemo - I wonder what has happened?
Hello, I am not sure how to introduce myself, as this self, is new to me. I feel I havenʻt had time to prepare or make sense of who I am when I look at self. An experience, I have walked into or more precisely, I am on a treadmill of some sort and someone has yanked it up and I canʻt keep up. Emotions running havoc. I am very grateful for support services such as this and give thanks to the community of people who reach out to help each other. For those who read this, thank you.
