Inconclusive Follow up Mammogram
Hi there everyone, I wanted to see if anyone out there has had a similar experience to me at their follow up scans. I was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer about 2 years ago, had a lumpectomy and radiation treatment. I've been having mammograms every 12 months and up until the last scan it's been "nothing to see here". At my last mammogram, the radiologist said that they noticed some changes around the site of my scar as compared to the previous scan which could be calcification or something else but that they were not worried enough to do a biopsy so come back in 6 months. I have to say this was not as reassuring as my previous scans where I could walk away and not have to worry/think about things too much. I do feel like I am a bit in limbo and the fear of recurrence which I normally manage quite well is somewhat heightened. Just wondered if anyone else has had a similar experience with their scans (ie not conclusive but advised to sit tight for now)? Thanks All
Bone Scan along with 3yr mammogram and ultrasound
By way of a little background I have been getting pain in my ribs off and on for a couple weeks so I was sent for an xray which didn't reveal much. The pain started on the right side in a rib bone directly under my right breast which had the cancer. The last couple of days the left ribs and muscles are sore. I really felt it yesterday picking up my grandson and my night time i had pandadol and a glass of wine. So today my Doctor requested i get a bone scan. I have arranged this for next Wednesday and I have my annual mammogram and ultrasound on Friday so get all the results together next Saturday 4th February. I am in my third year after diagnosis. Today as well my hubby got home from hospital after cancer was successfully removed from one of his kidneys and he is recovering well and resting. I guess I am unloading here as my husband has his own recovery battle ahead. I am a bit upset and anxious but I am ok. I know all the things to do, keeping busy doing things I like , walking, meditation etc. I know not to jump the gun and this could just be nothing at all. Just need a little support and encouraging words please.
Some neat programs available on Counterpart ..... you can sign up to them
There are some programs on Counterpart (which is based in Vic, but hopefully members in any state should be able to sign up) - on Scanxiety (particularly for those with Mets) ... Lymphoedema, you can do Yoga, even belly dance - and meditative painting ... and also peer support. Check the programs & events here - and bookmark it for the future too. https://counterpart.org.au/events-programs/events/Interesting facebook video on 'scanxiety' ....
This Facebook mob (The Recovery Room) put up different videos relating to those with cancer .... Click on the 'Video' section on Facebook to see their other topics. Most are about 5 mins in length. They do have a website but you need to pay to join .... as they say .... "FUN, HONEST and ACCURATE!" The Recovery Room has a library of short, positive, understandable, medically accurate videos about cancer & cancer recovery. Cancer PT, Dr. Leslie Waltke's goal, is to make the world better for people with cancer. This one is on Scanxiety: https://www.facebook.com/lesliewaltkept/videos/291362799813810Scanxiety - does it ever REALLY go away?
Does Scanxiety ever really disappear? I think not. It is 4 years in Nov since my ILC tumours were found, by accident, by my GP - as the rural BreastScreen Bus screens totally missed it ..... TWICE. Rural breastscreen buses do not have 3D mammograms - only 2D ones - and they are unlikely to pick up Invasive Lobular Cancer (that does not present as a 'lump' ....) and any cancer is almost impossible to 'see' in those with Dense Breast Tissue. If you don't know what breast tissue type you have, get your Surgeon/Oncologist to tell you - as Breast Screen NSW refuses to do so. If you are able to pull up a pic of your Mammograms .... you'll actually SEE if you have dense breast tissue, as much of the breast will showing as 'white' (rather than fairly clear) and as cancer also shows up as 'white' ..... the dense breast tissue hides the cancer. What followed was 2 years of anxiety as I had a recall on my first anniversary scans, which luckily, were benign .... but being rural, things all take longer to happen. Altho I had my surgery within days of seeing the surgeon (10 days after my diagnosis on Jan 5th was confirmed) it had taken 2 months to get to the diagnosis, with my biopsy being done between Xmas & New Year. The following year, the biopsy was on Xmas Eve .... so 2 x Christmases/New Years - totally stuffed!! For this reason, I brought my scan dates a month early to October - so that if anything needed doing (ie biopsy) I wouldn't be in the Xmas Rush! SO .... I head north today for my annual Mammogram and Ultrasound (luckily, having the resident specialist breast Cancer Radiographer doing both!) I'll take hubby with me & will probably even take him into the clinic room with me (if allowed) to keep an eye on him as he has mod-severe dementia. Otherwise, I'd need to arrange someone to sit with him, if I left him at home. Up til this morning, I hadn't really 'thought' of the scanxiety .... but then it raised it's ugly head again! grrrr. I am not expecting any adverse results - but with this beast, you just never know! I see my Rad Onc next week, also up north - my 2nd last visit to her - next year being Year 5 since detection. Wish me luck!!
Scan Day
It's my 3 year scan this morning (at least I think it is - memory's shot) and I thought I was okay until last night when I barely slept at all. This afternoon I have an interview for the job I've been doing for the past year and with the panel, it's going to be a tough one. To top it off, youngest daughter rings me from the pool this morning to say she's forgotten her school shoes (yes - the ones I reminded her about as we walked out of the door at 5am) and she hasn't even taken thongs so she can't get in the bus and meet me at school. Best laid plans for a calm morning...
Back from the outback and scan day tomorrow.
Hi everybody. I have been AWOL for a bit and I do hope everyone is going along ok with whatever stage of the rollercoaster you're dealing with. My "say yes to all invitations without thinking" policy has had me trekking all over the place. Some of you may know my not so fondness for camping, nor road trips, but I had already commited and I wasn't going to let the team down. So I sucked it up and didn't complain about the lack of facilities. (mind you I did grumble to myself a bit and paid $5 for showers.....a lot). Well guess what? I had a fantastic time, from a drink at the Birdsville pub to watching the horses thunder down the dusty racetrack in 37 degrees to camping in the middle of bloody nowhere (read that as freaking Wolf Creek style) to the stockmans hall of fame. I saw wild Emu's racing accross the plains, watched some Brolgas dancing and ran barefoot across the top of Big Red sand dune in the Simpson. And oh my goodness, the sunrises, sunsets and stars are just stunning. This is one big, beautiful country we live in I was just blown away day after day. So so gorgeous. Survivorship high? Absolutely. I probably would never have committed to that before. Any hoo, scan day is tomorrow so blah, grumble and curse words. Hopefully no birthday cake this time for those of you who remember my interesting time last year LOL Surprisingly it's just started to rain a little here and that beautiful smell of rain hitting the dry dusty ground is wafting through the window, it's been such a long time. Must be a good omen right? Love to all xoxoxo
