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.
Only two weeks into the journey
Hello ladies, I had tests (mammograms, ultrasound, core & FNA biopsies) last Thursday week & got my results on Tuesday 11/04/17, so very newly diagnosed. From what was going on & reactions, things that were said i guess I just knew. So by the time I got my results, I had started my journey to acceptance. Everything is no new to me still, I have no idea what to expect. I am currently waiting for my first visit with the oncology team at RBWH and find out what they believe would be the best line of attack so that I can beat this. I have 3 solid masses in my left breast, the largest of which is 2.5 cm and malignant. They also found malignant cells in the lymph node in my armpit. I have been told that I will need chemo and surgery, but i won't know what's what until I see the team at RBWH. The Breastscreen Doctor & nurse said that the tentative date they were told is around ANZAC day. I feel as though i'm in limbo at the moment. Most of the time I feel fine, but I am so tired & my body aches a lot. I am nearly 49 & single, so no partner, but have a lot of wonderful supportive friends around me. Being single with breast cancer brings about a whole other set of 'fears'. One thing I worry about is being able to continue to do my job, I work in Humanitarian Settlement Services, working with and housing Refugees. I love what I do and feel very passionate about my job and what it is that we do. My colleagues are wonderfully supportive and are already trying to work out a way that things can be restructured so that it makes things easier for all of us and less stressful for me, and so that I can continue working. Unfortunately it's up to management though and i am only on contract until 6th July. I have had all sorts of thoughts go through my head, but i remain positive that i will beat this! Scary words on my pathology are metastatic carcinoma when referring to the lymph node they did the FNA biopsy on. Cat
Returning to work
I went into work today to give them another certificate for a month off work. I finished chemo 3 weeks ago and was expecting to be able to return this week but am struggling with the fatigue. I have good days then have really bad days. The trouble is I feel a bit unsupported. My Dr thinks it is all just about mental health so is sending me to a psychologist...despite an average result in mood measuring (and this was just after gene testing). My boss even though is trying to act supportive I just feel isn't. They just don't get it. Chemo over so what's the issue? I've worked myself to breaking point in the past...and I will not do that again ever. But the guilt of looking after me is compounded by my thoughts peope just think I am making it up. Well I am guessing this of course. Why don't people get it? The problem is ...well..I am not dreadfully thin...in fact gained lots of weight on chemo...so don't look sick. I wore makeup throughout treatment so always had a healthy glow. I guess it's like a hidden disability. Talking about it just makes you sound like a whinger. I've even posted fatigue links after chemo on facebook but it doesn't seemed to have helped. Anyone have any suggestions for improving fatigue and having others understand. I am attempting exercise at least every 2nd day. Hoping to get to daily soon. Thanks Kath
What do you do (or did)?
I've found that I'm thoroughly intrigued by the work that people on this forum do (or did). I read that people are wondering about continuing to work or not, have retired or are looking for work and sometimes they say what that work is but often not. As for me, I'm a librarian by profession and, due to the logistics of having school-aged kids and living too far from anywhere, I'm working as a school support officer in the library at the secondary school that two of my kids go to. Currently on leave without pay but can't wait to go back. I love that my manager gives me my head to do the fun library stuff such as selecting material and reader guidance, and helping students organise activities, and I love working with that age group.
Stress levels
I have worked ten hour days for the past ten days and have been on call for the other fourteen hours of the day. I was a bit concerned about having a meltdown stress attack. So firstly, a regular came in and was overwhelming me with his problems and loading them on me. I was okay but on edge. Then everything went splat. Online bookings doubled up and I couldn’t fit people in and in trying to fix it up I came across a massive mistake made by a previous manager which HAD to be fixed urgently. Five abusive customers and three days later I have nearly finished sorting it out. Prior to BC I would have struggled. Two months ago I would have had a meltdown. I did it! No meltdown but a huge sense of achievement. My emotional inability to cope has been the hardest for me to accept. I still have brittle fingernails, powdery toenails, psoriasis on my eyelids and cracked teeth. But the physical annoyances I can deal with, if necessary. To everyone who is struggling emotionally, you will pull through. Maybe when you least expect to, but it will happen. I may still have days where I struggle to cope, but everyone does. I may have meltdowns, but that is okay. Sending huge hugs to all of you wonderful beautiful souls. Your support and encouragement has helped me in so many ways. I only hope that I can support and encourage others as you have me. Thank you
What doesn't kill you makes you stranger. And strangely more able to cope.
I got laid off work yesterday, like many of the nation's bottom dwelling disposables. Guess what? It's OK. Two ding dong doosey run ins with BC may have left me scarred and misshapen, but bloody hell, it makes you tough. So. Unlike many who haven't stared down the barrel of an obviously loaded gun, we've learnt how it feels to be under threat. We know panicking doesn't help, even though it's a natural reaction. We are uniquely experienced in the art of getting people to stay the fuck away from us. We understand being poor and a bit bored isn't the end of the world. We know that for some it doesn't end well, but many survive. After a struggle. That the odds on that one can't be calculated or manipulated. I'm going to stay home and do bugger all for a few days. Then I'll contemplate the next six months. Hang in there, thrill seekers, this is going to be an interesting ride. MXX
Awaiting results after surgery - Mjheke
Hi all, I am so pleased to be provided with information for this online support community! I was diagnosed with breast cancer 12 days ago and it has all been very fast moving and overwhelming since then. I went to see my GP about a lump that my husband had found, and having been diagnosed with fibrocystic disease of the breasts previously, I was just expecting the same results as previous investigations. This being a cyst. My mammogram did not show any obvious tumour, in fact was told that it ‘just looked like another cyst’, so that after I had the ultrasound she would drain it for me. I knew as soon as the sonographer started, something was not right. It revealed I had a suspicious lump that I then had biopsies done that day. I was told she had concerns it was cancerous, and it was. I was blown away. I am 49 and had gone through this with my sister 9 years ago when she was 41. I was encouraged to have an MRI breast as the imaging was not great for either the mammogram or ultrasound. It showed the tumour to be bigger than originally thought with another satellite tumour 1cm from this. I was so pleased to have had this done as the surgeon said it was helpful in planning my surgery. Yesterday I had a wide excision, sentinel node biopsy and R breast mastopexy. That was the longest day of my life! I am so pleased that part is over. Results hopefully tomorrow and then a plan from there. The waiting is the hardest part so far for me. I will have to go back to work financially. I am just wondering at others experience at returning to work after surgery and also returning to driving? Thanks in anticipation, Michelle x
What the heck is going on with this BC thing????????
Ok, so I know the figures are 1 in 8 or 1 in 7 depending on which article you read but honestly. When I was diagnosed I knew one of my friends sister had had breast cancer and my family history 3 generations ago. That was it. I would see the bookings come through at work averaging one or two breast surgeries a week and sometimes there would be a few weeks with none at all. Now. WOW! 4 - 6 a week with the majority being 45-55yrs and a definite rise in under 40's. One of my friends mother in law diagnosed last year and now her mother last week. my daughters friends mother, a close work collegue a couple of months ago, a collegues sister a week after that, a collegues daughter around the same time. One of the senior medical consultants. A client drops a horse off to me and has to run or she'll be late for radiation! Bugger me. I get in to work today and ask where so and so is. "Oh, haven't you heard" She's been diagnosed last week and is off for bilat mx and ax clearance. All of these people I know in my little circle diagnosed within the last 12 months. Seriously what the heck is going on?
To work or not to work?
i am hoping you lovely ladies could share your thoughts on the dilemma of to work or not to work following a mbc diagnosis? I was Dx Stage IV at the end of September this year. The Se of Afinitor/exemestane/Xgeva were awful and I have basically been on sick leave for the past three weeks bar a few days. I stopped Afinitor and am hoping to switch to Letrozole. I am now wondering whether I will ever be fully OK to return to work full time or indeed if I want to? Are the side effects of most treatment plans difficult to juggle with work? I'm not sure I want to work part time....I think I would feel that I was not truly productive. I am a personnel manager. I am fortunate to have insurance with my superannuation which I think would financially allow me to stop work, but if I do, will I find myself bored and too focussed on this disease? Then again, if my life span is limited, do I want to waste the time left to me working? Perhaps you have faced similar questions and perhaps you have been on the mbc journey longer than me? Is so, I would love to hear from you, thank you, cheers Judy
Going through treatment and working
Hi Everyone, I am 44 and was diagnosed in August 2017 with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (3.3cm). My surgeon recommended lumpectomy which I did but we did find during surgery that it was positive in the lymph nodes so had to take a heap out for testing. Thank fully it had only got into the first node and had not progressed much further which was a relief. I am oestrogen & progesterone positive. My treatment plan is 4 cycles of AC Chemo and then go to Taxol for 12 weeks and then radiation after that. I am currently on my 3 cycle of Chemo and except for my first 2 days after chemo I have managed to keep working. Work has been fantastic and I have been able to work from home and as I don't have kids (just Hubby and I) it keeps me busy. But I am looking to hear from people that are doing Taxol and if they were still able to work or did they find it to hard to continue? I know everyone is different but would be interested to hear how people went with Taxol and trying to continue to work. Thanks and Appreciate all advice.