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Cairns QLD
Diagnosed age 39
I guess the main thing I learnt throughout the whole process is everyone is different, treatments are different and your
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Tracy Coves
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reactions to each step are different. The main thing I would say is be true to yourself, don't feel that you have to act in a certain way or worry about what people think
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2005. I thought I could feel a lump then other times thought it was just my imagination. Thankfully, my partner insisted I go to the doctor. Who in turn thought it was just thickening but had the opinion better safe than sorry (thank god) and sent me for a mammogram. On the same day as the mammogram I had a fine needle aspiration. The doctor at the time said that it had to be sent away for the results. I asked what she thought and I was grateful that at that time she said that she was fairly certain it was cancer. Her opinion gave me the opportunity to prepare myself for the results. I only had to wait 3 days and she had already organised an appointment for me to see the surgeon that same week. Looking back now things moved really quickly.
I am the type of person who needs to know the ins and outs of everything, so straight away I began to read everything I could get my hands on and to be honest for once this backfired on me. I was all organised to go in for my mastectomy, then the chemotherapy. However, at the last minute my treatment team swapped this around to be chemo then surgery. Now I will let you know, in everything I read I could not find anything saying treatment could be done this way. Therefore, my mind went into overdrive imagining the worse. That was until I re-read the ‘My Journey' booklet and found a small article about this method, which finally put my mind at ease. From then on, I decided a little less information and trusting my treatment team, was the best way to go. Besides, I was very impressed with the way they did things. The team included my surgeon, oncologist, breast care nurse and several other doctors. They would meet each week and discuss each case. As a group they worked out the best treatment for a patient. I love the fact that it is like getting a second, third or fourth opinion in one hit, the best options for you, not one specialist's opinion, which more than likely would have been the area they specialise in.
The chemo was the hardest part of the whole process for me. I would often say I felt perfectly health until I started my treatment. I was shattered when I lost my hair (though thanks to the QLD Cancer Council I had my wig ready and waiting.) I remember when it starting falling out luckily it was on a Friday, so on the weekend after I woke up with huge clumps of hair on my pillow, my partner shaved my head. I went to work on the Monday with my wig, paranoid as all hell, but was excited when everyone commented on how they loved the way I had my hair done. I was amazed at how many people didn't even realise it was a wig. I was lucky that I could work throughout my chemo and my bosses were fantastic and let me come and go depending on how I felt on the day.
I had my mastectomy four days before Christmas, so 2005 was definitely a year I wouldn't forget. I am currently in the process of my reconstruction. I had thickening in my other breast as well, so I opted to have the other one removed as a precaution and had reconstruction surgery on both at the same time and that is where I am up to now.
Throughout my treatment, the one thing that helped me cope was laughter, my partner, sons and family would often joke about what was going on and would always try to find a funny side to everything. Some people would look at us strangely when they would hear us. I even remember one person having a shot at my partner saying that it was not something that he should joke about and that his attitude offended him. At first, we were sympathetic and cautious of his feelings, thinking he may have been in a similar situation or known someone who was. When he said he didn't and only knew us, I quickly went on the defensive and replied that we couldn't change what was happening, but anything that helped us get through each day, without falling to pieces, was just perfect for me - so roll on the laughter and jokes.
One of my sisters was worried that we may have been taking a blasé attitude to the situation, which in one way she was right. Before my diagnosis, our attitudes were to live each day as it comes, so I wasn't going to change after it; if anything to me, it was more important to think that way. I remember saying to her ‘Would being more serious about it make me better any quicker, would it change the results or would it change what I have to go through?'. The outcome will be what it is, I am sure that being positive, and trying to stay happy was a much better option for me.
Now yes we did have up and down days and there were tears shed, but looking back now those days are harder to remember than the ones where we would all sit around having a laugh. (Though I have to be honest now they need to find some new jokes, the Dolly Parton ones are wearing thin) I guess the main thing I learnt throughout the whole process is everyone is different, treatments are different and your reactions to each step are different. The main thing I would say is be true to yourself, don't feel that you have to act in a certain way or worry about what people think, (if they are offended, apologise and move away from them.) Deal with it the way that will be best for you and your family, because at the end of the day that is what matters the most. One other thing I have learnt is don't ever put things off, if you want to do something do it now. I have always wanted to write a book, each time I started I would stop because I had too much to do, now I am nearly finished it, because I made sure I had the time. It is amazing how things you thought were so important and were must do's, really were not that important or could be done by someone else.
Last Updated 7 December 2007
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Tracy Coves 
