Hi, my name is Laura and I am 34 years old and have just been diagnosed with Breast Cancer for the 2nd time. I am hoping to communicate/meet people who are experiencing similar feelings and emotions as I am
I was diagnosed on 22/12/11 (for the first time), with Grade 2, Stage 2 ER+, PR-, HER2+ invasive ductal cell carcinoma with 1 sentinel node positive (5mm deposit) and a very minor LVI, outside of the tumour, but within the removed tissue, and underwent a mastectomy and reconstruction, had a port implanted and am now undergoing chemo (6 cycles of TCH every 21 days- 3 completed, YAY!), followed by abother 12 Herceptin, again every 21 days.
I love your cat, very cute (I have fur baby too, but mine is a dog (as you can see from my avatar), her name is Boo and she is a 9 1/2 yr old Norwegian Elkhound).
I can understand that your emotions and feelings are all over the place at the moment, it must be hard having gone through it once to now have to go through it again. I am sure there are others here who have been though it more than once. But those of use who have been thought it only the once or who are going through it for the first time at present also understand a lot of what you are going through.
I hope you get wha tyou are lookign for from this site.
Thank you so much for your welcoming message. I am looking forward to hearing other stories like mine. I wish you all the very best with your treatment.
I was first diagnosed in 2004 and had the 4mm lump removed, followed by 6 weeks of radiation, which I have learned the other day, I cannot have anymore radio. I go in for surgery again next week, so hopefully all goes well.
My cat's name is Shilo, who is mostly a good boy, but has his naughty side at 2am each morning! :) Your dog, Boo, looks adorable! I couldn't be without any animals.
Where abouts in Oz (or the world are you)? If you don'tmind me asking. I am in Canberra.
Is your surgery next week a lumpectomy or mastectomy?
Naughty Shilo, waking you up at 2am, doesn't he realise there should only be one 2 o'clock in a 24hr period.
I am like you I need a fur child to have a complete life. for my husband and I we aren't having children (I have a genetic condition and we decided no kids about 10 years ago, and now I am 41 and hopefully in chemo menopause (I also have a chronic pain condition and my period plays mary hell with it).
If no radiotherapy, do you know what they are going to do yet?
I am the same - no radiotherapy (but that is due to my medical conditions and family history), although I see the radiation oncologist on the 16th August to just make sure that is the correct wy to go (they think for me the risks outweigh the benefits).
Good Luck, what day is your surgery next week?
Please feel free to ignore and and all of the questions I have asked, I hope I don't offend by asking them.
Second time around for me too.It's a real kick in the guts isn't it. I had a lumpectomy,full node clearance and radiation back in 2003.Seven years later,in 2010,it came back in the same spot despite clear margins in 2003.So had to have a mastectomy and chemo and am now on Tamoxifen.Apparently there is an 8%chance it can return in the same breast after radiation.Guess we are in that 8%!!But you are way too young to have to go through this again- shouldn't have happened in the first place.After the shock you'll go into battle mode and this time around you kinda know the drill.Hope surgery goes smoothly for you and come back here to vent and get support.
Hi Laura, welcome again! :) Sorry to hear about your second diagnosis, but I'm so glad you found your way here -- feel free to jump in and post or comment as much as you like.
Love your pic -- I'm a pet person, too, so I love my puppy (although she's 15, so not exactly a puppy any more! :)
Thank you for your message too - I know, the stats are unbelievable really. I have gone into the "battle" mode you are speaking about, but being that I didn't have any counselling first time, I thought I would give this ago, and already, I am feeling a little better :)
Thanks again Di for your help and direction with the blogs. I really appreciate all your help :)
Hi (sorry, is it Sharon?) lol, i am guessing from your username :)
I live in Adelaide and have most of my life after moving from Melbourne. I will be having a partial mastectomy as the Cancer is confined (hopefully) in my milk duct, so my surgeon will go around a little and hopefully it hasn't gone outside that, which I will find out on Tuesday week. I will be going into surgery on Wednesday 30th May for day surgery, but will have to stay in overnight - I HATE HOSPITALS, but I think I will have a few visitors, so hoping the time will pass quickly. I have also had the genetic testing for the Braca 1 & 2 genens, but they came back negative and there is no family history of Breat Cancer at all..... this is really annoying and frustrating (to be polite) as the doctors cannot tell me why this has happened again. Don't get me wrong, I am not a "poor me" person at all, just one of those things that I would like to know, but am unable to get answers - oh well, nevermind.... I have no kids at all, but would absolutely LOVE to have them one day - I really can't wait. I have an extremely kind and gentle partner, Jason, whom we have been together for just over 6 months, so, once this nightmare is over with, hopefully will try and have some kids :)
Good luck with your appointments too, I do wish you well for them and it is great chatting with all of you lovely ladies
Hi Laura,
I am Danielle and I was diagnosed about 3 weeks ago. This is my first time round. I can't imagine how it feels to lose the lottery twice, once is bad enough! I had a lumpectomy last week and then a re-excision this week because of involved margins.
I am hoping to start chemo next week. My oncologist is planning 4 cycles of AC every 2 weeks then weekly taxol and herceptin and maybe carbo and then herceptin for 12 months in total and hormone blockade as I am ER/PR positive.
Thankfully my sentinel nodes were clear and I'm hoping to god my respected margins are now clear as I hate having surgery. Anaesthetics freak me out!
I am also a cancer nurse and have worked in cancer care for 12 years. My treatment team are also my friends so it makes for very interesting times....
I'm an ex adeladian, we move from Adelaide to Sydney 9 years ago.
Your meow meow looks very sweet, I have 2 fur babies, a malamute and a husky, a wee birdy and 3 beautiful human girls.
Good luck with everything, the girls and the support here is fantastic, I'm so glad I had it in the early days. You are not alone my friend, we are all here for you in spirit.
Take care of yourself and go forth and conquer!
xx Danielle
Thank you soooo much for you message. It is a wonderful place this website and am very thankful for Di for helping me get started. I read your story yesterday actually, that you are a cancer nurse. It is horrible to hear those dreaded words, no matter how many times it has happened before. I really am pleased to read that you got it early and the doctors are able to do all they can for you. I didn't have chemo, just radio, first time around back in 2004, so am unable to have it again, but am hoping that surgery goes well on Wednesday and that it is contained in my milk duct and they are thinking it is.
Lovely to "meet" you and look forward to chatting with you again soon.
I am soo sorry this has happened to you again. It reaffirms my decision to have my left breast removed! This should be happening in July. They are planning on the mastectomy and reconstruction at the same time!
Good luck next wednesday. I'll be thinking of you. Who is your surgeon?
OMG! Thank you sooo much for writing me. I didn't even think that I would get these beautiful women writing me. I am sorry to hear what you are going through. Is this your first time? I am still finding my feet around the website, so please excuse my ignorance. I live in Reynella with my mum atm, after a nasty break up over a year ago and still trying to get on my feet - until this happens, but will get through this again..... My surgeon is Dr Clive Hoffmann out of FMC. He is wonderful and has been with me since day dot really. That is really great that they can do the reconstruction at the same time. You are in my prayers also and hoping we can continue our chats and maybe someday meet :D
Nooooooooooooooo!!! OMG!! They say, "this is a small world" but this is a time when u WANT it to "be a small world". To meet people who are going through the same thing, to help eachother :D
YES! It will be ur last time and I would be so happy to try and do anything for you to make this easier, as u and all the other ladies on here are too xoxox
Hey Tania, did you have your treatment at flinders? My friend marny works there in the day centre and my other friend Sue works on the ward.
If you go there for chemo Laura keep an eye out for the girls :)
I'm a second timer as well! 2002 and 2011. I was 34 the first time. I wouldn't have got through the first time without my psychologist! Oh my god, I was going mental with all the millions of worries cancer stirs up. He encouraged to do a meditation course which was an absolute life saver! The second time I was diagnosed was much, much better and I cruised through the chemo compared to the first time. The anti-nausea drugs were great this time. I also think that I was better prepared mentally and emotionally, and it helped me to remember that the chemo etc was just a temporary thing, and life would be good again before I knew it! Good luck with your treatment and try to spoil yourself! xx Jane
I haven't had, nor I think I will, have chemo, I did my course of radio first time round and that knocked me for 6, so I cannot even imagine what chemo would be like!! Danielle, my BC nurses are Rachel B and Jan Rice. I love Rachel, she is my angel when I go into FMC :)
When I had my biopsy the other day, I started sweating and feeling sooo sick but she kept me still until the end and I felt so much better with wet flannels on me!!
Where did u go for ur meditation? Sounds like something I need to look at doing!!
This site is AMAZING!! I feel sooo lucky to talk to u lively ladies and others too. It's making this journey do much easier than last xox
Welcome to this fabulous site! I am sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed a second time around...it really SUCKS and it's hard to make sense of, especially when there's no family history of BC. I know what it's like to think that you've put this awful journey behind you, and then to have the rug pulled out from under you and get a second diagnosis. I am also in Adelaide, and was diagnosed with early BC in 2008, and then secondary BC in 2011/12. Feel free to read my blog and if you havent already, join the Adelaide Breast Cancer Friendship Group. We meet on alternate Tuesdays and Fridays in the city at the moment.
Good luck with your treatment and look after yourself! Take care, Celeste♥
Hi Celeste! Thank you for your welcome message and to hear about your diagnosis also. It does suck, especially when your life is going really well and BOOM hit with the "C" word again, I would LOVE to read your blog and am so happy to also hear that you are in Adelaide and would LOVE to meet you someday and the other lovely ladies in your group too.
You take care too and hopefully speak/meet you soon.
How are we all feeling today? I am going not too bad. Trying not to think about Wednesday too much. OMG it has been sooo cold here in Adelaide over the past few days, so chilling out infront of the heater has been one of my fav past times :)
This weekend has been non stop. Kids sport yesterday and school arts and craft festival today. Thank god I had the foresight to pop some endone in my bag! Unfortunately the kids chose the exact time it kicked in to hit me up for some cash. I got well and truly raided! Am consoling myself with a second round of mini donuts. Yum yum
Good afternoon my pink sisters, well after having had my surgery Wednesday week ago, I have the results, which weren't what I was hoping for... My surgeon, Dr Hoffmann has recommended me to have a single mastectomy and recon. The thoughts and emotions that are running through my mind are out of control! Like everyone, I am having good and bad days and am hanging out for this nightmare to be done and dusted.... FOREVER..... anyway, I just wanted to go "BLAH" and let you all know that you are all in my thoughts everyday xox
Aaaaah lovey. These things are sent to try us. I spent a crap weekend worrying about my pathology. Thank god for my oncologist who is a legend!
Keep your chin up chick, better to get it all now than to have to go through this again in 12 months time.
Big hugs babe xxx
I've got all my results, had to have a re-excision of the original lumpectomy because of involved margins. The second excision had a close margin with DCIS and the breast MDT decided not to re-operate but just to monitor closely. That made me as nervous as hell as I wanted another excision to be sure it was all gone as I'll be damned if I'm going up do all this again in 12 months! So I spent the weekend fretting about it and then this morning my oncologist (bless her) says yeah! We'll just get you in for a re-excision when chemo is finished! Easy. Done. Sorted!!
I would happily let them take whatever is required, my surgeon however is a little on the conservative side!
All my results are in and I have (had) an aggressive, fast growing tumour which my onc thinks has only been there for about 6 months. This is scary but at the same time comforting because the more aggresive a cancer the better it responds to chemo and I figure the less time it's been there the less time it's had to spread. I'm also ER/PR and HER2 +ve so I have more treatment options open to me too.
Hope you're doing ok chick.
xxx Dan xxx
Hey Dan, That is GREAT news for you! I am really pleased to hear that they are going to do all they can and what YOU want them to do so this bitch of a thing doesn't come back in 12 months time!!! I have to ask, what do all those abbreviations stand for ie DCIS, MDT ect... still trying to catch up with the lingo :) When does your chemo finish??
DCIS = Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (or I think it is) - means ductal cancer that is still inside the actualy milk duct and hasn't invaded any more of the breast yet.
MDT = Multi Disciplinary Team (a team consisting of multiple members, from different fields, such as your medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, breast surgeon, breast care nurse, oncology nurses, community nurses, physiotherapist, dietician, lymphoedema specialists etc etc)
I am sure you probably know the following but I will put them here anyway ...
ER = Oestrogen Receptor (The E comes from the USA spelling of Estrogen) (this tells weather or not your cancer is "fed" by Oestrogen or not)
+ = positive (such as ER+ = Oestrogen Receptor Positive)
- = negative (Such as ER- = Oestrogen receptor Negative)
PR = Progesterone Receptor (this tells weather or not your cancer is "fed" by Progesterone or not)
HER2 = Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (this is a gene which promotes the growth of cancer cells when positive mean that this gene doesn't work properly and it makes too many copies of itself, which makes the cancer grow faster)
IBC = Inflammatory Breast Cancer, but I have also seen it used to mean Invasive Breast Cancer
BRCA1/ BRCA2 = Breast Cancersusceptability Gene 1/ 2 (these are 2 genes that if you carry them can increase your risk of getting breast and/or ovarian cancers, if you have one of these genes it also means that any offspring can inherit the faulty gene from you - the risk is something like - the general population have a lifetime risk of about 12%, people with a faulty gene have a lifelong risk of about 60% for breast cancer and a 1.4% lifetime risk in the general population and a 15 to 40% risk for people with the faulty gene for ovarian cancer) - also known as Familial Breast Cancer in some places.
BSE = Breast Self Examination
US or U/S = Ultrasound
CT or CT Scan = Computer Tomography (A type of medical imaging that uses a computer to organise multiple x-rays and construct a cross section view of the body)
Rad = Raditation, on these sites usually means Radiation Therapy.
PET or PET scan = Positron Emission Tomography (a medical imaging technique that uses radioactive tracers to show upareas of damage or faster growing areas like cancers - used to find metastises in some people)
MRI = Magnetic Resonance Imaging (A medical imaging technique that uses a large magnet linked to a computer to create detailed pictures inside of the body)
Mets = Metastases or secondaries (this means the cancer has spread or metastasised to other barts of the body such as the bones, or organs like lungs, liver brain etc)
There are HEAPS more too, but I can't think of any more at present. ☺
Hope this has been of some help (we need to make a file with all of the definitions, so that we can refer to it when we come across a new one or read one in our biopsy, or pathology reports, or blood test results etc etc.
Thank you soooo much for that. Most of them I did recognise, but always helps to clarify them. Lucky for me, I have been tested back in 2004 when I was first diagnosed and do not carry the BRAC 1 or 2 gene..... This time around I think I would have the DCIS as it is contained in the milk duct, but it was also said that it over a larger area and just gone inside the nipple, so no sparing for me.
You have been a WONDERFUL help and thank you for all that info xoxox
Ooopsy sorry lovey, DCIS is ductal carcinoma insitu. It's when there are cancer cells inside the milk ducts that haven't broken out into the surrounding tissue. DCIS is often picked up on mammogram in lots of women and people sometimes refer to it as "pre cancer" my pathology had a mix of DCIS and invasive tumour in it and my first excision had DCIS in the margin so I had to go back to have more taken. The 2nd excision had 2 ducts with DCIS in them within 1mm of the border which is too close for me so I will be asking for more surgery at the end of chemo. I don't want to risk even 1 cell being left behind to grow into another tumour.
MDT stands for multi-disciplinary-team. MDT's are basically a group of different clinicians: doctors, surgeons, nurses, radiologists, pathologists etc who come together and look at a patients case to discuss the best treatment.
In my breast MDT there are the breast surgeons, the medical oncologists (chemo docs) radiation oncologists (radiotherapy docs) pathologists (the ones that look at the stuff under the microscope) breast care nurses, clinical psychologists, social workers etc. All new breast cancer cases are presented and they all discuss the best way to proceed. In my case they looked at my pathology on a big screen and blah blah'd about what to do. It was decided that it was most likely that all the cancer cells were gone, but that they would monitor me with scans very closely. Unfortunately my med onc wasn't there as she was at a conference and I have a feeling she would have pushed for more surgery. But that's what she is doing now so we are all good! :) also my genetic tests are back and I get them this week. If we are positive both of those bad boys will be whipped off anyway!
Hope this clears things up for you.
xx Dan xx
Thanks Dan for that and am so pleased that you have a great onc. She sounds as though she is definately listening to what YOU want and I think that, that is most important. Hope your feeling good today :)
Di, how are you going???? Thank you SO much also for the link, I will have a look shortly and hope you are travelling along well! :)
First posting for me. I was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time 10 days ago. I previously had breast cancer 15 years ago, when I was not quite 34. At that time I had a partial mastectomy and node clearance. The nodes were clear. I then had 6 weeks radiotherapy. And then had been healthy since. Thought I was well and truly safe from it.
But it was not to be. It has come back in the same breast. I have seen the oncolcogist and because I have already had radiotherapy and it has come back I have no option but to have a full mastectomy. He will also do a sentinal node biopsy and if needed another node clearance.
Not all that happy with my situation. Never expected to be in this positoin again.
Now trying to decide if I will have a bilateral mastectomy so that I never have to worry about it again.
Hi Pauline,
I had my first cancer 10 years ago when I was 34. I thought I'd probably seen the last of it, but got a new cancer in the same breast last August. I had a mastectomy this time (for the same reasons as you) and had my ovaries removed in January. On the 6th of September, I am having the other boob removed and a double reconstruction. In the end, the decision to have the other boob off was easy. My oncologist recommended I do it too. Were your tumours very big? Big you find them yourself? All the best xx Jane
I had my ovaries out because both of my cancers were very eostrogen positive, and when my blood was tested, my eostrogen levels were very high. Since I already had 5 years of tamoxifen between 2002 and 2007, my oncologist didn't want me having it again. She thought femara would be best for me but as its only for post menopausal women, I had my ovaries removed. I had chemo in 2002, and again this time around. The chemo had put me into temporary menopause, but my ovaries were quite robust and looked like they would kick back into action. I asked my oncologist if she would remove her other boob if she was in my position and she said yes without any hesitation. She is involved with lots of international studies and clinical trials and I trust her advice completely. Her husband is a breast surgeon too. I didn't think I'd be too fussed about reconstruction, but after having no boob for 11 months, I'm very keen to have boobs and a cleavage again! I find the prosthesis a bit of a pain, and my plastic surgeon showed me some awesome photos of his patients who had the same procedure I'm going to have. My breast surgeon who did my lumpectomy in 2002 and my mastectomy in 2011 also agreed having the other boob off was a good idea. I asked her if I was over reacting by wanting it done, and she said that it was a sound medical decision and was very common now. What will your treatment be like this time around? xx Jane
My new surgeon isn't all that keen on me having both off as he says my right is essentially healthy tissue.
I stil dont know what my treatment will be apart from the definite mastectomy on the left and arimidex for 5 years after. It will depend on the sentinel node biopsy and the pathaloogy of the tumour. He reckons there is a 60% chance that I will have to have chemo as well.
I am already 2 years post menopause so i think that makes a difference to what other treatment I get.
I am almost certain that I will be going for a bilateral. Dont want to have to think about it again.
I have to write my surgeon a letter with my reasons for wanting it, not for any legal reason but he says that it helps me to really clarify why I am making the decision that I am.
I'm in the same boat as you.I had a lumpectomy,full node clearance and radiation in 2003.It came back 7 yrs later in the same spot-I was really shocked,thought I was in the clear. So I had a mastectomy then chemo in 2010.I have been on Tamoxifen for 2 yrs now. I wear a prosthesis and it's ok. I've thought of losing the other boob and doing recon but I also had 3 surgeries on my ankle between the boob ops and I can't stomach another operation for the moment.Also I have become paranoid about checking my scarline incase cancer comes back again.Like you,I would be limited to Diep recon (cos of the radiation)and that is a long,more complicated surgery.But having one boob is not without it's problems too.You have to buy higher neckline tops or "doctor" your wardrobe.That's probably the case with no boobs as well.These are all difficult decisions and in the end just go with what you feel is right for you at the moment.
Thanks for your reply. Did you have chemo the second time cos there were nodes involved or because of the pathology of the tumour?
I think there are issues with one or no boobs. For me I just dont want to in this situation again and have to be making decisions. Part of it is fear of it coming back but part of it is just getting it over with once and for all. As the surgeon said, there was a 90% chance it wouldn't come back in this breast and it did.
If I only have one off then I am worried that I will still be thinking all the time if I should get the other off, whereas if they both go then that is it.
I am going to have periods of really intense sadness whatever happens. Still cant really get my head around the fact that I have breast cancer a second time.
Yes,it's really hard getting your head around another bout of bc.You think you've done the hard yards the first time and surely won't be in the unlucky 8% who get it back. I had to have chemo the second time simply because it was a recurrence.It was the same pathology and still classed as early bc.I had no nodes to check cos all were taken the first time around.I can totally see your dilemma - take one boob or two?Even with both boobs gone,you would probably still worry that cancer was lurking somewhere else in your body.I kinda worry about that more than bc in the other boob cos I get it checked regularly.However,it sure would be a relief not to have mammograms and get all anxious about the results.Even if you don't want reconstruction at this stage,perhaps you should get all the info on it for later That may influence about what type of surgery gets done on the"good"boob. Maybe you need to ask your doc more questions so that you'll feel more comfortable about your decision.
I am sooo sorry that it has taken me soooo long to reply to your messages. Clearly, I haven't been on here for awhile, and I do apologise. I have read your posts and feel your pain, I truly do..... I am going through EXACTLY the same thing atm.... As it stands, I am 34 years old and am yet to learn of a date for my surgery. I have decided to have a bilateral mastectomy and recon at the same time. I am going through 2nd time bc in the same breast (8 years was first diagnosed) and thought I was in the clear... until the 8/5/12. Having has rad the first time around and a lumpectomy, I was feeling like it was "bad luck Laura". No history, no brac 1 or 2 genes found, so I just thought I was "unlucky". Anyway, I came to the decision on my own and my breast surgeon wanted me to tell me the reason for having the left off too. I told him that first and foremost, I do not want to go through this again in another 8 years and just worrying CONSTANTLY will drive me mad! I have seen my breast recon surgeon too, and she is FANTASTIC! I will be having "Flap" surgery from my lateral muscles and formed to make new breasts. I am absolutely CRAPPING myself, but know that this is truly the right decision for me. I am kidless, but have found an amazing guy, who we are wanting to start a family together, so I try and keep telling myself, that this is a little "bump" in the road. I know that I will be ok at the end of it as it hasn't gone to my bones, organs or blood... I also have not and will not need chemo, so, whatever I can do, to prolong my life with my gorgeous partner, Jason, I will do.
Thanks again for your messages and look forward to chatting again.
I am going in on the 25th July for my bilateral mastectomy. I wonder if we have the same surgeon as I had to write a letter to mine outlining why I wanted to both done. I am seeing Dr Segara.
I never want to be in this situation again and I am pretty certain that if I only had one done I would want to go back and get the second done.
I had a recurrence two years after a lumpectomy, chemotherapy AND radiation in my left breast in 2009. Recurrence last year was in the same breast and same place, even though I had clearance after surgery. I had no hesitation in deciding to get my right breast removed at the same time as the left one.
I have now worn breast prostheses for the last year, and while they are comfortable in a genie bra, I cant wear necklines I like easily. I just have two scooped out hollows where my breasts were and these hollows go quite high. In March I saw a plastic surgeon to get reconstruction. I'm going with the bi lateral Diep flap as I've had radiation so implants won't work. The operation is on August 22. I'm so nervous about such a long procedure, but I will be glad to have a cleavage and feel normal again. The flat stomach will be a bonus!
I still worry about another recurrence and probably will for another 4 years. (I'm one year post bi lateral mastectomy now). I had a PET scan last year to check for mets and decided to have another one this month. All clear, so I feel confident for now.....
Glad to hear you got the all clear on the PET scans (I am thinking of asking my oncologist about getting one done).
Don't panic too much about the surgery, it will be amazing, you will come out with 2 new boobs and a tummy tuck :o),
Sure there will be the recovery perios, but I have heard it isn't too bad (I had immediate impant reconstruction, so can only go by that, althought yours is more involved due to it being a DEIP, so you will have an extra wound, but they will look after you).
Laura has asked me to pop a message on here to let you all know that she is in Hospital and hasnt been able to reply to anyone. Sadly she is in intensive care with Pneumonia. She went into hospital last Monday (same day as me!!) with a very bad strain of the flu. Within a few days she was put into intensive care as she progressively got worse. She has the "Hong Kong" strain of the flu and has been real sick the poor love. She was told today that they hope she will be out of intensive care by either tomorrow or Wednesday. For those of you who dont know, Laura and I both live in Adelaide. Laura and I met about 2 months ago when her partner and her came to my place and we polished of a few bevvies and got to know each other. We have been supporting each other ever since. I had another Masetcomy and reconstruction last Monday and she is devistated that she can not be here for me!!! I keep telling her to stop worrying, but that's just the way we all roll I guess! Wanting to be there for each other. So send all you thoughts her way. She could use them. Oh, and we have the same surgeons, both breast and plastic!!! Freaky huh! I'll keep you posted until she can get on here herself. Maybe BCNA need to look at doing an App so that we can touch base even when we are in hospital???
Comments
Firstly welcome...
I was diagnosed on 22/12/11 (for the first time), with Grade 2, Stage 2 ER+, PR-, HER2+ invasive ductal cell carcinoma with 1 sentinel node positive (5mm deposit) and a very minor LVI, outside of the tumour, but within the removed tissue, and underwent a mastectomy and reconstruction, had a port implanted and am now undergoing chemo (6 cycles of TCH every 21 days- 3 completed, YAY!), followed by abother 12 Herceptin, again every 21 days.
I love your cat, very cute (I have fur baby too, but mine is a dog (as you can see from my avatar), her name is Boo and she is a 9 1/2 yr old Norwegian Elkhound).
I can understand that your emotions and feelings are all over the place at the moment, it must be hard having gone through it once to now have to go through it again. I am sure there are others here who have been though it more than once. But those of use who have been thought it only the once or who are going through it for the first time at present also understand a lot of what you are going through.
I hope you get wha tyou are lookign for from this site.
AGAIN WELCOME ♥♥
Hi there,
Thank you so much for your welcoming message. I am looking forward to hearing other stories like mine. I wish you all the very best with your treatment.
I was first diagnosed in 2004 and had the 4mm lump removed, followed by 6 weeks of radiation, which I have learned the other day, I cannot have anymore radio. I go in for surgery again next week, so hopefully all goes well.
My cat's name is Shilo, who is mostly a good boy, but has his naughty side at 2am each morning! :) Your dog, Boo, looks adorable! I couldn't be without any animals.
Once again, thank you for your message
xox
You are VERy welcome Laura.
Where abouts in Oz (or the world are you)? If you don'tmind me asking. I am in Canberra.
Is your surgery next week a lumpectomy or mastectomy?
Naughty Shilo, waking you up at 2am, doesn't he realise there should only be one 2 o'clock in a 24hr period.
I am like you I need a fur child to have a complete life. for my husband and I we aren't having children (I have a genetic condition and we decided no kids about 10 years ago, and now I am 41 and hopefully in chemo menopause (I also have a chronic pain condition and my period plays mary hell with it).
If no radiotherapy, do you know what they are going to do yet?
I am the same - no radiotherapy (but that is due to my medical conditions and family history), although I see the radiation oncologist on the 16th August to just make sure that is the correct wy to go (they think for me the risks outweigh the benefits).
Good Luck, what day is your surgery next week?
Please feel free to ignore and and all of the questions I have asked, I hope I don't offend by asking them.
♥
Hi Laura
Second time around for me too.It's a real kick in the guts isn't it. I had a lumpectomy,full node clearance and radiation back in 2003.Seven years later,in 2010,it came back in the same spot despite clear margins in 2003.So had to have a mastectomy and chemo and am now on Tamoxifen.Apparently there is an 8%chance it can return in the same breast after radiation.Guess we are in that 8%!!But you are way too young to have to go through this again- shouldn't have happened in the first place.After the shock you'll go into battle mode and this time around you kinda know the drill.Hope surgery goes smoothly for you and come back here to vent and get support.
Tonya xx
Hi Laura, welcome again! :) Sorry to hear about your second diagnosis, but I'm so glad you found your way here -- feel free to jump in and post or comment as much as you like.
Love your pic -- I'm a pet person, too, so I love my puppy (although she's 15, so not exactly a puppy any more! :)
~Di
Hi Tonya,
Thank you for your message too - I know, the stats are unbelievable really. I have gone into the "battle" mode you are speaking about, but being that I didn't have any counselling first time, I thought I would give this ago, and already, I am feeling a little better :)
Thanks again Di for your help and direction with the blogs. I really appreciate all your help :)
Love Laura
xox
Hi (sorry, is it Sharon?) lol, i am guessing from your username :)
I live in Adelaide and have most of my life after moving from Melbourne. I will be having a partial mastectomy as the Cancer is confined (hopefully) in my milk duct, so my surgeon will go around a little and hopefully it hasn't gone outside that, which I will find out on Tuesday week. I will be going into surgery on Wednesday 30th May for day surgery, but will have to stay in overnight - I HATE HOSPITALS, but I think I will have a few visitors, so hoping the time will pass quickly. I have also had the genetic testing for the Braca 1 & 2 genens, but they came back negative and there is no family history of Breat Cancer at all..... this is really annoying and frustrating (to be polite) as the doctors cannot tell me why this has happened again. Don't get me wrong, I am not a "poor me" person at all, just one of those things that I would like to know, but am unable to get answers - oh well, nevermind.... I have no kids at all, but would absolutely LOVE to have them one day - I really can't wait. I have an extremely kind and gentle partner, Jason, whom we have been together for just over 6 months, so, once this nightmare is over with, hopefully will try and have some kids :)
Good luck with your appointments too, I do wish you well for them and it is great chatting with all of you lovely ladies
xox
Crappity crap crap
Hi Laura,
I am Danielle and I was diagnosed about 3 weeks ago. This is my first time round. I can't imagine how it feels to lose the lottery twice, once is bad enough! I had a lumpectomy last week and then a re-excision this week because of involved margins.
I am hoping to start chemo next week. My oncologist is planning 4 cycles of AC every 2 weeks then weekly taxol and herceptin and maybe carbo and then herceptin for 12 months in total and hormone blockade as I am ER/PR positive.
Thankfully my sentinel nodes were clear and I'm hoping to god my respected margins are now clear as I hate having surgery. Anaesthetics freak me out!
I am also a cancer nurse and have worked in cancer care for 12 years. My treatment team are also my friends so it makes for very interesting times....
I'm an ex adeladian, we move from Adelaide to Sydney 9 years ago.
Your meow meow looks very sweet, I have 2 fur babies, a malamute and a husky, a wee birdy and 3 beautiful human girls.
Good luck with everything, the girls and the support here is fantastic, I'm so glad I had it in the early days. You are not alone my friend, we are all here for you in spirit.
Take care of yourself and go forth and conquer!
xx Danielle
Hi Danielle,
Thank you soooo much for you message. It is a wonderful place this website and am very thankful for Di for helping me get started. I read your story yesterday actually, that you are a cancer nurse. It is horrible to hear those dreaded words, no matter how many times it has happened before. I really am pleased to read that you got it early and the doctors are able to do all they can for you. I didn't have chemo, just radio, first time around back in 2004, so am unable to have it again, but am hoping that surgery goes well on Wednesday and that it is contained in my milk duct and they are thinking it is.
Lovely to "meet" you and look forward to chatting with you again soon.
Laura
xox
Hey Laura,
I am in Adelaide too. I live near Marion.
I am soo sorry this has happened to you again. It reaffirms my decision to have my left breast removed! This should be happening in July. They are planning on the mastectomy and reconstruction at the same time!
Good luck next wednesday. I'll be thinking of you. Who is your surgeon?
Tania xx
Hey Tania,
OMG! Thank you sooo much for writing me. I didn't even think that I would get these beautiful women writing me. I am sorry to hear what you are going through. Is this your first time? I am still finding my feet around the website, so please excuse my ignorance. I live in Reynella with my mum atm, after a nasty break up over a year ago and still trying to get on my feet - until this happens, but will get through this again..... My surgeon is Dr Clive Hoffmann out of FMC. He is wonderful and has been with me since day dot really. That is really great that they can do the reconstruction at the same time. You are in my prayers also and hoping we can continue our chats and maybe someday meet :D
Laura
xox
oh wow Laura,
He is my surgeon too!!!! I had my surgery done at Flinders Private.
So you live soooo close! We will have to catch up.
Yes, this is my first ...... and LAST time:) . I will private message you with my mobile. Call anytime xx
Tania
Nooooooooooooooo!!! OMG!! They say, "this is a small world" but this is a time when u WANT it to "be a small world". To meet people who are going through the same thing, to help eachother :D
YES! It will be ur last time and I would be so happy to try and do anything for you to make this easier, as u and all the other ladies on here are too xoxox
Flinders
Hey Tania, did you have your treatment at flinders? My friend marny works there in the day centre and my other friend Sue works on the ward.
If you go there for chemo Laura keep an eye out for the girls :)
Hi Laura
I'm a second timer as well! 2002 and 2011. I was 34 the first time. I wouldn't have got through the first time without my psychologist! Oh my god, I was going mental with all the millions of worries cancer stirs up. He encouraged to do a meditation course which was an absolute life saver! The second time I was diagnosed was much, much better and I cruised through the chemo compared to the first time. The anti-nausea drugs were great this time. I also think that I was better prepared mentally and emotionally, and it helped me to remember that the chemo etc was just a temporary thing, and life would be good again before I knew it! Good luck with your treatment and try to spoil yourself! xx Jane
Hey Dan,
No I went to Tennyson Centre. Great bunch there too!!!
Where's the Tennyson centre? Is it a private clinic?
Hey Dan, Yeah it is a private clinic. The name of the clinic is Adelaide Cancer Centre. Its on South Rd, just past Anzac Hwy
Evening All :)
I haven't had, nor I think I will, have chemo, I did my course of radio first time round and that knocked me for 6, so I cannot even imagine what chemo would be like!! Danielle, my BC nurses are Rachel B and Jan Rice. I love Rachel, she is my angel when I go into FMC :)
When I had my biopsy the other day, I started sweating and feeling sooo sick but she kept me still until the end and I felt so much better with wet flannels on me!!
Where did u go for ur meditation? Sounds like something I need to look at doing!!
This site is AMAZING!! I feel sooo lucky to talk to u lively ladies and others too. It's making this journey do much easier than last xox
Hi Laura
Welcome to this fabulous site! I am sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed a second time around...it really SUCKS and it's hard to make sense of, especially when there's no family history of BC. I know what it's like to think that you've put this awful journey behind you, and then to have the rug pulled out from under you and get a second diagnosis. I am also in Adelaide, and was diagnosed with early BC in 2008, and then secondary BC in 2011/12. Feel free to read my blog and if you havent already, join the Adelaide Breast Cancer Friendship Group. We meet on alternate Tuesdays and Fridays in the city at the moment.
Good luck with your treatment and look after yourself! Take care, Celeste♥
Hi Celeste! Thank you for your welcome message and to hear about your diagnosis also. It does suck, especially when your life is going really well and BOOM hit with the "C" word again, I would LOVE to read your blog and am so happy to also hear that you are in Adelaide and would LOVE to meet you someday and the other lovely ladies in your group too.
You take care too and hopefully speak/meet you soon.
Laura
xoxox
Hi Ladies :)
Hi ladies,
How are we all feeling today? I am going not too bad. Trying not to think about Wednesday too much. OMG it has been sooo cold here in Adelaide over the past few days, so chilling out infront of the heater has been one of my fav past times :)
Love Laura
xoxoxox
Lucky Lucky you!
This weekend has been non stop. Kids sport yesterday and school arts and craft festival today. Thank god I had the foresight to pop some endone in my bag! Unfortunately the kids chose the exact time it kicked in to hit me up for some cash. I got well and truly raided! Am consoling myself with a second round of mini donuts. Yum yum
Hehehehe, good for you! How old r ur kids? I think they knew when it would be best to ask u for money :P
xox
ha ha ...I agree Laura. Dan...kids are just so resourceful arent they!!!
The babies are 11, 13 and 19. The 19 year old was at her boyfriends so it was just the younger 2. And they all know how to work the mumma!
Awww... that's bootiful, still ya babies, which are so precious aren't they! xoxox
Hi all
Good afternoon my pink sisters, well after having had my surgery Wednesday week ago, I have the results, which weren't what I was hoping for... My surgeon, Dr Hoffmann has recommended me to have a single mastectomy and recon. The thoughts and emotions that are running through my mind are out of control! Like everyone, I am having good and bad days and am hanging out for this nightmare to be done and dusted.... FOREVER..... anyway, I just wanted to go "BLAH" and let you all know that you are all in my thoughts everyday xox
That sucks
Aaaaah lovey. These things are sent to try us. I spent a crap weekend worrying about my pathology. Thank god for my oncologist who is a legend!
Keep your chin up chick, better to get it all now than to have to go through this again in 12 months time.
Big hugs babe xxx
Thanks Dan and thinking of you. When do you get your path results lovey?
I've got all my results, had to have a re-excision of the original lumpectomy because of involved margins. The second excision had a close margin with DCIS and the breast MDT decided not to re-operate but just to monitor closely. That made me as nervous as hell as I wanted another excision to be sure it was all gone as I'll be damned if I'm going up do all this again in 12 months! So I spent the weekend fretting about it and then this morning my oncologist (bless her) says yeah! We'll just get you in for a re-excision when chemo is finished! Easy. Done. Sorted!!
I would happily let them take whatever is required, my surgeon however is a little on the conservative side!
All my results are in and I have (had) an aggressive, fast growing tumour which my onc thinks has only been there for about 6 months. This is scary but at the same time comforting because the more aggresive a cancer the better it responds to chemo and I figure the less time it's been there the less time it's had to spread. I'm also ER/PR and HER2 +ve so I have more treatment options open to me too.
Hope you're doing ok chick.
xxx Dan xxx
Hey Dan, That is GREAT news for you! I am really pleased to hear that they are going to do all they can and what YOU want them to do so this bitch of a thing doesn't come back in 12 months time!!! I have to ask, what do all those abbreviations stand for ie DCIS, MDT ect... still trying to catch up with the lingo :) When does your chemo finish??
Thinking of you
xoxoxoxox
DCIS = Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (or I think it is) - means ductal cancer that is still inside the actualy milk duct and hasn't invaded any more of the breast yet.
MDT = Multi Disciplinary Team (a team consisting of multiple members, from different fields, such as your medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, breast surgeon, breast care nurse, oncology nurses, community nurses, physiotherapist, dietician, lymphoedema specialists etc etc)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am sure you probably know the following but I will put them here anyway ...
ER = Oestrogen Receptor (The E comes from the USA spelling of Estrogen) (this tells weather or not your cancer is "fed" by Oestrogen or not)
+ = positive (such as ER+ = Oestrogen Receptor Positive)
- = negative (Such as ER- = Oestrogen receptor Negative)
PR = Progesterone Receptor (this tells weather or not your cancer is "fed" by Progesterone or not)
HER2 = Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (this is a gene which promotes the growth of cancer cells when positive mean that this gene doesn't work properly and it makes too many copies of itself, which makes the cancer grow faster)
IBC = Inflammatory Breast Cancer, but I have also seen it used to mean Invasive Breast Cancer
BRCA1/ BRCA2 = Breast Cancersusceptability Gene 1/ 2 (these are 2 genes that if you carry them can increase your risk of getting breast and/or ovarian cancers, if you have one of these genes it also means that any offspring can inherit the faulty gene from you - the risk is something like - the general population have a lifetime risk of about 12%, people with a faulty gene have a lifelong risk of about 60% for breast cancer and a 1.4% lifetime risk in the general population and a 15 to 40% risk for people with the faulty gene for ovarian cancer) - also known as Familial Breast Cancer in some places.
BSE = Breast Self Examination
US or U/S = Ultrasound
CT or CT Scan = Computer Tomography (A type of medical imaging that uses a computer to organise multiple x-rays and construct a cross section view of the body)
Rad = Raditation, on these sites usually means Radiation Therapy.
PET or PET scan = Positron Emission Tomography (a medical imaging technique that uses radioactive tracers to show upareas of damage or faster growing areas like cancers - used to find metastises in some people)
MRI = Magnetic Resonance Imaging (A medical imaging technique that uses a large magnet linked to a computer to create detailed pictures inside of the body)
Mets = Metastases or secondaries (this means the cancer has spread or metastasised to other barts of the body such as the bones, or organs like lungs, liver brain etc)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are HEAPS more too, but I can't think of any more at present. ☺
Hope this has been of some help (we need to make a file with all of the definitions, so that we can refer to it when we come across a new one or read one in our biopsy, or pathology reports, or blood test results etc etc.
Thank you soooo much for that. Most of them I did recognise, but always helps to clarify them. Lucky for me, I have been tested back in 2004 when I was first diagnosed and do not carry the BRAC 1 or 2 gene..... This time around I think I would have the DCIS as it is contained in the milk duct, but it was also said that it over a larger area and just gone inside the nipple, so no sparing for me.
You have been a WONDERFUL help and thank you for all that info xoxox
Don't mind me butting in, but I thought I'd give you the link to the glossary page in the website, too, in case that helps: http://www.bcna.org.au/about-breast-cancer/glossary.
Di
Ooopsy sorry lovey, DCIS is ductal carcinoma insitu. It's when there are cancer cells inside the milk ducts that haven't broken out into the surrounding tissue. DCIS is often picked up on mammogram in lots of women and people sometimes refer to it as "pre cancer" my pathology had a mix of DCIS and invasive tumour in it and my first excision had DCIS in the margin so I had to go back to have more taken. The 2nd excision had 2 ducts with DCIS in them within 1mm of the border which is too close for me so I will be asking for more surgery at the end of chemo. I don't want to risk even 1 cell being left behind to grow into another tumour.
MDT stands for multi-disciplinary-team. MDT's are basically a group of different clinicians: doctors, surgeons, nurses, radiologists, pathologists etc who come together and look at a patients case to discuss the best treatment.
In my breast MDT there are the breast surgeons, the medical oncologists (chemo docs) radiation oncologists (radiotherapy docs) pathologists (the ones that look at the stuff under the microscope) breast care nurses, clinical psychologists, social workers etc. All new breast cancer cases are presented and they all discuss the best way to proceed. In my case they looked at my pathology on a big screen and blah blah'd about what to do. It was decided that it was most likely that all the cancer cells were gone, but that they would monitor me with scans very closely. Unfortunately my med onc wasn't there as she was at a conference and I have a feeling she would have pushed for more surgery. But that's what she is doing now so we are all good! :) also my genetic tests are back and I get them this week. If we are positive both of those bad boys will be whipped off anyway!
Hope this clears things up for you.
xx Dan xx
Thank U
Thanks Dan for that and am so pleased that you have a great onc. She sounds as though she is definately listening to what YOU want and I think that, that is most important. Hope your feeling good today :)
Di, how are you going???? Thank you SO much also for the link, I will have a look shortly and hope you are travelling along well! :)
Loz
xoxo
Cancer second time
First posting for me. I was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time 10 days ago. I previously had breast cancer 15 years ago, when I was not quite 34. At that time I had a partial mastectomy and node clearance. The nodes were clear. I then had 6 weeks radiotherapy. And then had been healthy since. Thought I was well and truly safe from it.
But it was not to be. It has come back in the same breast. I have seen the oncolcogist and because I have already had radiotherapy and it has come back I have no option but to have a full mastectomy. He will also do a sentinal node biopsy and if needed another node clearance.
Not all that happy with my situation. Never expected to be in this positoin again.
Now trying to decide if I will have a bilateral mastectomy so that I never have to worry about it again.
Big decisions.
Anyone else had the same thing.
Me too!
Hi Pauline,
I had my first cancer 10 years ago when I was 34. I thought I'd probably seen the last of it, but got a new cancer in the same breast last August. I had a mastectomy this time (for the same reasons as you) and had my ovaries removed in January. On the 6th of September, I am having the other boob removed and a double reconstruction. In the end, the decision to have the other boob off was easy. My oncologist recommended I do it too. Were your tumours very big? Big you find them yourself? All the best xx Jane
Tumour size
Hi Jane
4am and I cant sleep. Thanks for the reply. My tumours have both been small. Both about 1.7cm and both times I found them myself.
At this stage my oncologist isn't recommneding having both off.
What reason did you get your ovaries removed and why is the oncologist recommending the other boob.
Did you have chemo second time and are you on tamoxifen or anything?
Even if I choose to have both off I am pretty certain that I dont want a reconstruction.
Pauline :)
Hi Pauline
I had my ovaries out because both of my cancers were very eostrogen positive, and when my blood was tested, my eostrogen levels were very high. Since I already had 5 years of tamoxifen between 2002 and 2007, my oncologist didn't want me having it again. She thought femara would be best for me but as its only for post menopausal women, I had my ovaries removed. I had chemo in 2002, and again this time around. The chemo had put me into temporary menopause, but my ovaries were quite robust and looked like they would kick back into action. I asked my oncologist if she would remove her other boob if she was in my position and she said yes without any hesitation. She is involved with lots of international studies and clinical trials and I trust her advice completely. Her husband is a breast surgeon too. I didn't think I'd be too fussed about reconstruction, but after having no boob for 11 months, I'm very keen to have boobs and a cleavage again! I find the prosthesis a bit of a pain, and my plastic surgeon showed me some awesome photos of his patients who had the same procedure I'm going to have. My breast surgeon who did my lumpectomy in 2002 and my mastectomy in 2011 also agreed having the other boob off was a good idea. I asked her if I was over reacting by wanting it done, and she said that it was a sound medical decision and was very common now. What will your treatment be like this time around? xx Jane
My new surgeon isn't all that keen on me having both off as he says my right is essentially healthy tissue.
I stil dont know what my treatment will be apart from the definite mastectomy on the left and arimidex for 5 years after. It will depend on the sentinel node biopsy and the pathaloogy of the tumour. He reckons there is a 60% chance that I will have to have chemo as well.
I am already 2 years post menopause so i think that makes a difference to what other treatment I get.
I am almost certain that I will be going for a bilateral. Dont want to have to think about it again.
I have to write my surgeon a letter with my reasons for wanting it, not for any legal reason but he says that it helps me to really clarify why I am making the decision that I am.
There aint no going back.
Hi Pauline
I'm in the same boat as you.I had a lumpectomy,full node clearance and radiation in 2003.It came back 7 yrs later in the same spot-I was really shocked,thought I was in the clear. So I had a mastectomy then chemo in 2010.I have been on Tamoxifen for 2 yrs now. I wear a prosthesis and it's ok. I've thought of losing the other boob and doing recon but I also had 3 surgeries on my ankle between the boob ops and I can't stomach another operation for the moment.Also I have become paranoid about checking my scarline incase cancer comes back again.Like you,I would be limited to Diep recon (cos of the radiation)and that is a long,more complicated surgery.But having one boob is not without it's problems too.You have to buy higher neckline tops or "doctor" your wardrobe.That's probably the case with no boobs as well.These are all difficult decisions and in the end just go with what you feel is right for you at the moment.
Tonya xx
Thanks for your reply. Did you have chemo the second time cos there were nodes involved or because of the pathology of the tumour?
I think there are issues with one or no boobs. For me I just dont want to in this situation again and have to be making decisions. Part of it is fear of it coming back but part of it is just getting it over with once and for all. As the surgeon said, there was a 90% chance it wouldn't come back in this breast and it did.
If I only have one off then I am worried that I will still be thinking all the time if I should get the other off, whereas if they both go then that is it.
I am going to have periods of really intense sadness whatever happens. Still cant really get my head around the fact that I have breast cancer a second time.
The sun is coming up. x
Hi Pauline
Yes,it's really hard getting your head around another bout of bc.You think you've done the hard yards the first time and surely won't be in the unlucky 8% who get it back. I had to have chemo the second time simply because it was a recurrence.It was the same pathology and still classed as early bc.I had no nodes to check cos all were taken the first time around.I can totally see your dilemma - take one boob or two?Even with both boobs gone,you would probably still worry that cancer was lurking somewhere else in your body.I kinda worry about that more than bc in the other boob cos I get it checked regularly.However,it sure would be a relief not to have mammograms and get all anxious about the results.Even if you don't want reconstruction at this stage,perhaps you should get all the info on it for later That may influence about what type of surgery gets done on the"good"boob. Maybe you need to ask your doc more questions so that you'll feel more comfortable about your decision.
Tonya xx
Good Evening Ladies...
I am sooo sorry that it has taken me soooo long to reply to your messages. Clearly, I haven't been on here for awhile, and I do apologise. I have read your posts and feel your pain, I truly do..... I am going through EXACTLY the same thing atm.... As it stands, I am 34 years old and am yet to learn of a date for my surgery. I have decided to have a bilateral mastectomy and recon at the same time. I am going through 2nd time bc in the same breast (8 years was first diagnosed) and thought I was in the clear... until the 8/5/12. Having has rad the first time around and a lumpectomy, I was feeling like it was "bad luck Laura". No history, no brac 1 or 2 genes found, so I just thought I was "unlucky". Anyway, I came to the decision on my own and my breast surgeon wanted me to tell me the reason for having the left off too. I told him that first and foremost, I do not want to go through this again in another 8 years and just worrying CONSTANTLY will drive me mad! I have seen my breast recon surgeon too, and she is FANTASTIC! I will be having "Flap" surgery from my lateral muscles and formed to make new breasts. I am absolutely CRAPPING myself, but know that this is truly the right decision for me. I am kidless, but have found an amazing guy, who we are wanting to start a family together, so I try and keep telling myself, that this is a little "bump" in the road. I know that I will be ok at the end of it as it hasn't gone to my bones, organs or blood... I also have not and will not need chemo, so, whatever I can do, to prolong my life with my gorgeous partner, Jason, I will do.
Thanks again for your messages and look forward to chatting again.
Love your "pink sister" Laura
xxoxoxox
Same surgeon?
Hi Lara
I am going in on the 25th July for my bilateral mastectomy. I wonder if we have the same surgeon as I had to write a letter to mine outlining why I wanted to both done. I am seeing Dr Segara.
I never want to be in this situation again and I am pretty certain that if I only had one done I would want to go back and get the second done.
I am happy with my decision
both breasts or not?
Hi ladies,
I had a recurrence two years after a lumpectomy, chemotherapy AND radiation in my left breast in 2009. Recurrence last year was in the same breast and same place, even though I had clearance after surgery. I had no hesitation in deciding to get my right breast removed at the same time as the left one.
I have now worn breast prostheses for the last year, and while they are comfortable in a genie bra, I cant wear necklines I like easily. I just have two scooped out hollows where my breasts were and these hollows go quite high. In March I saw a plastic surgeon to get reconstruction. I'm going with the bi lateral Diep flap as I've had radiation so implants won't work. The operation is on August 22. I'm so nervous about such a long procedure, but I will be glad to have a cleavage and feel normal again. The flat stomach will be a bonus!
I still worry about another recurrence and probably will for another 4 years. (I'm one year post bi lateral mastectomy now). I had a PET scan last year to check for mets and decided to have another one this month. All clear, so I feel confident for now.....
How are you all going?
Diane
Diane
Glad to hear you got the all clear on the PET scans (I am thinking of asking my oncologist about getting one done).
Don't panic too much about the surgery, it will be amazing, you will come out with 2 new boobs and a tummy tuck :o),
Sure there will be the recovery perios, but I have heard it isn't too bad (I had immediate impant reconstruction, so can only go by that, althought yours is more involved due to it being a DEIP, so you will have an extra wound, but they will look after you).
Laura is unwell
Hi all,
Laura has asked me to pop a message on here to let you all know that she is in Hospital and hasnt been able to reply to anyone. Sadly she is in intensive care with Pneumonia. She went into hospital last Monday (same day as me!!) with a very bad strain of the flu. Within a few days she was put into intensive care as she progressively got worse. She has the "Hong Kong" strain of the flu and has been real sick the poor love. She was told today that they hope she will be out of intensive care by either tomorrow or Wednesday. For those of you who dont know, Laura and I both live in Adelaide. Laura and I met about 2 months ago when her partner and her came to my place and we polished of a few bevvies and got to know each other. We have been supporting each other ever since. I had another Masetcomy and reconstruction last Monday and she is devistated that she can not be here for me!!! I keep telling her to stop worrying, but that's just the way we all roll I guess! Wanting to be there for each other. So send all you thoughts her way. She could use them. Oh, and we have the same surgeons, both breast and plastic!!! Freaky huh! I'll keep you posted until she can get on here herself. Maybe BCNA need to look at doing an App so that we can touch base even when we are in hospital???
Tania xxx