new to BC and site...from NZ

Dee
Dee Member Posts: 40
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi lovely ladies :)

I stumbled across this site by accident and it has been such a blessing! What an amazing wealth of knowledge and strength!

I was diagnosed with stage 2 invasive,(4cm tumor,6cm DCIS, 2/31 positive nodes and Pagets disease) 20th Dec and had a right masectomy 2 weeks ago today. Am due to start chemo in about about 4 weeks and am meeting the oncologist tomorrow for the first time. Have already meet radiologist but it seemed like a waste of time as I wont get to that bit for another 8 months!

Am feeling really nervous as the surgeon said that they are likely to give me "the works" seeing as Im only 30 and had 3 different types of cancer in the one "busy boob", no idea what the works entails but doesnt sound like a picnic to me!

Also in NZ,only 45 women a year under 35 are diagnosed with breast cancer and as yet I have not managed to track one down! So grateful to have found this site as it seems there is always someone there to listen :)

Dee

Comments

  • missrenee
    missrenee Member Posts: 2,136 Member
    #2
    Welcome, Dee
    So sorry you have to be here--but so glad you found this site. It has been a phenominal help to me in many ways. I had a lumpectomy, re-excision, axillary node dissection, 6 rounds of TAC chemo and 33 rounds of radiation. It was Stage 3C invasive ductal carcinoma with 10/23 nodes positive. The thought of all this treatment was terrifying to me. BUT, it all went much better than I imagined. The journey was not easy, but definitely doable. I had minimal side effects from a very tough chemo cocktail (a little nausea, strange taste in my mouth, aches and pains and fatigue) and the rads went well also (fatigue and sunburn like redness in the last couple of weeks). I finished the rads in July '10. I am feeling well and getting my energy back. My MRI, Mammo and ultrasound done in Dec. '10 came out negative--which was a real blessing.

    Remember to take one day at a time, one treatment at a time, rest when you can, let others help you (people really want to be useful and help--take the help). You will get through this--so many of us here have done it and done well with it. Everyone is different and you may experience more or less side effects, but your doctor has remedies for just about anything you encounter. Try to stay positive, but on the days you can't, take care of yourself and try to move on.

    Check in with us often--this is a wonderful group and I have gotten so, so much good information and support from this wonderful site.

    Hugs, Renee
  • phoenixrising
    phoenixrising Member Posts: 1,508
    #3
    Welcome Dee, so sorry you've
    Welcome Dee, so sorry you've had to join our club but while you're here you will meet the most amazing women with even more amazing stories of bravery, courage and hope. I too stumbled upon this site and am so glad I did.

    I can tell you that chemo is definitely not fun but for most of us it's doable. And some women even work through it. I'm pretty sure every experience imaginable can be found here so stay with us and as you go through it we will give you tips and advice on how to get through it. We are here and will hold your cyber hand and give you cyber hugs.

    Let us know what treatment plan they have for you. It's interesting to see what other countries are doing.

    Best of luck and many hugs,
    jan
  • Katz77
    Katz77 Member Posts: 598
    #4
    Happy you found us, but sorry you have such a busy boob. Lol This is a site with a wealth of info, support, love, hugs, prayers and comfort. I always have good questions to ask my oncologist. Its on here.
    Have a list and possible someone with you for ur appt. I still make lists. Think my chemo brain is a permanent condition. Once again glad your here, kind of. Smile.,Katz
  • Boppy_of_6
    Boppy_of_6 Member Posts: 1,138
    #5
    phoenixrising said:

    Welcome Dee, so sorry you've
    Welcome Dee, so sorry you've had to join our club but while you're here you will meet the most amazing women with even more amazing stories of bravery, courage and hope. I too stumbled upon this site and am so glad I did.

    I can tell you that chemo is definitely not fun but for most of us it's doable. And some women even work through it. I'm pretty sure every experience imaginable can be found here so stay with us and as you go through it we will give you tips and advice on how to get through it. We are here and will hold your cyber hand and give you cyber hugs.

    Let us know what treatment plan they have for you. It's interesting to see what other countries are doing.

    Best of luck and many hugs,
    jan

    Welcome
    So sorry you need to be here but glad you found this site. There is a wealth of support and info here and wonderful women and a few guys. I was diagnosed 1 year ago with stage 1 IDC had a lumpectomy, nodes were clean. I did chemo, 30 rads and am now on tamoxifen. Chemo is not easy but is doable. I did pretty well and was able to work all through my treatments. Just take it one step at a time. I always made a list of questions I wanted to ask and kept a notebook with me at all appts. to take notes. Drink lots of water before during and after the treatments. Staying hydrated is important. Please ask any question here someone always has good advice. God Bless
    (((Hugs))) Janice
  • Dee
    Dee Member Posts: 40
    #6
    Katz77 said:

    Happy you found us, but sorry you have such a busy boob. Lol This is a site with a wealth of info, support, love, hugs, prayers and comfort. I always have good questions to ask my oncologist. Its on here.
    Have a list and possible someone with you for ur appt. I still make lists. Think my chemo brain is a permanent condition. Once again glad your here, kind of. Smile.,Katz

    thanks :)
    thank you all for that :)

    Im lucky, my partner can come with me to all the appiontments and his work is paying him full pay without having to take any leave which is so great! I also have a sister who is a nurse so have taken her to a few too

    It is such a huge learning curve....there is so much info out there is is often hard to sort the good from the crap! It is so amazing to read all your stories and to get the "been there,done that" point of view!

    I wish I was working through this,I was made redundant from my full time job 2 weeks before I was diagnosed and Im not sure how many employers would want to hire me right now!

    My 2 kids have been so amazing throughout this all, they were counting the sleeps till surgery like it was Christmas!! After I was wheeled out of the room and into surgery my Mum started crying and my boy said to her "Granna dont cry! This is the most positive day ever! Mum is getting rid of her cancer boob and getting a new inflater boob! LOL!

    They are also eagerly awating to see if I lose my hair with chemo, as I have told them that they can shave half my head each....they are so excited and planning what weirdand wonderful hair do's they can give me :)
  • Cinkal
    Cinkal Member Posts: 161
    #7
    Welcome. I am also new to
    Welcome. I am also new to this . I found out I had cancer about 3 weeks ago and scheduled for surgery on the 9th of February. I am 39. I will also need chemo and radiation. The thought of chemo is scary. This site has been helpful to me so far. Good luck with your treatments!
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #8
    I am so sorry Dee that you
    I am so sorry Dee that you are going through this, but I am glad that you have come aboard here. You will get lots of support and help here. And don't give up! I was 33 and Stage 3A (large tumor and 4 nodes) when I was diagnosed back in 1987. You read that right--I am celebrating my 24th canniversary next month.
  • Texasgirl10
    Texasgirl10 Member Posts: 668
    #9
    CypressCynthia said:

    I am so sorry Dee that you
    I am so sorry Dee that you are going through this, but I am glad that you have come aboard here. You will get lots of support and help here. And don't give up! I was 33 and Stage 3A (large tumor and 4 nodes) when I was diagnosed back in 1987. You read that right--I am celebrating my 24th canniversary next month.

    Welcome Dee
    I'm so very sorry that you are going throught this but I'm glad you found this board. These ladies and men have helped me tremendously since being diagnosed 2 months ago. Stay strong and positive.

    Hugs,

    Dawne
  • ladyg
    ladyg Member Posts: 1,577
    #10
    Welcome
    I am sorry you needed to look for us but so glad you stumbled in our direction. I got so much information here and it really helped me through my journey. You will not only get information but support and many listeners if you just need to vent. Just remember you can do this!

    Hugs,
    Georgia
  • fauxma
    fauxma Member Posts: 3,577 Member
    #11
    ladyg said:

    Welcome
    I am sorry you needed to look for us but so glad you stumbled in our direction. I got so much information here and it really helped me through my journey. You will not only get information but support and many listeners if you just need to vent. Just remember you can do this!

    Hugs,
    Georgia

    Welcome Dee, although sorry
    Welcome Dee, although sorry you had to find us. Hopefully you will find information, support, care and love from this board because that is what we try to do. Be there for each other. We are here if you need to vent, want to celebrate, need answers, are scared or stressed and also to share what we are beyond our cancers. We are funny, we read, we watch movies, and we care deeply for each other. That is perhaps our greatest strength. The caring bond that we share. So jump in the pond and join us.
    Stef
  • PinkPearl
    PinkPearl Member Posts: 280
    #12
    Glad you stumbled on here
    As everyone knows no one hopes to need this information BUT what a blessing it is to hear from people who have been in your place. It sounds like you are on your way to a fast track approach and that is great. It may not be a picnic but you can get through it all. I had my first chemo yesterday and am happy to report that all went well and so far so good-no side effects today except tired.
    Prayers for you!
    Merlyn
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #13
    Welcome to the club no one wants to join!!!
    BUT, we are all sure glad it's here!

    I am American, but also live half time in The Netherlands (I'm there right now...). So, you are correct in saying that there is someone usually here all the time...lol...

    I am almost (!) twice your age...55...but can give you some similar experiences. And, if not, I can at least send a hug or two over the net!

    I was (5 years ago) stage II, invasive ductal carcinoma. I had a lumpectomy, and chemotherapy and radiation. The only thing that makes me special is that this was my second primary site cancer in 6 months (the other was stage III rectal, which actually found the breast cancer in one of the scans).

    You will find that we are not shy here, and answer just about any question you might have (even to the question 'What is the meaning of life?').

    Dutch hugs, Kathi

    (The answer is 42, BTW)
  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    #14
    Dee your family sounds
    Dee your family sounds wonderful! You must be doing a very good job explaining all this to your children.

    I'm 48, two kids and a great husband, and I'm also getting some big guns to use in fighting this beast. I have Inflammatory BC (high risk of reoccurrence/mets). So far I've done chemo and surgery, and I start radiation soon.

    None of it has been fun, but with the support I get here and from my family and friends, it has all been doable. Definitely stay well hydrated, while on chemo I focused on the two days before and 3 days after each treatment, and again anytime I had diarrhea. Also, eat little bits frequently. The bland foods worked for me, rice, potatoes, noodles, but bread didn't work for me.

    I think the most important question to ask your oncologist is how do I contact you/someone after hours if I need to? I also put together a notebook to keep all my cancer information. It's one place with all the doc's info, prescriptions, calendar, etc.

    Please let us know how you're doing. You'll find this is a warm, caring, supportive, funny group.

    Hugs,

    Linda
  • dyaneb123
    dyaneb123 Member Posts: 950
    #15
    Gabe N Abby Mom said:

    Dee your family sounds
    Dee your family sounds wonderful! You must be doing a very good job explaining all this to your children.

    I'm 48, two kids and a great husband, and I'm also getting some big guns to use in fighting this beast. I have Inflammatory BC (high risk of reoccurrence/mets). So far I've done chemo and surgery, and I start radiation soon.

    None of it has been fun, but with the support I get here and from my family and friends, it has all been doable. Definitely stay well hydrated, while on chemo I focused on the two days before and 3 days after each treatment, and again anytime I had diarrhea. Also, eat little bits frequently. The bland foods worked for me, rice, potatoes, noodles, but bread didn't work for me.

    I think the most important question to ask your oncologist is how do I contact you/someone after hours if I need to? I also put together a notebook to keep all my cancer information. It's one place with all the doc's info, prescriptions, calendar, etc.

    Please let us know how you're doing. You'll find this is a warm, caring, supportive, funny group.

    Hugs,

    Linda

    Welcome Dee
    I'm a Dee too. So glad you found us! This site has helped me so much in understanding the disease. Ask anything you are confused about. Someone will have had a similar experience.
    Dee
  • Dee
    Dee Member Posts: 40
    #16
    dyaneb123 said:

    Welcome Dee
    I'm a Dee too. So glad you found us! This site has helped me so much in understanding the disease. Ask anything you are confused about. Someone will have had a similar experience.
    Dee

    you are all amazing!
    feeling soooooo lucky to have found you all! what a difference a problem shared makes!

    In NZ all breast cancer patients get a diary thing called "step by step" and it has loads of stuff in it...pages with all your personal details in it so you can just hand it over and not write the same thing for ecery different doc you see! It also has sections of every aspect of diagnisis and treatment, common/good questions to ask each doc,clear pockets for business cards and contacts and loads of space to write notes...its a one stop shop that I take everywhere! They also have a booklet that goes with it that explains the jargon and procedures.
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #17
    fauxma said:

    Welcome Dee, although sorry
    Welcome Dee, although sorry you had to find us. Hopefully you will find information, support, care and love from this board because that is what we try to do. Be there for each other. We are here if you need to vent, want to celebrate, need answers, are scared or stressed and also to share what we are beyond our cancers. We are funny, we read, we watch movies, and we care deeply for each other. That is perhaps our greatest strength. The caring bond that we share. So jump in the pond and join us.
    Stef

    Dee, Welcome .. I can tell by your accent that you
    are Australian. My best friend lives in Perth, going on 20 years and my older sister, Kathy lives in Queensland. She traveled to Australia to visit some relatives, met a farmed there in Queensland (Cotton), and married him. They have 3 children.

    I wish you were closed to either spot, so I could have my Best friend or Sister swing by to help you, or just give you a big hug!

    Do you have an option of getting a second opinion, or shopping around for the best in the field of breast cancer. My Breast Cancer Specialist, Dr. Jay K. Harness == speaks on this very subject over in New Zealand and Aust. 3 times a year .. It would be wonderful if you could get a facility associated with his teachings. Dr. Jay Harness' wife is from Perth, so he is committed to making sure all the new techniques, studies and clinical trials are brought over to your part of the world.

    Always be informed, well read and researched.

    Strength and Courage,

    Vicki Sam

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