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Me and Dad diagnosed on the same day!

GirlCat
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Just had a week turned upside down again.

On Wednesday I was called in earlier than my appointment for next week to see the breast surgeon, as I had a mammogram and ultrasound with biopsy, I was told I have a small lump after feeling it one morning recently. They said I have grade 2 invasive breast cancer.

I was told that in a few weeks, I will have an operation to have a lumpectomy and test the lymph nodes. I've been assigned a lovely and supportive nurse whom I can contact anytime for any help. I've also been told to come off HRT patches and have the Mirena coil removed.

Also this week my Dad became unwell on Monday. I pushed him to get seen, he eventually went to A&E, I had to push him to get seen because he got heart failure and one kidney all newly diagnosed and now just been diagnosed with suspected leukaemia, he's got to wait back for the bone marrow biopsy results till next week, and he's been put on chemotherapy tablets. So while I was waiting in A&E I had a call to see the breast clinic later that afternoon, so I had to leave Dad on his own for awhile, he was okay but I needed someone to come with me for support, he's the one who could ask the questions as my mind was blank and I couldn't think.

He was in A&E and in hospital two years ago with an infection a month before Mum became unwell and she was diagnosed with a late stage of breast cancer and sadly lost her two years ago. Feeling quite lost again and a bit worried if I will have someone to keep an eye on me after my surgery soon.

My apologies for my long story.

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    Hi GirlCat,

    A very warm welcome to the forum.

    What a week you've had! I am so sorry to hear of your diagnosis and your dad's suspected diagnosis. It is difficult enough to cope with one lot of bad news, but to get the two so close together, is devastating. I am also sorry to hear that you lost your mum to breast cancer only 2 years ago. I lost my mum to secondary breast cancer too. It had spread to her brain, bones, lungs and liver and I feared that I might experience the same fate. Fortunately, I am now 16 years from diagnosis and I still lead a busy and fulfilling life.

    It is always worth looking for any positives in all of this - your lump is small and it can still be managed with a lumpectomy. This indicates that you have caught it early, which should make treatment easier and the outcome better. Checking the lymph nodes at this time is routine procedure Having the coil removed and stopping the HRT patches are part of the usual advice. Some breast cancers feed on Oestrogen, which is why you've been told to stop the HRT patches.

    I am delighted to hear that you have a lovely and supportive specialist nurse to be there for you. It makes all the difference to have someone who you relate to and someone who really listens to any concerns you may have.

    I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer within a year. I had a lumpectomy for the first and a double mastectomy for the second. I was terrified before both of these operations, but both were very straightforward and I healed up quickly afterwards.

    I hope that your dad's bone marrow biopsy results will be back soon and you can get a better idea of what he is facing. You will find that it is helpful for both of you to get together prior to any appointment and draw up a list of any questions you have. This will be helpful for both of you and having the input of 2 people instead of just 1, will give you a better balanced set of questions. Take this list along to any of your consultations.

    Please keep in touch and remember that we are always here for both of you.

    kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Offline in reply to Jolamine

    Thank you for your reply, Jolamine,

    Sorry it has taken me a bit long to reply, it's taking me a while to get my head around all this going on at once. 

    I'm due for my lumpectomy and lymph nodes biopsy operation in over a week. I will also have another ultrasound this week, during which they will insert a guided seed to locate the lump. 

    I'm a bit worried about when I get the results of the lymph nodes and if I would need further surgery. I haven't expressed these concerns to my breast care nurse when I again spoke with her the other day. I've just been reading my information sheet and booklets I was given. 

    I've stopped my HRT and had my coil removed, feeling a bit lost without my coil, as it controlled my heavy bleeding I had years ago and only had light bleeding while on the coil. I've had some heavy bleeding since the removal. I was waiting for an appointment with UroGynaeconogy, not till next January, as I had bladder issues recently, and found I’ve got a fibroid which is pressing on the bladder. My nurse has kindly put in a referral to a menopausal clinic, which is also a gynaecologist, to help with my menopausal symptoms and periods. 

    My Dad was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday, about the same time I had my 2nd appointment with the breast surgeon. He was there for a week recovering from a kidney infection and got his biopsy results back from his bone marrow, he's got some form of chronic leukaemia, and he's going back for more tests. 

    It's good to hear since your diagnosis, hope you're doing well. 

    I'm trying to feel positive and just take one day at a time. 

    Will keep you posted on how things go. x

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