Breast cancer

RE: Breast cancer

Iain Richards — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 11:58:36 GMT

HI Melanie, best wishes and make sure you take someone with you. As you know clients only remember about 1/3 of what we say and the stress will heighten this. It's tough, but the disease is treatable. I know quite a few folk in this position.

RE: Breast cancer

Lucy Fleming — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 11:16:43 GMT

Hoping you get good news (well, as good as it can be in the circumstances) today, Melanie. Sending best wishes.

RE: Breast cancer

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 09:12:55 GMT

[quote user="Melanie Illingworth"]Martin I think you have raised a good point re denial vs pragmatism; not sure where I stand currently...[/quote]I'm pretty sure you're being pragmatic. The denial bit is more putting it into the back of our minds and dealing with our everyday lives. We all know the score in your situation and of course we hope for the best outcome but are aware of the worst. I think doing what we do doesn't necessarily numb us to our own predicament but we're aware of the practical side of it plus, with advising pet owners on a daily basis on similar prognoses, we can bypass the initial shock at the diagnosis and move onto a practical plan for dealing with the possible outcomes both mentally and practically more easily.

Whatever, you have my best wishes and keeping fingers crossed for the best possible outcome.

RE: Breast cancer

Michael Woodhouse — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 23:12:09 GMT

[quote user="Melanie Illingworth"]I have an appointment for my results tomorrow so hoping for more information and a definitive plan to release me from this state of limbo.[/quote]

Good luck tomorrow.

Random question, but are you married to Ian who's also a vet?

RE: Breast cancer

Joyce Whitehead — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 22:44:17 GMT

Hope your appointment goes as well as it can Melanie. I can’t help any more, but you have lots of good thoughts behind you.

RE: Breast cancer

Melanie Illingworth — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 22:13:25 GMT

Thanks, everyone, for the words of wisdom and support. Martin I think you have raised a good point re denial vs pragmatism; not sure where I stand currently...

I have an appointment for my results tomorrow so hoping for more information and a definitive plan to release me from this state of limbo.

RE: Breast cancer

mariette asselbergs — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 18:25:26 GMT

[quote user="GrooveJet"]

Hoi Mariette,

I don't have much to offer, but just want you to know I empathise with your dilemma, and suspect I would have similar issues if it was me. I have acquaintances who are "medics" and I can't help but feel that they always find themselves a little bit cleverer than me.

Wishing you all the best,

Door's always open at Webb's for a coffee...

Miriam.

[/quote]

I'll be back in the Midlands next week, so may pop in sometimes, need tulips for the garden too....And a lot to catch up on! Mariette

RE: Breast cancer

Jill Butterworth — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 18:16:26 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]I thought they were not taking his lump seriously and there were too long delays on the NHS so I advised him to pay for a private appointment with a specialist. He did and it has fast tracked things significantly even if the MRI and subsequent surgery will be on the NHS.[/quote]

Ahh, that's different and a good compromise. The NHS can be really slow in the first instance, then fabulous later, when early diagnosis would have been much better. Breast treatment, in contrast, is really quick, a referral has to be given within 2 weeks.

RE: Breast cancer

Martin Atkinson — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 18:07:01 GMT

[quote user="Jill Butterworth"]He probably realises, surely? The correct thing is being done, so there's no need to be overly blunt, is there?[/quote]I honestly don't think he does realise, he is a typical layman who while being a well educated professional has little if any medical or even anatomical knowledge and trusts the medical profession. I thought they were not taking his lump seriously and there were too long delays on the NHS so I advised him to pay for a private appointment with a specialist. He did and it has fast tracked things significantly even if the MRI and subsequent surgery will be on the NHS. I don't think I was overly blunt, just jogged him out of his complacency or even denial which can only be a good thing surely.

RE: Breast cancer

Miriam Lodewyks — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 17:55:58 GMT

Hoi Mariette,

Wishing you all the best,

Door's always open at Webb's for a coffee...

Miriam.

RE: Breast cancer

Jill Butterworth — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 17:51:21 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]My best friend is going through exactly the same problem now, the surgeon has told him he thinks its benign but wants to do an MRI of the drainage lymph nodes just as a precaution. I don't know if I should leave him in blissful ignorance or tell him what I think the surgeon is really thinking. Is ignorance a blessing?[/quote]

He probably realises, surely? The correct thing is being done, so there's no need to be overly blunt, is there? From observation, it seems to me that the management of depression and anxiety in cancer is frequently overlooked, in favour of clinical management of the condition. I have a friend who suffered perhaps much more from anxiety than the cancer, and her anxiolytic medication was suddenly withdrawn when she was weak from chemo, leaving her very emotionally vulnerable. It is worth being self aware in this regard, as we are all so different...

RE: Breast cancer

mariette asselbergs — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 17:20:47 GMT

Hi Melanie,

Have gone through the same since June 16, two ops, chemo and radiotherapy and in August told to come back in a year. Many breast cancer cases do very very well these days, and even if we all realise that eventually it may get you, there are often years or decades of disease free survival.

Initially my surgeon and cancer nurse advised me not to go near the practice while under chemotherapy, but after the first session did hardly affect me at all, I went back to work and was able to work all through the whole thing. It was of course helpful that my chemo was on 3 weeks cycles and I work one week out of three (emergency). I never got any scary infections from the animals, but I avoided parrots and budgies, and the nurses kept me safe from catbites and scratches. I did get physically weak (more than tired) but that was solved by using a saddle chair for everything. I did look forward to the end of the chemo, mainly because of the tiredness, other symptoms were kept very well controlled with medication and very skillful attention and help of the NHS staff. Once treatments were over I got my energy and stamina back within 6 weeks.

I did find the relationship with the doctors often awkward as a vet. My GP was fine, we talk as professional "equals", but the oncologist and the radiologist were not into discussion things on a professional medical level. They were very friendly and seemed to be very knowledgeable, but not into sharing, much more into presenting you with the protocol and paradigms of choices and up to you to decide guided by them.

Hopefully for you you may find that it is just your lump, n o lymphnodes involved, and then I don't think they will offer chemo or radiotherapy.

On tip of my medical partner: if you are being asked to participate in a clinical trial, e.g. to have axillary lymphnodes removed or not, then it is useful to participate because participants in trials always do better (get more attention, less chance of mistakes or oversights).

If you have any other concerns or questions or want to discuss anything else you can also PM me of course.

In the mean time, very best wishes,

Mariette

RE: Breast cancer

Niall Connell — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 13:46:06 GMT

Hi Melanie, I’ve no personal experience of this (just my MS treatments) although my wife, Colette has just returned to work as a teacher after two years of treatment for pancreatic cancer. A great deal happened over those two years. Colette had two fantastic teams supporting her, the pancreatic team at Glasgow Royal infirmary and the Beatson Oncology unit. I would say being a vet does help in terms of understanding the process, treatment and ramifications and also to possibly question things which may require pondering. There was one complication with Colette which turned out to be an infected portal thrombus after the surgery which I think was helped by the fact I had a medical background when dealing with various GPs. My good friend who’s a vet has been getting treatment for breast cancer and I would say her background has helped her a lot too. I think it would be useful certainly to introduce yourself as a vet to medics and nurses you meet for your treatment. Very best wishes for a speedy recovery!

RE: Breast cancer

Braden Collins — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 13:20:31 GMT

Wishing you well Melanie.

I think this Ted Talk is a good one for people like vets who are used to being in the driver's seat.

https://www.ted.com/talks/baba_shiv_sometimes_it_s_good_to_give_up_the_driver_s_seat/transcript

RE: Breast cancer

Clare Tapsfield-Wright — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 12:45:56 GMT

[quote user="Melanie Illingworth"]

Unfortunately I have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and seem to be treating the issue with a degree of clinical detachment. Perhaps the diagnosis has not yet sunk in. I have, of course, informed work, (who have been very good about providing cover) and most of my colleagues.

I wondered if anyone had been through a similar experience and could offer any tips. I have been given details for various support groups and have a dedicated breast nurse but feel my veterinary background makes things a bit different to treating a "layman".

Thanks in advance.

[/quote] I’ve no experience or advice Melanie but wanted to wish you well. I would agree that it is important to question and double check everything but hopefully you will have excellent care. Thank you for sharing this challenging news with us and please feel free to continue to do so.

RE: Breast cancer

Mark Hedberg — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 12:30:18 GMT

Sorry to hear - hope the scan goes well and you get well soon.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery,

Mark

RE: Breast cancer

Martin Atkinson — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 10:59:14 GMT

[quote user="Melanie Illingworth"]Unfortunately I have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and seem to be treating the issue with a degree of clinical detachment. Perhaps the diagnosis has not yet sunk in.[/quote]Can't add anything from experience but I felt it was necessary to post just to show empathy and wish you all the best with ongoing diagnosis and therapy.

I'm not sure if having the medical knowledge we have is a blessing or a curse. We are able to view these things from a degree of clinical attachment but whether this is from a perspective of denial or pragmatism I'm not sure. I had a lump in the roof of the mouth a few years back and from my research discovered that the majority of these will be malignant salivary gland tumours. I of course understood the significance of this and was able come to terms with all the potential issues arising. The oral surgeon tried to downplay it and fortunately it was benign so maybe he was right to do that but I would rather be told the true prognosis. My best friend is going through exactly the same problem now, the surgeon has told him he thinks its benign but wants to do an MRI of the drainage lymph nodes just as a precaution. I don't know if I should leave him in blissful ignorance or tell him what I think the surgeon is really thinking. Is ignorance a blessing?

RE: Breast cancer

Melanie Illingworth — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 22:18:04 GMT

Thanks for your helpful reply Sarah. I am currently awaiting further info re staging after having a breast MRI today. I am expecting a definitive treatment plan after the consultant attends the multi-disciplinary meeting on Friday morning. Until then I'm continuing in a state of limbo and feeling somewhat like a fraud as, to all intents and purposes, I am fit and well apart from the lump!

I wish you all the best with your ongoing investigations. It must be difficult to investigate signs which are not consistent.

RE: Breast cancer

Sarah McGurk — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 16:41:35 GMT

Hi Melanie,

I’m not sure my situation really compares, but I have had three primary melanomas, the first when I was only 23 years old. I didn’t want to read and run, however.

Would you want to share what stage you are at and what treatment ther are currently recommending? Don’t worry if not, but it might help if we have more information.

When I started out, there was no internet, so I couldn’t read much, but I did listen very carefully to the medical advice and as far as possible, I tried to ensure I fully understood what was going on so that I could have an input in my own treatment. I would have been dead if I had listened to some of the advice I was given by some doctors, so one piece of advice would be that if you don’t agree, do question. As you are a clinician, hopefully they will listen.

With regard to the clinical detachment, it might be that your mind is waiting for more information. Something might suddenly chime with you, or the feelings might come and go. I’m currently just over a year into investigation for waxing and waning neurological symptoms for which they can’t find a cause. Some days I’m completely blase about it, others I panic about all kinds of things. If I wake in the night, I try to bear in mind that my mind is unlikely to be logical at that time, so I get up and do something else.

I hope that you have a good doctor. If you don’t have faith in the one you have, it might be worth asking if you can change. Especially this if you feel they are not treating you as someone who might have valid input.

I wish you the best of luck with your treatment. If there’s anything I can do, feel free to ask, either here or by private message.