Category Archives: Cancer

January 17, 2012 – Part Two

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As I went to sign papers, Dr D came out to reception, gently put his hand on my shoulder, wished me good luck for the ultrasound in a couple of hours and followed up with “Happy Birthday for tomorrow, we’ll chat about the results after…..”
I looked at Leanne and Ros and exclaimed “I should hate him right now, but it’s hard when he’s so damn nice!”
I had a couple of hours to kill before I had to be back for the ultrasound.  I rang Paul and explained what was to happen.  He was nervous and a little vague at the same time – we agreed to catch up afterwards.
I drove three blocks to Cancer Council Queensland and my friend Shannan.  We wandered across the road to get a coffee like we did when we’d worked together – but it was different.  I knew I was trying to explain something completely foreign to her (we didn’t know each other when I was first diagnosed and who knew what this was going to be…), but at the same time I was preparing myself for what might be to come.
At the allotted time, I went back to radiology.  So familiar, yet with a different level of importance and urgency this time.  That should have frightened the hell out of me, yet I was glad for the immediate action.
The Radiographer may have been somewhat annoyed at Dr D demanding an urgent appointment and I baulked at the attitude as I unwrapped my gown.  She was slightly more sympathetic to my situation when my bare, scarred chest was revealed.  I guess it could be a humbling sight.
She then questioned what exactly we were looking for – when I pin-pointed ‘the lump’, she retorted “that tiny little thing!”, all I could muster was “you’ll have to excuse my concern at what you might think is a tiny little thing – because experience has taught me to be weary and trust my gut – so SCAN AWAY!”
After a bit of heated emotion (on my part), we left on good terms.
See, I was left lying there while the Radiographer went to ‘check the films’ with the Dr.
A quick check,  took a lot longer than expected and when the door finally opened they both entered the room.
My heart sank.  I knew they’d found something they weren’t necessarily expecting to find.
(I’d actually seen this Dr. before a few years back.  Deja Vu alright.)
He asked whether it was a routine check-up or whether I’d found something unusual.  He explained that ‘as I probably already knew’ breast ‘masses’ could be divided into two categories – fibrous lumps and malignant tumours.  This one ‘has characteristics of the latter’, so best to do some further testing.
Plus – as I’d explained to Dr D and the radiographer – there was another area I was a little suspicious of.  He described it as ‘an area of concern’.  He told me Dr D had said I’d probably be pro-active and want to get biopsies done as soon as possible, should there be anything to biopsy.
Yes.
Not now (it’s too late in the day), he wasn’t available tomorrow (and it’s my birthday), so the next morning.
Agreed.

January 17, 2012…

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With an uneasy calm – I put on make-up, got dressed and made it to Dr D’s.
It was so good to see Leanne and Ros, but I missed my Breast Care Nurse Andrea.
Dr D was his usual attentive, articulate, caring, matter-of-fact self.
For what seemed like an eternity (but was really about 10 minutes), we talked about what life is like for me now.  How considerate?  Everything from my life ‘BC’, to working as a university lecturer, sitting the medical entrance exam, dress making and back to no longer working in the media and how to make something of this experience etc. etc.
We then moved onto the examination part of the consultation…..
As he prepared, he asked “are the implants okay?”  “Yes”, I answered bluntly, because I guess they are. Next came “Is something bothering you?”
All I could do was point to the very distinct pea-sized lump I knew was there.
The mood in the room changed dramatically, but remained calm.
He was in control, I was grateful.
Time to get this sorted.
In a very business-like way, Dr D went about making sure he could identify exactly what I was telling him I could feel.
When I said “gut feel’s not great”, he almost grimaced as he went about making the necessary arrangements for further testing.
No messing about this time.
Dr D left the room, went straight to the radiology department and organised for me to have an ultrasound before the day was out.  As the whirlwind whipped up around me, I knew I was in the best hands no matter what this lump turned out to be.

Up to date….

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‘…and now, you’re up to date’ was a sign off I used for many years while reading news bulletins.

How great it is to find myself now using various forms of social media to keep those interested ‘up to date’ with what I’m working on!

As well as trading the mic & headphones for scissors and a sewing machine (or 4!), I’m learning all about building a website, photography & sharing the creative activities.

KCx

Important phone call…

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Dialling the Breast Specialist’s number, I take a deep breath.  I’ve had a grossly uneasy feeling since December 16, but know Dr D’s been out of the country on his Christmas break.

Thankfully, Leanne’s lovely voice answered, we got through the pleasantries and I have an appointment in just over a week.

He’ll know how to deal with this pea-sized, hard, gravel-like lump, sitting close to the medial edge of the implant on my right side.

It’s making me sick.

Another Anniversary…

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This time a year ago I was waking up from my fourth surgery. How excited I was to say goodbye to those awful tissue expanders and have the ‘new boobs’ in place. Of course at the time, I thought that was to be the last operation.

Anyway….

In thinking about another anniversary today I was looking back through some photos and found a few I haven’t shared from that time.

Below is another Dr D, this one is actually the gynaecologist who referred me to the Dr D who’s looked after the boob situation (confused?!).

I was laid up with a view of the entrance to the Maternity ward, when I saw him walk past. I was desperate to get his attention to say thank you. I wasn’t technically this Dr’s patient (my Gyno was out of town), I hadn’t had a consultation with him before so he had no prior knowledge of how determined I could be. Obviously he agreed to satisfy my demands for another opinion on my breast lumps, by sending me on to the other Dr D.

Thank goodness!

When this shot was taken, I’d said thank you many times over (and tried to explain to Mum that after so many others, this was the Dr who finally got me in to see a Breast Specialist). Dr D then told me how he read in disbelief the results of the lumpectomies. We discussed how his referral, had helped with an early diagnosis. Another, to whom I am forever indebted.

The photo below (taken just a little while after coming back from theatre) is one of my favourites with Mum. Despite all she was going through at this time, she’d made me some beautiful pink pj’s.


And this, is my sister Kristi. This is the first time she’d been able to come to the hospital to visit.
Kristi’s only 18 months younger than me. She also has a terrible needle phobia. Needless to say walking in to see all sorts of tubes etc. was not an overly comfortable experience. Neither is dealing with a family member’s cancer diagnosis and treatment. The fact she came, was actually quite a big deal.

Early Risers – Australia’s Largest Women’s Networking Breakfast

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As I mentioned – October’s going to be a very busy month!

Here’s another speaking engagement;

Early Risers – Australia’s Largest Women’s Networking Breakfast

Two worlds collide…in a good way!

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Today was the launch of a very busy month – Pink Ribbon Month, or Breast Cancer Awareness month…
Around 100 guests had purchased tickets to a glamorous event at Lauxes restaurant and I was invited to speak to them about my personal experience.  In the audience were many other women who have also had their own experience with this disease.  These girls got my jokes!!!  I’m always amazed how many come to have a chat afterwards and describe how similar and also how different our journeys can be.
Channel 9 Gold Coast News sent a crew to cover the event.  Considering I was standing up there talking about such things as the day my breasts were removed, I was glad the Chief of Staff at 9 had assigned a couple of the industry’s best, Eva Milic and Tom Stefanovic, who I knew from my days on the road and in various newsrooms.
We made sure they had what they needed for the story, then promptly got down to the business of catching up properly over lunch!

The fight of her life Gold Coast News | goldcoast.com.au | Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

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I’m used to doing the interviews – not being the subject of them!

That said, when approached to take part in a ‘positive, feel good’ story (just prior to the somewhat bland Federal Budget being handed down), I agreed.

Although a little hesitant at first, wondering whether my experience could or should fill a column or two in the Gold Coast Bulletin, I was assured that speaking out was a good thing to do. What I was given, was an opportunity to recount what had happened in the 12 months prior. Having been in broadcast media where everything’s on tape – us radio journo’s tend to get a little nervous at what the ‘print guys’ might publish!

Journalist Melanie Pilling knew what my life ‘before BC’ involved and was familiar with my voice delivering the news each morning. The interviews on the whole ‘boob experience’ were less about me being a ‘newsreader’ (the job which I was quite comfortable speaking about), than they were about me the ‘breast cancer survivor’. As photographers Kit and Kate lined up shots laughing at my jokes about the old ‘face for radio’, Mel spent countless hours going over the detail.

Here’s their work;

The fight of her life Gold Coast News goldcoast.com.au Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Busy, busy…

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Breast Cancer awareness month is fast approaching. After my introduction to this in such a personal way last year, this year is shaping up to be even busier with speaking engagements.

Here’s one to kick start October;

Women In Tourism Events

The ‘B’ Team

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Please meet the girls – Roz, Leanne & Jennifer.

These three women, through their work with Dr D, are an integral part of my ‘medical team’ – the two other important people missing from this shot are Dr D himself and Andrea. (both way too busy to be posing for happy snaps! Maybe I can get a shot at a future appointment..)

I was showing off a little by driving myself up to the rooms and dropping off a little thank you for each of them. The work they do is so incredibly sensitive and yet they manage to wade through the maze of human emotions professionally and with a level of understanding and compassion I have never before experienced.

Perhaps the biggest thank you I can give them is to try and use this journey of mine, to make someone elses easier?