Quality of Care Report 2010 - 2011 - Wimmera Health Care Group

Trish Milton’s Breast Cancer JourneyIn September 2009,Trish Milton looked in themirror and noticed that herleft breast had changedshape. She was 48 years oldand married to Jeff, with twodaughters, Madeleine andStephanie who were 13 and 11at the time.I went to my GP straight away,who referred me to Mr Kitchen,a local surgeon who retired lastyear. He took two biopsies and anultrasound, but the results wereinconclusive.I was admitted to Wimmera BaseHospital where another biopsywas taken and sent away fortesting. Two years earlier, I hada lump in my right breast andthe mammogram taken at thetime didn’t show any evidence ofcancer. I got the shock of my lifewhen the results of the biopsycame back positive and the lump was 5 cm in diameter.I had two options - I could have a partial mastectomy,where just the lump and surrounding tissue would beremoved, or I could opt for a full mastectomy, removalof the entire breast. I opted for a full mastectomy.Whilst I was having the surgery, my lymph glands wereremoved and a biopsy of my right breast was also taken.I couldn’t believe my bad luck when results from thebiopsy came back positive, I had a cancerous lump in myright breast too!As soon as I was well enough, I was admitted to theDay Procedure Unit at Wimmera Base Hospital to havethe lump in the right breast removed. It was 6 cm indiameter. Because the lump was so large, Mr Kitchenrecommended that I have a full mastectomy of my rightbreast.After the surgery, I was referred to an Oncologist,Professor George Kannourakis. I can’t speak highlyenough of George, he has been fantastic. At my firstappointment, I was very upset and thought I was goingto die, but George gave me some options which made mefeel positive about the future. I was determined to beatthis disease, I was not going to give up without a fight.I had six months ofchemotherapy in Horsham,followed by five weeks ofradiotherapy in Ballarat.With the support of my familyand friends, we travelled toBallarat for treatment everyday.Professor Kannourakis wasfantastic with my daughterstoo. He explained the cancerand what my treatment wouldentail. It really helped them todeal with the situation.It is now over a year sinceI finished radiotherapy. I amnow on Tamoxifen, an oralform of chemotherapy, whichI will take for five years. I seeProfessor Kannourakis everysix months and he is verypleased with my progress.During my treatment,I attended a Look Good … Feel Better Programco-ordinated by the Community Health Nurses.Look Good … Feel Better is a pamper program for womenundergoing cancer treatment to help restore theirself-confidence. I was lucky enough to have mymake-up done and even got to take some fantasticmake-up home. It was great to meet other women goingthrough a similar experience to me.Elizabeth King, the McGrath Breast Care Nurse atWimmera Health Care Group, has been a wonderfulsupport to my family, I don’t know how we would havecoped without her.After the first mastectomy, Elizabeth visited me inhospital and she has been there for us ever since. I feelcomfortable asking her about anything I need to knowand if she doesn’t know the answer she will find out forme. When we told our daughters I had breast cancerthey were upset, but Elizabeth explained everything tothem in way they could understand. It was comforting toknow she was there whenever we needed to talk.Elizabeth organised a resource kit containing lotsof helpful information about breast cancer from theBreast Cancer Network of Australia. She also organiseda special bra that I could wear after the surgery.We still catch up for a coffee and chat from time to time.The McGrath Breast Care Nurse program is a wonderfulservice and a godsend for anyone going through breastcancer.Throughout the journey I couldn’t have asked for bettersupport. Everything has been up front right from thestart and the staff at Wimmera Health Care Group havebeen wonderful.My message to women is to make sure you checkyour breasts regularly. No-one knows your bodythe way you do and if you feel that something’swrong, keep pursuing it until you get an answer.MCGRATH BREAST CARE NURSEElizabeth King is Wimmera Health Care Group’sMcGrath Breast Care Nurse. This service, whichcommenced in August 2009, is made possible withfunding from the McGrath Foundation and the FederalGovernment.Elizabeth is specially trained and registered as a BreastCare Nurse. This service provides physical, psychologicaland emotional support for women diagnosed with breastcancer and their families, from the time of their diagnosisand throughout their treatment.The program also aims to promote a greater level ofself breast awareness in women. Whilst nine out of tenbreast lumps are not cancerous, it is important to noteany changes as soon as they occur.The service is provided across the Grampians regionfrom Stawell to the South Australian border, through toHopetoun and Edenhope. Elizabeth is also available totalk to groups about breast self awareness.For further information about theMcGrath Breast Care Nurse, please contactElizabeth King on ph. 0428 210 105.BEING “BREAST AWARE”Because breast cancer affects women of all ages,it is important that all women, including young women,examine their breasts regularly to detect any changes.Self examination is important. If you are aware of howyour breasts normally look and feel, you’re more likelyto notice a change if it develops.In addition to seeing your doctor each year for abreast examination, you need to check your breastsregularly. A good time to do this is after the last dayof your menstrual cycle or, if you do not have periods,the same date each month. Most women find thattheir breasts are easier to examine just after theirperiod when any premenstrual pain and lumpiness hassettled.You may check your breasts standing up, for example,in the shower, or lying down, for example, in bedbefore going to sleep. Your partner should also bealert and look for changes in your breasts.You can check your breasts by:• Looking at the shape and appearance of yourbreasts and nipples in the mirror with your handsby your sides.• Raising your arms above your head and lookingfor a change in the shape of the breasts.• Feeling for lumps in the breasts either whilelying down or standing.• Feeling for lumps in the nipple area and in thearmpits.You should look out for the following changes:• A lump or lumpiness, or even a change in shape orappearance of your breast such as dimpling,redness and the appearance of veins.• An area that feels different to the rest of yourbreast or any pain in your breast.• Any change in the shape or appearance of yournipple, such as your nipple being pulled in or thedevelopment of a rash.• A discharge from your nipple, particularly if itis bloody.If you find a change in your breast, don’t panic.Most changes in the breast are not related to breastcancer. However, if you do find a change in yourbreast or a lump, it is important to visit your Doctorimmediately.McGrath Foundation– together we can make a difference26Pursuing excellence in careWimmera Health Care Group Quality of Care Report 2010/201127