Hello from northern Europe

Maverick62

Hello,
My name is Anna and I am 42 years old. Have 5-year-old daughter and a husband. I live in Finland (which is a country in Northern Europe, the capital is Helsinki).

I was diagnosed with BC in January 2003.
Had surgery. Only the lump (1,6 cm) +margins were removed.
Sentinal node was clean, so that was the only one removed.

Grade III, hormones all negative, HER2-, Ki-67 50%.
Had 6xCEF and 25xradiation.

Was on sick leave for the whole 7,5 months of this, and my employer is so great that they pay FULL pay for six months! (And even after that you get "sick pay" from the state which is about 60% of your income.) But this "six months full pay" is VERY rare, even in here Finland, most companies pay full pay for 1-3 months.

I have been doing quite well now, but am of course a little afraid of reoccurrence. I have these weird pains around my breast and back (right side, the one where the tumor was), but as the mammo and ultra in this October showed "nothing", I guess it is nothing... Or actually: with the ultra the doctor found gallstones, and the doctor said that all these pains now are (probably) because of those gallstones (said that they can give all kinds of weird symptoms). I myself am not so sure...am a little afraid that what if it is not the gallstones after all there causing this pain but something else...

Next control visit is in April, but I will probably go and have extra blood tests sometime before that (through my work health care).

Sammi

Hi Anna! I'm sorry you have had to join us, but am very glad you found this site - so WELCOME! Your description of the health care system in Finland remainds me of how backward my country is in the medical delivery system we deal with. So many people have to worry about losing their job and losing all their savings and future earnings when they get ill. The Scandinavian health care system if far more advanced than ours. But don't you pay a large percentage of your incomes to taxes? Please stay well and come visit often!

Catherine

Hi Anna, sorry you had to join us but welcome. My husband's relatives are from Finland. My grandfather was Norwegian/German.

Catherine

twinpeaks

Hi Anna,
I can completely understand the fear of recurrance. Hopefully it is just the gallstones. Has your doctor suggested a cholecystectomy?
I hope they don't find anything other than the gallstones!

Hopec

Hello Anna I have just joined this site and saw your post. I am now past the 12 month mark of being diagnosed with Inflammentary Breast Cancer and am just starting to get back on top of things. I had 10 treatments of Chemotherapy, a masectomy and radiation. I am just starting back at work. I did try to go to work as much as possible throughout my treatment. My employer has been wonderful. I have had to take the last 4 months off work completely. Would like to hear from you and other ladies. I am from Queensland Australia regards Hopec

jamiru

Hi Anna, hi also to fellow Aussie. What part of Qld? I am in the south west of Western Australia.
Anna, I too am on CEF, I have only had my 1st out of 6 treatments, then 7 weeks of radio, followed by Tamoxifin (my tumour was hormone +). Please tell me, how did you go on the chemo? I haven't found hardly anyone doing the same chemo and would like to know what side effects you experienced? Was each treatment the same or different? I ask that as I am driving myself to the next one and we live 4 hours away! I will drive home after an overnight stay in the hospital. My family think I am mad, but I got through the 1st treatment quite well and want to give it a go.