Hi guys,
I’m new here- recently diagnosed with mucinous carcinoma in right breast- grade 2 at the age of 42. Post lumpectomy I’m looking at a mastectomy and chemotherapy. I hold dual citizenship (Uk and Australia) - wrestling with 2 big questions really- what order to have procedures in, and where? My parents are in Aus, and could support/ care for me, whilst in Uk I have a close and supportive network of friends and family. Has anyone had a similar experience/ any advice?
The World Health Organisation (part of the United Nations) has cancer statistics which give an indication of which country has better outcomes. I do know that their recent statistics rank Britain in 29th place in world, so I suspect Australia has far better care.
Hello! If It’s any help I’m a NZ er and been working in UK until retired last year / found I had stage3 ca rt breast and had surgery followed by chemo here which was v hard to go through but excellent treatment . I’ve just returned from 3 months in Auckland and had oldest friends and half my family there and found the care and thoroughness very good and easier to get appointments etc .
The difference for me was having my two daughters around through it all , in london and Bournemouth , though my two sons are also very caring guys so probably not much in it! Whatever you decide , wish you the very best journey through it all.
Denise x
You could ask what are GENUINE waiting times UK v. Aus. When I investigated for myself I have found that the 2 week- 62 days-etc. malarky in UK can mean genuine waiting times get extended - and you wait for weeks longer. Heaven help you if your appointments get 'lost' in the system. Although it is the NHS's fault, they will never apologise and as for moving you back into where you should be in the queue - forget it!
If you are lucky treatment is good - but if one thing goes wrong no-one helps to get it sorted. Last year I found 20 (yes twenty) appointment letters had been sent to where I lived 6 years ago, and had long changed address. Followed by 20 furious follow-up letters saying "as you didn't attend you appointment...." That was the NHS Spine system that got it all mixed up.
Why not ask Australian cancer charity helplines what are their user's experiences? Am sure the Aussies will tell you the truth!
Hi there,
You will definitely need help when undergoing any procedure.
I’m not familiar with the health care system in Australia/UK so I can’t comment on which country is best however, I will say that if your parents are in Australia and they can take care of you then why not Australia? I had to rely on my mom when undergoing my mastectomy and chemo. Friends were helpful and they visited me but when you’re going through chemo you will need someone to cook for you and help you with laundry. Again friends can do those things but I just couldn’t bring myself to ask so I relied on my mom and sisters.
Therefore thinking about who will take care of you and help you with all of the day to day things is very important in your healing process. My whole ordeal took about 5 months (mastectomy, recovery, chemo) and if you add my reconstruction surgery then it took 7 months- just to give you at a timeline for you to consider. I live in the U.S btw and everything for me happened so fast although it may not seem like it now looking back.
I wish you the best and hope your family and friends will be as supportive as mine were.
Talk to your oncologist about which treatment to have first. Mastectomy is a big surgery and chemo will wipe you out. I did not have a mastectomy, but chemo took months to gain back my strength. As for where, I do not know anything about either country, so my best advice would be to choose the support system that will allow you 24/7 care. For both treatments you will want the continual care. I am on my 5th primary cancer, and when I had ovarian, I was left alone - it was horrible! I lived away from family and friends, and even though one person checked on me daily, it wasn't enough. Very helpful but just not enough
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