After some initial delays, the GP sent me for an ultrasound and biopsy which later revealed I had invasive ductal carcinoma stage 2 breast cancer. I was booked in for a mastectomy five days later.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on my treatment was significant; prior to my surgery there was an increase in coronavirus cases at both the hospitals on the North West Coast of Tasmania and the entire area was put into lockdown. Before long the two hospitals closed and my surgery was cancelled.
Hospitals denied surgeons permission to operate on patients from the North West Coast so even when I finally found a surgeon willing to operate as a matter of urgency, it was cancelled at the last minute too. It was a really distressing time and I struggled with all of the waiting.
I was relatively positive through the whole experience except when my surgery was cancelled – that really got me down. You build yourself up to have something done and then you’re left not knowing when, or even where, it will happen.
I knew Vicki was worried. She had her own cancer experience four years ago so she knew that any delay could mean that the tumour spread to a lymph node which it ultimately did.
I finally got my surgery at the Royal Hobart, almost two months after finding the lump. COVID-19 made it a surreal experience. I was treated as if I had the virus. Doctors and nurses were in full protective gear, people were ushered away from me, and I was kept in a pressure controlled high dependency room.
My care at the Royal Hobart Hospital however, could not be faulted and my Breast Care Nurse in Hobart has been absolutely brilliant.
