Hi - I was diagnosed with estrogen positive breast cancer on new years eve 2022, and had a lumpectomy and lymph node remival in March 2023

My surgeon explained everything in detail and put our minds at ease .  The trouble is you can only think about cancer - no wonder people's heads are 'mashed'

I was lucky and was offered Oncotyping - my score was 7 which is low and therefore only had to have 10 sessions of radiotherapy and feel fine now so keep your pecker up girl you've got this xxx

Hi Jenny,

So pleased to hear that you're okay now.

My consultant was very good and I must admit that once I found out that it was treatable I did feel a lot happier. Just waiting for the MRI now to confirm the size of the lump and then hopefully he'll go through the plan of treatment. The waiting is frustrating but he's assured me that the outcome will be fine it's just a matter of whether it's a lumpectomy or mastectomy and radiotherapy and/or chemo. Mine's oestrogen positive and HER2 negative.

I do manage to distract myself during the day with work, reading etc but have to admit the minute my head hits the pillow it's the first thing I think of and the same when I wake in the morning. But, yes, sometimes I do feel as though my head's 'mashed'. It also feels quite surreal at the moment but I'm sure that will change once the treatment starts.

Thank you so much for your support - it really does mean a lot.

Deb x

Hi Deb,

A very warm welcome to our forum.

It must have been quite a shock for you to receive your diagnosis by post. Most surgeons prefer to give news face-to-face, irrespective of whether it is good or bad. The practice of informing people by letter increased during Covid, but has reduced since. Some busier hospitals do notify people by post, as it frees appointment slots in clinic, but this is not ideal. If you have any questions still, write a list. You can either phone your breast care nurse to ask her to explain what is happening, or take the list to your next appointment to ask your consultant.

I am so sorry to hear that your diagnosis is cancer, but glad to hear that it is treatable. I am sure that it was a great relief for you to discover that it was only stage 2. It is frustrating having to wait again for an MRI, but it is important for your surgeon to have all the right details before even discussing potential treatments. I do hope that you get it soon. You will feel better once you get the full diagnosis and move on to treatment.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine,

To be fair, the letter didn’t actually say that I had cancer but it did give the test results - U5, T5, M5 - which I looked up to discover that they showed it was cancer. The consultant did seem surprised when he told me and I said I already knew from the results letter. Weirdly, although it was a shock when I got the letter it did give me a few days to compose myself and think of questions to ask. 

I’ve now been given a date of 11 September for the MRI so not too much longer. 

I’ll let you all know when I have any more info!

Deb x

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the silence. I've had the MRI and saw the consultant this morning. The lump measures 52mm which is more than expected but he can still do a lumpectomy - one of the benefits of having big boobs, I suppose!

Because of the size he also wants me to have a CT body scan to make sure it hasn't spread anywhere else. He doens't think it has but just wants to make sure. I must admit this has completely thrown me as I'd never even considered the possibility. He has said that I don't have to have it done (I'm incredibly claustrophobic) and that some consultants don't do them so I suppose I should take some comfort from that.

The lumpectomy is being pencilled in for the week of 14 October and I'll see him in a couple of weeks to discuss the CT and the op in more detail.

I hope you're all doing okay I'll update you all when I have more to tell.

Deb x

Hi Deb,  actually a CT scan is much easier and quicker than the MRI and not so claustrophobic.  I think it is a good thing because at least then it will give you peace of mind that it hasn't spread anywhere else.  I have a CT scan every three months and it only takes about 5 minutes.  It is good that they can still do the lumpectomy.  Good luck with your appointment and keep us updated.  Big hugs.

Lee x

Hi Lee,

Thanks, that’s put my mind at rest a bit. Is it only 5 minutes for a whole body scan? 

Deb x

Hi Deb,  thats what mine takes literally the machine says breathe in hold it and then it tells you to breathe out.  It really is very quick.  I have to have CT with contrast so they put canula in which puts dye in your body and that takes the longest.  The scan itself is quick and not very claustrophobic not like the MRI.  Good luck xxx

Hi Debs,

I'm glad to hear that you've had the MRI and just wanted to reassure you that what Leelaloo says is correct, If you managed the MRI, a CT scan should be a breeze. It is not claustrophobic at all and well worth doing. I'm glad to see that your consultant is being so thorough, although I imagine that you are desperate to start treatment. You'll be glad in the long run that everything is being thoroughly investigated.

Look forward to your next update.

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine,

I've had a quick google of CT scans and have to admit that it doesn't look too bad at all. I think it threw me into a panic because, as I said, I hadn't even considered the possibility of it spreading anywhere else in my body - probably naive I know. So at the moment rather than putting my mind at rest, it's opened up another can of worms. 

Anyway, I'm sure I'll get there in the end and I'll keep you all posted.

Debs x

Hi Debs,

You were probably so thrown by the cancer diagnosis that you never even thought about spread. This is not unusual. As with any cancer diagnosis, there is always this possibility, especially if any of the lymph nodes are affected. It sounds as if your consultant is being very thorough, which is reassuring. If there is any spread you would certainly want to treat this at the same time as your breast. Don't let this possibility throw you into a tail spin - it is only a possibility and one that has always been there - it's also reassuring that nothing showed up on the MRI!

I'm glad that you have looked at CT scans online and to hear that you don't feel so bad about them now - you'll have no bother with it. I hope that this comes through soon and that you can then put all of this behind you.

I look forward to your next update.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Debs,

You were probably so thrown by the cancer diagnosis that you never even thought about spread. This is not unusual. As with any cancer diagnosis, there is always this possibility, especially if any of the lymph nodes are affected. It sounds as if your consultant is being very thorough, which is reassuring. If there is any spread you would certainly want to treat this at the same time as your breast. Don't let this possibility throw you into a tail spin - it is only a possibility and one that has always been there - it's also reassuring that nothing showed up on the MRI!

I'm glad that you have looked at CT scans online and to hear that you don't feel so bad about them now - you'll have no bother with it. I hope that this comes through soon and that you can then put all of this behind you.

I look forward to your next update.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine,

That's reassuring. I assumed that once it had spread it couldn't be trerated but just managed in some way.

Debs x

Hi everyone,

A quick update. I had a call from the hospital yesterday with an appointment for my body scan this morning (they had a cancellation). You were all absolutely right - it was so quick I didn't have time to worry about anything!

I also have an appointment for a bone scan on Monday, which is a bit of a surprise although my husband said the consultant did mention it. I was probably too busy panicking about the body scan. It does look a lot scarier than the CT scan I've just had but I'm sure I'll manage it. Will let you know how it goes.

Debs x

Hi Debs,

That was probably the best way to get your scan - no time to think about it! I'm glad to hear that you didn't have any problem with the scan itself. If you managed that, you'll have no trouble with a bone scan. 

It depends upon how far a cancer has spread, as to how treatable it is. Most can be treated. It is only the very advanced and widespread ones that pose a problem. Even when these are deemed to be incurable, they can still be maintained for several years and controlled as chronic conditions, thanks to the ongoing development of  sophisticated new treatments.

I shall be thinking of you on Monday and hope that all goes well.

Keep in touch.

Jolamine xx

Hi all,

Well, I went for my bone scan on Monday and had a major panic attack and practically ran out of the hospital! I just couldn't face it. My consultant originally said that if I was struggling with the thought of the body and bone scans that we could go straight to the operation so I called his secretary on Tuesday to ask if I absolutely had to have it. She said that there was a Multidisciplinary Team meeting today and she would let me know after that. I had a missed call/voicemail from her this afternoon to say that they they've discussed my case and I have an appointment with my consultant on Monday afternoon 'to go through the results and discuss onward management'. I'm now really concerned because they're talking about 'management' rather than 'treatment' which suggests that my body scan has shown that it's spread. My lumpectomy has been provisionally booked for 15 October.

Hopefully, I'm reading too much into this and it will all be fine but I have a horrible feeling that things aren't quite as straightforward as originally thought.

Anyway, I'll let you know how it goes on Monday.

Deb x

Good morning Deb,  was it a nuclear body/bone scan booked that you couldn't do?  I really do find these one claustrophobic.  I make them put like a wedge pillow thing on my chest so I know the machine won't touch me.  Hopefully they can see everything they need to see on the CT scan.  I am really hoping and praying that all goes well for your appointment with the oncologist on Monday.  You need to get through this weekend.  I know it is easier said than done but try and keep busy and keep your mind off it.  Is your husband going with you on Monday?  I definitely would take someone with you because like you said your husband heard and remembered things you could not.  My husband always comes with me to oncology appointments and remembers to ask things that I don't.   So I will be thinking of you.  Let us know how you get on on Monday.  Big hugs.

Lee x

Hi Lee,

Yes, it was the nuclear bone scan - I didn’t even get as far as the injection and feel quite embarrassed about the whole thing now. If he insists on me having one then I’ll speak to my GP to see if they can give me something to calm me down. I know I can be sedated but would really rather not be. 

My husband is coming with me on Monday so I’ll have support. I’ll let you know how it goes. 

Have a lovely weekend

Deb x

Hi Debs,

I am so sorry to hear that you didn't even get as far as the injection, as this should have been the last piece of the jigsaw to give your care team a complete picture, giving them the best chance to plan the optimum treatment for you. If this is going to affect your treatment in any way, you could certainly have a word with your GP about sedation - a number of people do this before tests. It would be a good idea for you and your hubby to draw up a list of questions before Monday, as it's all too easy to forget something important in the heat of the moment.

Try not to dwell on the nuance of treatment versus management until you speak to the consultant on Monday - this could be just a slip of the tongue. I always took my hubby with me and we went armed with 2 copies of questions. As I asked the questions, he wrote down the answers, as most of us forget about 80% of what is said during a consultation, before we leave the hospital.

Thinking of you and wishing you well. Please keep us in the loop.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine

Of course, you’re absolutely right. If I do need to have the bone scan then I’ll do it. I’m not sure what happened really - I’m not usually such a wimp. I am claustrophobic but if I need to do something then I’ll still do it. I think maybe everything just got on top of me. 

I’ll let you know how tomorrow goes. 
Deb x

Good luck today Deb.

Lee x

Thanks, Lee. It’s not until later this afternoon but I’ll let you know how it went. 
Deb x