Breast Cancer

Hi  my name is vilma,

Last May 17 I was diagnosed with grade 3 breast cancer which came as a massive shock.
When I found out that I had breast cancer it felt like it wasn’t me. It felt completely surreal and it felt totally, totally shocking. It felt like my whole world had collapsed. I had my surgery last June 1 . My operation was as planned, so a success, the lump has been removed and the biopsy confirmed exactly what they thought and the lymph system is clear, there was no spread to the sentinel lymph node but the pathologist commented on the extensive lymphovascular invasion which they know is a risk factor for further recurrence. The breast cancer cells are hormone sensitive and HER2 negative. They will intent to treat this with curative intent and deliver postoperative treatment to have a chances of long term cure. They discussed whether I might feel able to participate in the OPTIMO clinical trial but I felt more comfortable proceeding straight to chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy. I will have 8 sessions of chemotherapy for 19 weeks followed by radiotherapy for 3 weeks. Started my first chemo last Monday July 2 the  fist 48 hours is awful felt sickly and tired, couldn’t eat anything. The feeling lasted at least 5 days. After a week I’m now back to normal, will have at least two weeks recovery before the 2nd chemo. Just had my 2nd chemo last last Monday July 23 And felt more sickly and tired compare to my first chemo. Taste buds is horrible, even water is taste awful, unsettled stomach.

  • Hi I also have been diagnosed with breast cancer what a shock .I have had a lumpectomy and 12 nodes removed and next week start 6 rounds of chemo followed by 3 weeks of radiotherapy I am frightened to death of being ill.

  • Hi,

    i think all of us frightened to death being ill,its not a 'fight', its 'doing what you need to do'... and you so we got this. Just keep active and think positive

  • Hi cant give you much advice .but something thats so important it realy is is to stay well hydrated and excercise if to can especialy when having chemo . Absolute cleanliness dont be around anyone who is ill stay away from crowds as for a while you immune system will be compromised . And eat healthily. .p

  • Hi there ... 

    There's lots of us breast ladies on here, and think we were all scared silly, in the beginning... Your not super human, just human, so forgive yourself for feeling so frightened... We've all had days we feel like giving up and want to scream at the world and esp this cancer that invades our bodies and lives even though it wasn't invited ... 

    So once you've had all those feelings, buy yourself a vertual pair of boxing gloves and let's kick it's butt together ... Coz cancer doesn't want you strong... It wants you to break ... Well we'll bend but not brake ... You can do this ... But allow yourself to have those feelings and know it's o.k to feel scared .... But there's lots of us on the same journey as you ... Your not alone ... And as Paul's says, keeping healthy as poss is really good advice ...  Chrissie x