Hi Bluebella,

Welcome to our forum. I am so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. It sounds as if you have got it fairly early, which should give you a good chance of survival.

I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer in the past 10 years. First of all I had a lumpectomy followed by Tamoxifen for 1 year. After a year, I found another lump in my original breast. I had a double mastectomy this time, followed by Letrozole for 6 years. I stopped taking this in July 2017. I have had a number of false aarms too and three excisions for melanoma. My mum had breast cancer, which turned into secondary cancer in her brain, bones, liver and lungs after she had it for 12 years.

Like you, I immediately thought that I would be killed by this, but no, I am still here 10 years later. Cancer diagnosis, treatment and after-care have all improved so much in the 10 year gap between mum's cancer and mine. There is just no comparison between what she got and what I have experienced. People are now living with breast cancer instead of dying with it.

We are all here to support you through this. I can understand your fear of starting on Tamoxifen because of previous problems. Some people do suffer side-effects, whilst others are fine with it. If you find that this doesn't suit you, tell your care team, as there are a number of different medicaments that can be used.

Many people with cancer suffer with depression or anxiety. Sometimes they need a little help to get through this. It may be that you will need a mild anti-depressant. Again, your care team can arrange this for you.

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

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thank you for replying to me Jolamine, I really appreciate it. I do already take an anti depressant so I'm really hoping it will be enough to cushion me after treatment. I know mine has been caught early but I'm tempted just to request a double mastectomy to remove any future threat or worry. My boobs are painfully uncomfortable anyway so would welcome a reconstruction to a smaller breast. I also know myself too well and I know the fear of it coming back is just going to haunt me too much.

HI Bluebella,

I was fortunate in that my surgeon was agreeable to me having a double mastectomy when I had my second cancer 9 years ago. Many people have wanteda double, but their surgeons have refused. I understand that where they do agree, they insist thatthei patients see a psychologist first. I was never offered this, but honestly didn't need it. I felt that I had done all that I could to ensure that the cancer stayed away and was quite relieved to have both breasts away.

I'm not sure whether or not this removes any future threat or worry, as there is always the chance of it appearing elsewhere as a secondary cancer. The fear of recurrence is something that all of us with a cancer diagnosis has to live with.

Here's hoping that the anti-depressant you are currently taking will do the job for you. If not you may need to step the strength up slightly. Your diagnosis should give you a good outcome. Further tests will be done on your breast tissue post-surgery. This is to ensure that your surgeon achieves clear margins at the time of surgery.

I sincerely hope that all goes well for your lumpectomy. It was a lot easier than I expected.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hello, this time last year I was about to embark on chemotherapy. I also had invasive ductal carcinoma her2+ 

today I had the all clear from my mammogram.....

you can do this, I know it's scary but you can do it......take it as it comes, don't look too far ahead, tick off the treatments as they come.

xxx

Hi Jolamine

Your replies are really helping, thank you. I expect my surgeon won't agree a bi lateral, as he'll think it a massive over treatment. I don't even know if I would definitely want it, but it would be reassuring to know it was an option. In a very ideal world I would have a bi lateral & immediate reconstruction and wake up, job done. But I don't think that's an option as I need radiotherapy too.

Have you found that the shock/fear does fade away as time passed?

Thank you again for your kind help.

Bluebella x

Hello Marilyn, and thank you for taking the time to reply to me, you're very kind. At the moment, it looks like chemotherapy won't be necessary, not sure why to be honest? 

How do you feel in yourself now? Is the shock starting to fade a little?

Bluebella x

Hello,

You caught the cancer early, which is good news. My mammogram didn't pick up on the cancer cells and a year later I developed a lump. Mine too is invasive ductal carcinoma, but mine was Grade 2 and spread to 2 lymph nodes underarm. Masectomy was my treatment and now waiting for chemo plus radiotherapy. If yours is a lumpectomy followed by radiotherapy that's good. I will also be taking Tamoxifen as my cancer is oestrogen positive. It's very daunting I know, but your team will do their very best to keep you well. 
Wishing you the very best outcome!

Silver x 

Hello Silver, thank you for replying. Mine is also stage 2 IDC but they don't think it has spread anywhere yet, so maybe that's why no chemo? Are you recovering quite well from the surgery?

Thank you

Bluebella x

My surgery was 8 weeks ago, so it's settled down and I have a long scar. A lumpectomy is less invasive. I will be able to have reconstruction after my treatment but it's a major surgery. Have you had any scans yet?  it's a process we all have to through and it's normal to feel apprehensive but your team will look after you.

Best wishes

Silver x 

The unknown is so scary ... I found it by far the worst times for me over the past 8 months .. I was diagnosed in July it was a huge shock , 1 week later after scans blood tests etc I was told it was stage 2 and had the potential to be aggressive,  a month later I started my treatment  I had 7 weeks of chemo and chemo rad every day then brachy therapy it was all tough but I had to do it, I kept telling myself I had it it wasn't getting me .. I kept telling myself that over and over again .. my oncologist was brilliant and very positive but it was me going through it , I found it very hard to listen to anyone who gave advice who hadn't walked in the same shoes as me, who had not felt the fear I was harbouring & gone through the days and nights of feeling as bad as I did , I had to wait for 4 months for my results it was horrendous the black cloud over my head every day the what if's... to stay positive is soooo hard but you have to and you have to believe that you will pull through and it will be ok .. no matter how hard it is and how bad you feel tomorrow is a new day I was given the news i had prayed for on the 9 Jan NED no evidence of disease it had gone. You have to believe that you will be ok and you have to keep positive like you said it's been caught early and that's brilliant , always here if you want to ask any questions , my cancer wasn't breast but I can completely understand how you are feeling x wishing you all the best & remember you have it it's not got you x keep strong x