Hi dear mary, definitely congratulations and many more to go, I've got a long way to go to catch up with you I'm only 6 1/2 years yet..

Brenda is in hospital trouble with her blood been in 2 weeks and now covid on ward so lockdown so i can't visit odd days i take some treats and a tv card to keep her occupied, nurses do the tv for her.   Im off my cancer meds for couple of months to see if i feel more normal which i do so don't know what they plan to do to get my cancer back down yet couple of weeks to go before i find out. .

Thinking of you. 

Love Billy xxxx 

This is a fabulously uplifting post. Thank you Mare! Hope you're celebrating good and proper.

It's funny what you said about your Prof. In our family we too have one long breast cancer survivor (quarter of a century plus) where the cancer had spread to a lot of lymph nodes. On being asked (back in the 1990s when treatments were archaic compared to now) for the 5-year survival figures for the presentation and type of cancer, the surgeon said there weren't any which we all thought rather ominous.

In the end statistics are just statistics. And life is life! You carry on enjoying it Mare! xx

Hi this gives me so much hope 

presently I am a bit terrified as I have a grade 3 fast growing tumourc in my breast 

I have been told I have several cancerous lymph nose in my armpit. Billy and others has worked really hard to help becalm mecfown on my thread due to terrifing articles I have read on line... 

I was ok today because of tge level of support I got... 

I was only diagnosed on Thursday... 

you have given me so much hope as only 51 xx 

Hi I hope you don't mind me jumping in but I am terrifed as I has just been diagnosed withan aggressive breast cancer grade 3 and have been told the cancer is in several lymph nodes but I don't know how many several means ... Iam terrifed it  has spread and am having a bit of a meelt down as we speak .. I would fully appreciate your advice please x

Hello, I have messaged you privately as well, but yes it is pretty awful (understatement of the year)!

I agree with everyone's comments to you and on your thread on here. It's early days yet. Take it slow, don't jump to hasty conclusions. Gather the information from your specialists, make notes when you meet them so, in your panic you don't forget (better still get your partner to write things down).

People really are living with this horrible disease longer than ever before.

I'm never far if you need a chat.

Mary

xxxx

Unfortunately I can't give much more advice than what other people have been saying about staying as calm as possible through this difficult time waiting for the next stage. In my relative's case things got going very quickly – treatment commenced within a week of the mammogram and biopsy. Major things happened literally within days (my relative asked to postpone and was told that this had to come before everything so that was it and we were very suddenly catapulted into this situation for which none of the family felt at all prepared), which was quite shocking at the time. It was also a long time ago. Every cancer is unique and it is cancers other than breast that generally seem to "get us" in my family.

The common interpretation of several (not medical but what a lot of people might assume it to mean – so please do not read too much into this – could be 3 to 5). But only your team can tell you how many lymph nodes are affected and what they have sampled so far. No one on here can really interpret that several for you. My relative had to have many many more lymph nodes than that removed.

Have you spoken to BreastCancerNow at all? They should be able to help with regards understanding next steps for you.

Please remember every cancer is unique. People are unique. No one can say just how things are going to pan out for you (if only we had a magic mirror or a crystal ball), but we can help hold your hand.

Remember only your team knows what your individual cancer is.

It can be helpful to call specialist support lines to make sure you get the best care and know what the protocols are. People like myself cannot give any medical advice. I am not medically qualified. But I can send you a virtual hug and hope things get going for you soon. Take care. Love Rose xx

Hello Billy. Long time no chat!

I'm glad you're feeling normal again, but agree that it will be interesting to see what the decision regarding further treatment entails? And, goodness, it must be very quiet for you with Brenda in Hospital. I do hope they get her settled very soon x

Thank you for drawing my attention to Justathena's post on here. It is very good for me too to share the experiences I have and the strategies I use to cope- it reminds me to put them into practice! Hahaha I'm such a lazybones really and can get a bit complacent, and sometimes a bit careless, with my health; I remain rather fat I'm afraid.

Best wishes to you and to Brenda,

Love from Mary

xxx

Thank you so much, not having such a great day today . Xx 

Hi Rose,

Thank you for this lovely reply. It was a perfectly quiet day yesterday. Peaceful and warm and lovely. 

Thank you too for sharing the longevity of your relative. Those stories keep hope uppermost.

I remember (as Justathena has mentioned on her thread) I wanted my "30 years plus" life expectancy. I felt really guilty not being satisfied with short statistics.... I was a heap of festering anger! It felt like I was at a party where all the other guests were being offered a whole slice of cake, and I was expected to accept a few crumbs. I'm still not satisfied though. There's still a lot I need to do with my time here.

Wishing you all the best,

Mary

x

Thank you so much... xxx