Hi Helova, sorry to read about your diagnosis. I had a wide local excision last year for what turned out to be a grade 3 30mm lump. I waited 5 weeks between diagnosis and surgery and I believe this is within recommendations. The surgeon who treated me had no concerns about this length of wait and no cancer was found in my lymph nodes. Best of luck with your treatment.

Hi there. Sorry to hear your diagnosis. I was diagnosed on December 18th and had surgery at the end of January. So about 5 weeks. I then waited 6weeks for the results and needed further surgery which was 3 weeks later. I'm now on the 6 week wait for the results of the 2nd surgery. Unfortunately, there is a lot of waiting with cancer. Try and keep busy, stay at work if you work. It won't spread in this waiting time. Grade 3 grows faster but it's not rampant. Good luck. The surgery is okay by the way. X

Hi Helova,

would it be possible for you to tell me a little bit about your experience.

i have recently been diagnosed with grade 3 triple positive breast cancer( not in lymph nodes) and I’m struggling with it all at the moment.

im having Chemo first then surgery and am currently waiting for an oncology appointment.

thanks 

jobieejo

Hi jobieejo

I am very sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis and to hear that you are struggling at the moment. My diagnosis was very similar and I can understand something of what you must be feeling. I hope that hearing of my experience of treatment might help you a little. It is just over a year since my first diagnosis and I know that one of the most difficult times during that year was when I was at a very similar stage to where you are now. I found the initial uncertainty, lack of information and fear of the unknown very difficult to cope with but when I received more information at further appointments, and when I actually started treatment, I began to feel much better and more confident. All the NHS care that I have received has been excellent.   

Everyone is different and your treatment plan will be designed especially for you but in my case I had day surgery followed by chemotherapy with Herceptin and then a short course of radiotherapy. Once I had a date for surgery all the appointments were organised and explained so carefully that all my previous worries disappeared.  The chemotherapy and radiotherapy that I had later were also made much easier because of the excellent communication and organisation of appointments. The NHS care that I have received over the past year has been wonderful. I felt very well cared for from my first appointment but even more so once I had a definite surgery date and knew when treatment would begin. I think it was the earlier uncertainty that I had found so difficult. 

My surgery was uncomplicated and I recovered quickly. Following the surgery, the oncologist explained the details of the treatment plan proposed for me and how it was designed to give me the best chance of the best long term outcomes.  He also prepared me for the side effects of the chemotherapy and explained that if I needed support there was a number I could ring for advice. The expert chemotherapy nurses were wonderful and very kind. The side effects were mostly OK but increased with each treatment.The worst side effect for me was loss of appetite but a nurse referred me to a dietician who prescribed food supplements for a while, which helped a lot. I used the "cold cap" during chemotherapy treatments and did not lose all my hair so I was happy with that. The radiographers made the radiotherapy sessions easy and I had no side effects. 

Looking back, the year has flown by and my strongest memories are of the wonderful NHS care and of how much I enjoyed meeting other patients on similar journeys to mine.

I have now had day surgery followed by chemotherapy with Herceptin and then a short course of radiotherapy which I finished one month ago. I will finish my 12 month course of Herceptin in July and will then continue on tablets to keep my level of oestrogen down, 6-monthly injections to strengthen my bones and also calcium tablets. l will have annual mammogram appointments. I now feel very well with no side effects and and I am enjoying getting back to a normal life again.

I hope this is helpful. I do hope that you will feel better when you have seen the oncologist and that they will be able to answer all your questions and concerns.

I hope that all your treatment will go well. I will be thinking of you.

With love and best wishes

Helova

Hi Helova,

im glad you are nearly finished with your treatment and that you never have to travel this path again.

Thank you so so much for getting back to me, your kind words and simple explanations have helped so much. I got my oncology appointment through this morning and it’s in a weeks time. Im compiling a long list of questions.

Ive been to the doctors today just to be checked on really and they showed me my full MRI report which also put my mind at ease. 
I honestly can’t express how much this site and people like yourself have helped soothe my mind.

please feel free to keep in touch and thank you once again. Best wishes for the future 

jobieejo

My surgery was 5 weeks after diagnosis on 3rd December. . Also wide excision. I will be having radiotherapy but that had 18 week wait so likely to be June. I wish you well on your journey 

Thank you, have you had any other treatments? Good luck on your journey x

I am on week 2 if letrozole-no obviously side effects so that’s good as I’ve read not everyone gets on with us. I had the oncotype test for possible chemo but had low score so thankfully not required 

I’m really pleased you’re not having any side effects. I’m doing chemo first and then surgery I assume, I’m actually dreading it. 

Letrozole gave me no side effects, except hair loss I believe.