Hi waterway

Sorry to read you have been diognosed with breast cancer,but whatever treatments  you may have ,your oncologist will be in touch and disscuss this all with you. Its a good idea to write down all the questions that you feel you need answered ,things like  if I do need chemotherapy ... how many will I need and how long for, I'm sure you will also have many more questions you'd like to ask,and writing them all down I found waa good for me as I'm sure in the heat of the conversation, I would have forgotten some of my questions. 

I  myself  was told by a consultant ( before my biobsys were sent away and graded) that I probably would onky need radiotherapy, as the tumour lumping my right breast felt small . 

But once my  cancer  waa graded,and cancer found in my lymph nodes  after I had lumpectomy, and all my lymph nodes removed from under my right arm  ,that changed...I was estrogen receptive ( cancer waa feeling of off my estrogen ) and tumour was slightly bigger than first thought not grade 1,but graded grade 2. So I was told id have to have eight sessions  of Chemotherapy, then later on 15 sessions of Radiotherapy. 

In all honesty that freaked me out ,I was not expecting that. They don't ever force you to have the chemotherapy  ,and I was so scared,but after discussing  evertything over the phone, with my oncologist  ( I never met him as covid restrictions were in full swing( I decided it was my best option of beating cancer 

I can honestly  tell you I was extremely surprised once my first chemotherapy session took place.  I sat there ,with it going through me,expecting the worst,but it didn't Hurt a bit,I was given an anti sickness pill before chemotherapy started ,which worked so well, I wasn't ever sick once .

Yes I had a few problems, bit of tiredness  the best advice one of the chemotherapy nurses gave me was ...Never talk to others about there symptoms going through chemotherapy  as everyone's body is different,and each person's chemotherapy is tailored  to them,what side effects they may get,you may not, and vice versa. 

That is so true. But no one can answer your question, as to if your going to need chemotherapy, apart from your oncologist and cancer care nurses.  But whatever your planned treatments will be ,you will be well looked after I'm sure. 

I think the not knowing is the hardest part,as once you know what treatments are inshore  for you,you can get your head round it all.  Good luck  with everything, whst ever the treatment plan,you will get through it,they really do take care of you .

Hi thank you so much for sharing your journey with me and I hope you are recovering well, my consultant did mention before my surgery that I  would most likely need radiotherapy and a tablet for up to 10 years following surgery however if a additional receptor came back positive I may require chemotherapy, I was told to stop taking my contraceptive pill as it was feeding it, you are right the waiting is the hardest part and I guess I just need to have a little patience and try to not worry about what additional treatment might be needed and remember the worst bit is over in that it has been found and removed . 

Waterbabby 25

First may I say sorry for misspelling your name on my previous reply to your post. 

I have predicted text on  and it sometimes changes what I type. My fault though as I don't always remember to check my texts before I reply. 

It's hard being patient waiting on things related to cancer I think its becsuse  it's a scary roller coaster ride wed all rather not be on. 

But it's where most of us on this chst forum are on apart from tge posts about hiw to handle or whst to say to loved ones going through csncer, or grief. But nether the less, its still a hard place to be, but this chat forum is also a comforting place,where people who are going or have been going through simular issues. 

I hope you get all your answers soon. X

Hi both I sound very similar to you, I’ve had 2 lumpectomies and lymph nodes removed because mine was grade 3 and had gone to 2 lymph nodes I am having chemo and I am terrified at the thought. did you lose your hair? I’m struggling so bad mentally with this part and I’ve had a CT scan now to check if it’s anywhere else. Mine was one lump picked up in right breast xx 

Seaswim

Hello ,yes it does seem simular.  In answer to your question.about did I lose my hair,the answer is yes, I started to lose it on second dose of the sheduled 8 sessions of chemotherapy. That was the hardest part for me,my hair was long. And it was during the hot summer months  and as it was falling out ,it was sticking to me. I cut it shorter,but I started to look bald in place's, looked awful, so I shaved it off. It's hard  but I bought three wigs,two synthetic ones and one real hair one. I went to a specialist wig shop . I bought lots of turbans, beanie type hats to wear in doors,as wigs got  to hot to wear all the time.

My hairs grown back now. You will find a way that suits you if you lose your hair. You will get throught it we all do, but yes its tough  i cried as loved my hair,dudnt look like me anymore . Xxx

Thank you, I love my hair too :( I’ve an appointment with wig shop on Thursday I have long hair too but I’m not cutting it before it starts to fall out, what about eyebrows/eyelashes? I’ve bought fake ones to be prepared xx

Hi both i think you are slightly ahead of me in the journey I get my results from.my operation Tuesday and told.what treatment i will.be given i am terrified also of having to have chemotherapy but as all my friends have been saying to me if it makes us better we have just have to roll with it, I hope you are both doing ok, please let me know how you get on x 

I will Waterbaby25 I’ll certainly keep you posted on everything as I’m not far ahead of you, the waiting is torture xx 

Yes I lost thrm both too. I just drew a slightly dark khol eyeliner around top lid ,and around waterline of my eyes,and penciled my eyebrows in with an eyebriw pencil. I'm nit goid at putting fake eyelashes on,so didn't bother with them.My eyelashes were very short before chemotherapy, so didn't look much different.  

But I do know one lady on the chemotherapy u nit who did ho and get her eyebrows  done  with permanent make up  befote her treatments.

Waterbaby 25,.I finished chemotherapy and radiotherapy  in Dec  2021,  just on the letrazole now. Still feel tired at times ,but im.ok thank you .let us all know how you get on xxx