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New & feeling lost

Lorraine1960
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Hi, I am 56 and was diagnised with breast cancer on 20th Dec, had surgery on 25th Jan, good news is that it hasnt spread to my lymph nodes and all cancer in breast taken out, however tumor was upgraded from a 2 to 3 and now waiting to see if it is chemo or radiotherapy i will be having....life seems to be on hold at the moment and to be honest i dont really know how i feel.

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    Hi Lorraine,

    I'm in the same boat. I was diagnosed 30 Dec and had surgery 19 Jan, which also gave me the same upgrade from 2 to 3. I'm now waiting for results from the Oncotyoe DX test.

    Everything feels unreal. What's hard for me is that I feel absolutely fine and healthy and as I sit here I can look forward to possible chemo, radiotherapy as a given and 10 YEARS of Tamoxifen, which sounds wholly unappealing and destined to destroy that state. It's hard to take on board. 

    Good luck to you - I hope you can avoid chemo.

    Leah 

     

  • Offline in reply to Ljala
    Hi Leah, thank you for your reply, yes I think we are going through the same process, I am awaiting results of the same test, unfortunately I picked up two very nasty infections post op so it has set me back a bit. I find the waiting the hardest to cope with...far better when you know what your going to be dealing with! Here's hoping we both give chemo a miss! Good luck to you. Lorraine x
  • Offline in reply to Lorraine1960

    Hi Lorraine,

    Sorry to hear about the infections. Yes, the waiting is terrible, but it has given me quite a lot of time for scouring the internet and reading clinical studies. At the very least, if they say I need the chemo I feel that it will at least be worthwhile. Also, I was reading an Canadian article this morning on recurrance and survival rates among women who turn down treatment and it's not pretty....so it is a worthwhile adventure. They clearly don't want to push chemo on us if there is no value in it or they wouldn't bother with such an expensive test (it is what I keep repeating to myself).  I think that if I need chemo, I'll have a parthy with all my friends while I still feel good, and then another one at the end of it and the radiation. Beyond that, I think all of this merits a nice holiday on the beach! There should be a charity that funds holidays for people who have finished such treatments! Hey, a nice life mission perhaps!

    Take care!

    Leah

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    Hi Lorraine,

    I do hope this is not a stupid question - why was the tumour upgraded from 2 to 3 -

     

  • Offline in reply to stoksey
    Hi, it was upgraded as when taken out they found a nodule on it. Lorraine
  • Offline in reply to Lorraine1960

    Thanl you for explaining it - sometimes I think I should know - other times I am too scared to ask in case I am frightened by the answer I hear. - the support on this site is amazing - although its not often I leave it without shedding a few tears xx

     

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    Hi Lorraine! you are not alone in this. I am 41 and i had the surgery in 19 oct. after surgery, i start with tamoxifen. in the end of december i get my result about Oncotype DX. it was 18 that means I am on the edge so I start chemo in January.I will lie if I told you is fine. Is not. is hard ! i am full of hate! I hate the fact that this stupid cancer is controlling my life. but I know that in the end I will win. Be ready to fight my dear!
  • Offline in reply to Alina
    Hi Alina, thanks for reply, I am not one to give up without a fight which is just as well I am thinking! It is the continual waiting game that I am finding hard to deal with...much better when i know what I am dealing with and can get on with it, roll on next Wed when I get results of Oncotype. Feeling very down and can't stop crying, life turned upside down so quickly.
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    God bless you, keep your immune system high I'm always here to talk to x

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    Hi i know exactly what it feels like - got diagnosed stage 2 breast cancer, op on 1 feb & picked up infection. It is hard & you do feel like you've been in a bubble & want it to end so you can go back to life as it was before all this. This forum is great support & you're not alone in how you're feeling. I concentrate on the outcome rather than the symptoms or "what if's" but feeling good one day & crap another is what i find hard - the loss of control. We'll all get where we need to & you'll hopefully come out of this positive. Keep chatting as it helps.

    I got put on tamoxifen before starting my radiation which i find a little concerning as was always told it'd be after rad. You can always get a second opinion with private health providers quickly. Hope it goes ok for you.

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