Hi Sandra,

Welcome to Cancer Chat. I am sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis.You are doing well by trying to cope one day at a time.The first letter you received today wasn't so bad.. It is going to remove the cancer in your breast and give you the chance to live a normal life once all this treatment is over, so the sooner you start the sooner you'll be finished with it all. The second was a definite bonus.

What surgery are you going to have - a lumpectomy or a mastectomy?

I have had 2 bouts of primary breast cancer. The first was diagnosed 7 years ago and the second the following year. Have you got a treatment plan in place post-surgery?

Please stay in touch. Remember, there is always someone here whenever you feel like talking.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine.

Thanks for the reply. 

I have 2 small lumps in my R breast (no one can feel them nor is there any outward change to be seen nor pain. Caught on routine screening).

They are grade 1 and grade  2 both invasive cancers. On MRI my lymph nodes look clear.

I am having a lumpectomy on the 21st as a day case. They are hoping to make 1 incision to get to both but will re assess on day. They are also taking 2 sentinel nodes for biopsy just in case. 

After the op all things being equal I am to have radiotherapy mon to fri for 3 wks.

Wow how matter of fact does it all sound in the written word when it is so not.

7yrs post diagnosis - I tip my hat to you Jolamine. When we are first diagnosed it's like our lives ended in that moment. This is so not true "living with Cancer" never a truer word.

take care Jolamine 

Sandra x

Not posted on here for a while so just t say

its early so delighted  to say no bad yeahhh.

The good:- recovered from op with no problems (was no where near as big a deal I had made it in my head). This wk just finished 3 wks of RT. Was fine throughout not particularly tired and skin not been a problem ( only 2 appts ran on time the norm seemed to be running 45-60 mins behind bless them). Started letrozole and although getting some hot flushes I can deal with them. 

I have met some lovely people on my journey I am honoured and grateful.

My heartfelt thoughts to those starting and continuing their journey. X

Hi there ... just wanted to say well done brave lady ... not posted before as I could see you were being well looked after by jolomine... she's amazing .... but just wanted to send you a big hug ... I thought the same as you ... I've had a few ops along the way ... but mastectomy was the least stressful... but the run up to it is scary ... so now you've done the hardest part , let's hope it's on the up now .... 

So sending you a big brave hug ... chrisie xx 

Ah thanks Chrisie

Just done final add up its actually 13 wks and 2 days from date of diagnosis of breast cancer to last day of  RT - meet surgeon in April for review then onto an annual review.

what a ride it’s been. How quick does the treatment machine kick in. Carrying out its work while u feel like you  are being dragged along clueless ( despite their valiant attempts to explain everything). I went from someone who wouldn’t consider sunbathing top less to whooping them out at the drop of a hat:-) laying there chatting to male radiotherapists while they draw on me boob:-) who knew:-0

Then discharged.... cut adrift and suddenly your days are your own again. Me.... I love it but totally get why some struggle. 

Thank you for saying brave but felt more like lack of choice. The new lifestyle we didn’t choose is without a doubt made easier by the support of those on here. From the been there done thats to the I am going through this too. The nervous chatting in the hosp waiting rooms and the sharing of stories. Yup humbled and grateful to everyone who has touched my life through this. X

Not posted on this thread for a while but here is today’s good nd bad...

The bad:- yesterday  bumped into a friend not seen in a while in the school yard while I dropped off my granddaughter. She told me her husband has prostrate cancer which has spread and she has been diagnosed with leukaemia. Sad catch up:-(

The good:- My daughter who is doing a career change has completed her 1 st yr exams ( to be an electrician) and got a distinction... well proud:-)

Life continues don’t it. 

Take care peeps x

Hey Sandra. Im just starting my journey and enjoyed reading this thread. I've been diagnosed with stage 1 invasive breast cancer in left breast with an additional area that although currently benign is showing abnormal cell change and growth. So out they ate both coming. I'm scheduled for my OP on 13th April. Sentinel nodes to be removed for testing also. Then if margins and nodes clear I will also be for 3 weeks radiotherapy. As my cells are also ER+ I will need hormone therapy but that's a doozy. I'm staying positive and reassuring everyone around me (It's ok I'm not dying yet). I dont think people know how to react to me when i say things like that. My other half thinks I'm either coping amazingly well or in denial. Anyways i thought id say hi as your journey is so close to the one im about to take....plus I like the idea that for every negative there is a positive...karma and balance. Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket

Hi there Sandra. . It's a shame about catch up, but maybe helped each other, knowing how many of us that are now on this journey...  

But high 5 to your daughter ... electrician a ... that should come in handy ... 

I'm just waiting to have little op on scar (again) as got 2 to my lumps behind it ... had a small hole that never healed ... told them to 're do months ago ... oh well here goes ... 

Just sitting with my granddaughter. . Ain't grandkids the best for taking mind off things ... any ways Sandra ... keep going hun ... take care ... Chrissie x

Hi there ... just sending you a vertual hug ... from one breast lady to another ... we've all helped ourselfs and others that come along on this rollercoaster of breast cancer ... once l got my head around it in the early days , l felt ready to take this cancer by the balls and run with it ... coz cancer wants us to panic and give in ... but we were in the same place as you and it is so emotional , and different days you feel different things ... but it's a long ol journey so when you have a down day, remember wer all on this rollercoaster with you ..

So brave lady ... the op isn't half as bad as I'd imagined ... and some of us breast ladies were home in the evening with a nice cupper... but it is more tender where lymph nodes are taken ... that takes a while to get better ... take care Chrissie xx

Hi Sandra,

I’ve not forgotten you. I had a few months when I found it very difficult to participate in anything on this site. I lost my sight in one eye and was losing it in the second in just 8 weeks. I’ve since had an operation to both eyes – and what a difference!  Where would we be without the wonderful doctors in this country? I feel very blessed to have regained my sight.

I am glad to hear that surgery and treatment are both behind you now and hope that your appointment with your surgeon in April goes well.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Sandra,

I’ve not forgotten you. I had a few months when I found it very difficult to participate in anything on this site. I lost my sight in one eye and was losing it in the second in just 8 weeks. I’ve since had an operation to both eyes – and what a difference!  Where would we be without the wonderful doctors in this country? I feel very blessed to have regained my sight.

I am glad to hear that surgery and treatment are both behind you now and hope that your appointment with your surgeon in April goes well.

Congratulations to your daughter - one very proud mum deservedly!

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi cornishpastie

I get where u r coming from- my thinking was - all the angst in the world ain’t gonna change a thing so...best get on then.

Bless your other half.. I sometimes think it is harder on our families in as much as although we are going through it - they helplessly have to take a step back and pretty much watch the one they love go through it from the side lines. 

The 13 th will b here before u know it so try nd look on the time till then as free time from everything hospital nd do whatever u fancy .. I know easier said than done.

On the day of my op there were 4 of us in the day case room all having the same op. We pulled up our chairs ( didn’t get a bed) nd chatted nd yes... even laughed together. I was home by 7:30 pm cup of tea 2 paracetamol then early nigt - I had made the op much bigger in my head than it actually was. Next day - uncomfortable nd tender ( u know didn’t want it knocked:-) but no pain ( so didn’t have any paracetamol) nd full movement in my arm. Nurse popped in at 11:00am checked my dressing nd left. By 12:30pm I was at shops with daughter for a bit of a browse then t pub for lunch:-)

This was my experience nd everyone is different but... can honestly say was much less of a deal than I had built it up to be in my mind.

If u have any questions or need to voice... anything ( good or bad) we are all here for u.

Yeah u go for that lottery ticket girl:-) a big win would be a cracking “good” wouldn’t it :-) x

Ah thanks for dropping by Chrisie 

tbh my friend was.... resolved. She is a strong lady nd said straight away she couldn’t b doing with everyone who means well. She was just getting on with it cos she has to. Its that kinda attitude that will get you through:-) I know this but was still sad as I walked away.

Daughter doing brill:-) her husband is a joiner, Tiler, Plasterer... yes all very handy;-). It’s her two lil ones I look after while they work. They r 5&2 now... love em to bits nd keep me busy:-)

Glad hosp looking after u... they are doing the right thing playing it safe and removing the lumps. Am I right in thinking u are in next week for your op... u know the drill better than me so will b thinking of u nd that small pressure u feel on your shoulder is just my squeeze of support. Take care me dear x

Ah thanks for dropping by Chrisie 

tbh my friend was.... resolved. She is a strong lady nd said straight away she couldn’t b doing with everyone who means well. She was just getting on with it cos she has to. Its that kinda attitude that will get you through:-) I know this but was still sad as I walked away.

Daughter doing brill:-) her husband is a joiner, Tiler, Plasterer... yes all very handy;-). It’s her two lil ones I look after while they work. They r 5&2 now... love em to bits nd keep me busy:-)

Glad hosp looking after u... they are doing the right thing playing it safe and removing the lumps. Am I right in thinking u are in next week for your op... u know the drill better than me so will b thinking of u nd that small pressure u feel on your shoulder is just my squeeze of support. Take care me dear x