Hi Zelda,

it looks like our journey started around the same time, but already they seem to be very different. I had a therapeutic mammoplasty with sentinel node removal on 4th. When I went to have my wires fitted to find the two lumps I had in my right breast, the doctor found more (I’m not sure if 1 or 2 as he said 1 but my discharge notes imply 2.) so far I have had a1cm lump a 2mm lump and 1-2 5mm lumps removed from my right breast as a wide local incision and they have also removed the sentinel node. I’ve been told if the margins aren’t good enough 20% of cases, I will have to have a full mastectomy. Also, if they find any microscopic cancer in the lymph node I will need to have more removed, again 20% of cases. They are retesting my tumours as they came back as 3-4 on the scale they measure for estrogen of progestoerone receptors, which apparently means they aren’t receptive. My cancer is also gr@de 3 so it look s like it will be chemo and radiotherapy for me too. The hardest part for me at the moment is not knowing what I’m dealing with, I know grade 3 and that’s about all. I now need to wait 2 weeks to find out next steps. I hopefully you are getting better care now from your nurses. Have you got a Macmillan nurse? Mine is AMAZING! Her positivity is really helping me to get my head round this.

All i know is mine is rare and aggressive and not hormone based.  It could of been avoided had it over 30 years had blocked duct when had kids wanted to take it out years ago.  But they been fidling with it ever since. Went last year for mammogram blocked duct draind it said go back when fills again . Went back april turned me away said go to doctors he was cross wrote to them . I didnt get seen till 1st october scaned it said woukdntvdrain it cause suspicious lump. Told me go on holiday sort it out when come back . Went to see them 25th October mammogram and scan 2suspicious lumps did byopsi on both and lymph nodes.  Phone on 1st november to go in on 2nd . Told me cancer in both lumps and lymph nodes . Told me have to have chemotherapy first then boob off .

Hi hope you ok and doing well xx

Hi Zelda,

I am sorry to hear about your breast cancer and, hope that the chemo works to reduce the size of your tumours.

I have had a lumpectomy 9 years ago, followed by a double mastectomy 8 years ago, so if you have any questions, just holler!

Please keep us updated. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

What sort of breast cancer did you have ? Mine is invasive ductal cancer grade 3 triple negative . iv had 3 chemo so far 2 where cancelled as iv had chest infection.  Starting diffrent chem when finished the last one there was only 4 of thoes 1 every 2 weeks. Next lot 1 every week and 1 every 3rd week so 5 lots every month for 12 weeks seems a lot. Then they taking my boob off dont know why they bother with all the chem then take boob off.  Some woman had boob of first the pick line has been making my arm bad the plaster thing they put the line in been digging in cutting me , they have put gauze there now so better. Hope you are ok and doing well xx 

HI Zelda,

I am doing well thanks. I had Mucinous Cancer, Grade 1, HER2- cancer both times. Fortunately, it is one of the less aggressive forms of cancer, so why I got it again a year later was a mystery. I had a lumpectomy followed by Tamoxifen the first time and, second time around a double mastectomy, followed by Letrozole for 6 years. I stopped taking Letrozole in July 2017.

I am no medic, but I think that chemo is advised with aggressive cancers. It is also used to reduce the size of some tumours before surgery. My lump was small, so no chemo needed. Do you know what size your tumour is?

I am sorry that your PICC line is giving you bother, but glad to hear that the gauze has made it less painful.

How are you coping with your chemo? I hope that your chest infection has cleared now and you can get back to it soon.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

hi Zelda , I have not been officially diagnosed with exactly the same cancer as you , but the letter the hospital sent to my doctors said exactly that . I’ve just had a lumpectomy and will be going for my results on the 18th jan . I’m am dreading it as everything I’ve googled about triple negative looks very bleak , this has all come as a shock to me and I’m having terrible mood swings trying to cope , apparently I will have 15 rounds of radiation, but I’ve read TNBC doesn’t react to radiation... very confused I’m sure I’ll have to have chemo 

Until now I have shied away from forums.. luckily I stumbled on your post & wanted to say thank you for managing to lift my spirit x

Sorry taken so long to get back havent been to good with my chemo. I dont know the size they havent said i can feel 2 of them feel small but aparentley they have seen more on mri scan i had in november behind the blocked milk duct only told me this 2 weeks ago x im glad you have been doing well. Lots of people i have met in chemo have had second cancers caused by chem so i dont know . Xx