Dear Georgia,

I felt I needed too reply as no one has yet, Im younger than your Mum, I'm 38 and was Diagnosed in October,.

I can imagine that this news is completely devastating for you and really scary, I Iost my Dad to Brain Cancer a before I was told I had BC so I can completely relate to how your feeling from both Sides. This is the worst you will feel, the not knowing and waiting for results is the worst, our minds tend too run wild and go too the dark thinking lots of things. 
 Do you know what breast Cancer she has? 

i firsty want too say that she will be really well looked after by her team she will be assigned a Breast Care Nurse, I found mine great as I often needed some reassurance. The MRI and CT scans is perfectly normal they do this so that they can see exactly what they are dealing with and plan your mums Treatment from these results unfortunately the waiting is the worst it all seems to take so long. 
 

I know you will be worried about the results but once you have everything on the table you will feel much better. 
 

love Sarah 

Hi Sarah

Thank you so much for your reply.

I'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis and the loss of your dad. I hope you're okay and your treatment is going well.

I don't know exactly which type of breast cancer she has. I've asked her a few times for details but she doesn't seem to know much yet and I don't like to push. I know that it is invasive, ductal stage 2. I spoke to her partner at the weekend too and he says that the doctor explained that they have a grading system of 1-8 of how well they think the cancer will respond to treatment, 8 being the best and my mum is an 8, so that has made me feel better. My biggest worry is that the CT scan and MRI scan are going to reveal that it has spread. I'm absolutely terrified, but I guess I just have to wait til Friday.

But you are right, I think on Friday I will feel a lot better once I know what we're dealing with.

Thank you so much.

Take care xx

Hi Sarah

Thank you so much for your reply.

I'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis and the loss of your dad. I hope you're okay and your treatment is going well.

I don't know exactly which type of breast cancer she has. I've asked her a few times for details but she doesn't seem to know much yet and I don't like to push. I know that it is invasive, ductal stage 2. I spoke to her partner at the weekend too and he says that the doctor explained that they have a grading system of 1-8 of how well they think the cancer will respond to treatment, 8 being the best and my mum is an 8, so that has made me feel better. My biggest worry is that the CT scan and MRI scan are going to reveal that it has spread. I'm absolutely terrified, but I guess I just have to wait til Friday.

But you are right, I think on Friday I will feel a lot better once I know what we're dealing with.

Thank you so much.

Take care xx

Hi Georgia,

It all sounds positive , it sounds like your Mum as the same as me Incasive Ductal Carcinoma, mine is also Oestrogen Fed, maybe that's the same aswel? , usually the stages are 1-4, and Graded 1-3, the stage is different to the Grade. 

You will no doubt be given all this Information on Friday along with all her results. I hope that although it's not ideal her results are as good as they can be. You will have a treatment plan on Friday which will be great. 
 

She will be okay, she has you and you will help her through it. Love Sarah 

Hi Sarah

Just wanted to say thanks again for your message. My mum has had her results and they were as positive as they could be. The cancer has stayed local and hasn't spread outside the breast. She is starting with chemo soon and then surgery, but they have said that it can be cured which is everything I wanted to hear!

I think my mums is also Estrogen based. Possibly due to a HRT patch which she started using around 9 months ago. Can I ask what treatment you have had and how you have found it? xx

Hi Again,

I was thinking about you today, how strange. 
 

i am so pleased to hear it hasn't spread that is really good news. It's also good it's Oestrogen Fed.

So I had Surgery first, I'm now having Chemo, I'm having 3x FEC and 3x Docetaxil every 3 weeks. 
My friend is having surgery after her Chemo so she is having 3x EC and 3x Docetaxil, then after Chemo I'm having radiotherapy's then Tamoxifen tablet for ten years. 
 

Your mum will see a Nurse who will talk through all the side effects of the Chemo, it would be good if she can go with someone as it's a lot to take it, they tell you lots of Scary things but it's not as bad as they say. 
You can manage the side effects, she will anti Sickness tablets, take them even if she doesn't feel sick, also Steriods. My symptoms only last a week after Chemo then I have two good weeks ready for the next one. 
She will need too drink lots of fluids after chemo too flush it out. I also have injections for a week after chemo ( not sure if she will) you do these at home, they are very easy. The injections stimulate your Red bloods cells so are produced more quickly.

I also have a pic line, all Hospitals are different though. A couple of days before her chemo she have bloods taken.

Everyone is different but it is doable.

don't be scared of it, all symptoms can be managed and your mum can ring her team anytime.

She will be fine xxx 

Hi Sarah

Thanks again for your message and sorry for the late reply.

Thank you for all of that information. It's really helped to reassure me. My mum starts her chemo at the end of the month and I'm absolutely dreading it. I'm so scared for her. She will be having a pic line too which I know she's really nervous for. Is it painful?

She is going to have 4 rounds of chemo and then will have surgery and possibly more chemo afterwards if needed. She will have chemo for a week and then two weeks off before starting the next round.

What can I expect her to be like? I'm just trying to figure out if she will want me to visit every couple of days (she lives with her partner) to cheer her up, or will she be too tired and out of it? Is there anything you can recommend I do to help? Sorry for all the questions. I just want to make sure I'm as helpful as possible. I really just want her to get better and to help make it all as painless as I can for her.

Have you finished your chemo now? How are you doing? Hope everything is going well xxxx

Hi Again, 

Nice to hear from you. So I'm not sure what Chemo drugs she is having, I am on FEC-T and have it every three weeks, I know of ladies having Chemo every 2 weeks but not sure if same drug but can't certainly help.

Has you Mum had her Chemo talk yet with the Nurse,? they will go through everything with her all the scary stuff but you don't get everything they say.

The Pic Line does not hurt and is great, it speeds everything up, she will have to have it flushed once a week but that's also good as you get to see your nurses.

The Sad thing is she will lose her hair, that's really hard, make sure she gets referred for a wig straight away, I had an NHS one but some hospitals give vouchers, or you can buy one yourselves.

Your mum will probably feel ok the day after Chemo everyone is different but day 3 is when it's kicks in for me and usually lasts a week, just feeling tired and generally a bit Yuk. 

The main side effect for me is the Nausea but they will give her sickness for that, she must take what they give even if she doesn't feel sick. Also drink lots of fluids the days after too flush it out. 

Don't forget the first one is hard as it's the unknown but once she has she will know what to expect and it will be the same each time.  

My mum will make a big lasagna or Cottage pie for the week after Chemo as I can't face cooking, maybe you could do something like that if you wanted too help it's nice when you don't have to think about food.

She will be fine, it will be ok

love sarah