What surgery are you having?

Lumpectommy I think with lymph nodes detected on the day

I too have breat cancer.

Yesterday I had my lumpectomy and lymph nodes removed which will be followed by radiotherapy and hormone treatment.

It is a scary process but taking one day at a time is the best way to deal with this worrying time.

Xx

2 weeks on - how are you doing? Hope you're ok x

Hi Clarky15,

I’m not doing too bad. Finally the constant stinging pain in my arm pit is easing and I’ve got all movement back.

Results are Friday so have everybody crossed for that.

How are you doing? You coping ok?

xx

I'm ok. Pain in armpit is still annoying but coping. Seeing surgeon tomorrow for results and next steps. Feeling pretty sick but trying to stay positive. 

Hope you get good news on Friday.

Xx

Good luck for tomorrow, I will be thinking of you.

I’m feeling the same trying to stay positive but my stomach keeps churning when I think of Friday.

 Think I’ve now convinced myself that it’s all ok and I’ll just need radiotherapy and hormone treatment.

I have everything crossed for us both xx

Hi Clarky15,

How did you get on seeing the surgeon yesterday?

xx

Hi Bettyjayne,

I need more surgery as the surgeon didn't leave a big enough margin. Had spread to first lymph node but she took 6 and the others were fine. Had 2 cancers close together. Plus pre-cancer and took 90mm out. On the bright side, she said that if I'm not happy with a dented boob, she can do lyposuction from my stomach and put it in to fill the gap! 

Hope yours goes well tomorrow.

N

Hi Bettyjayne,

I need more surgery as the surgeon didn't leave a big enough margin. Had spread to first lymph node but she took 6 and the others were fine. Had 2 cancers close together. Plus pre-cancer and took 90mm out. On the bright side, she said that if I'm not happy with a dented boob, she can do lyposuction from my stomach and put it in to fill the gap! 

Hope yours goes well tomorrow.

N

Wow! This sounds like so much to take in for you. Must have been a shock for you.

Did you know they were taking 6 lymph nodes out before your surgery? Thought they usually only took 2. Will you have long to wait until the next surgery?

The idea of liposuction to improve the look of the breast shows the incredible way medicine has moved on. 

How are you coping? 

X

Was quite a shock. Also got told 1 lump was stage 2 and other was stage 3! Scared me loads. 

She wasn't sure how many she was going to take as the scan machine wasn't working. I had radioactive stuff injected in a few hours before the op and she used a hand-held thing to find them during surgery. She took more because the mass of the overall tumor was qite large. 

Each day seems to be different. One day, I'm quite ok. Other days, I'm really down. Mood swings, crying. It's not fun. And not even on hormone drugs yet! 

How are you coing? X

I can imagine you were shocked and scared. It’s a lot to take in.

So more surgery, radiotherapy and hormone drugs still ?

I’m the same, some days I’m ok others I have a wave of sadness that slaps me in the face. Last night was a crying night, today I’m feeling so down. Can’t shake it off.

This time tomorrow I will know more about my treatment plan too. Swaying from it’ll be ok, they got it all and it’s just what the surgeon said, to being scared for more surgery and/or chemo.

I hope you have someone with you who is looking after you since your appointment xx

Yep, more surgery. Then a repeat of yesterday's appointment to see if they took enough this time. If not, surgery 3, if yes, radiotherapy and hormone tablets.

I'm lucky that I have a lovely husband who is trying to look after me. We've never gone through this type of thing before and he's getting upset that he can't fix it for me. We've never argued about anything but my mood swings might change that. The slightest thing sets me off being upset and crying, cross and moody, down and silent. I told him to go off to the pub with his mates for an hour - then got upset because he did! He doesn't know I got uoset though. 

Hope you have someone there for you x

Hi Bettyjayne,

Been thinking about you a lot today. Hope you're ok. Here if you need someone to vent to xx

Hi Clarkey can I just ask do you mean stage or grade as these have very different meanings? Thanks

You know what - that's where I've been getting cofused myself! Originally told from mammogram and biopsy it was stage 1. After surgery, was told one lump was grade 2 and one was grade 3. Not had grades/stages discussed with me and was too much in (I need 2nd surgery) to ask about it. 

Awe, I was wondering as have had 3 cycles of chemo but have never been told the stage only the grade which is 3. I will ask but I have worked out it's probably a stage 2 B xxx

Should have said mine was a grade 2 pre surgery but a 3 after the pathology was done and I have micro vascular invasion too but clear nodes. I had an excellent surgeon, only had one op all margines clear and my scars are amazing xx

Hi Clarky15,

Been a busy day, had my gorgeous 18 month old granddaughter this morning (with my husband as my daughter works) then my appointment was this afternoon.

So stage 2, clear margins and no lymph node spread .

Unfortunately now need to wait for the results of an Oncotype test which will determine where I’ll need chemo before the planned radiotherapy and tablets. 

These results will be available at my oncologist appointment in about 2 weeks when I’ll know what’s happening.

Absolutely gutted that I still don’t know. My husband was so pleased it’s all out and can’t understand the fact I’m not jumping for joy. My biggest fear about it all from the beginning was the thought of chemo and it’s still not ruled out.

How you doing ? Xx