Is your cancer Invasive ductal carcinoma ? 

Is Paclitaxel a cancer me,ter too ? X 

Hi Athena,

Yes mine is an invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) too.  I think the other one, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is generally when it stays in the one place.  Carcinoma is the Latin name for cancer and in situ means in the original place in Latin.

And I had 2 tumours which together measured over 6cm (or 600mm) but could only feel the larger one by pushing into my breast.  Lucky that I found it.  

I wasn't told what size was in my lymph nodes but had 4 lymph nodes removed in the operation and 2 showed dead cancer cells.

I think Docetaxel got the nickname of cancer melter but Paclitaxel, the one you'll be on, is in the same group of chemo drugs and is likely as powerful. Does that make you feel better?

I think that once you start treatments, you should start to feel differently, panic less as you focus on them instead.

And that's a good idea to focus on your fitness, that will help I'm sure going through chemo.  But don't worry overly about what you eat on chemo, apart from avoiding the foods in the booklet list.  The Breast Care Nurses say to eat what you can eat and if nausea is an issue, try to eat more bland foods like mashed potato and chicken for instance.  You'll likely notice meals with tomatoes in them go for your mouth lining and irritate it.  So pizzas are mainly out.  Ice lollies are quite soothing though, just avoid citrus flavours like orange, lemon and lime. 

I don't know about ports I'm afraid other than they need fitted in a mini operation under local anaesthetic and stay in the whole time.  Maybe someone else could help with that bit?  It likely is a good idea if you're scared of needles as I feel a bit of a pin cushion these days.

Just ask as you think of things.

I also think fear of the unknown is huge on this journey.  And it can help to calm you if you know a bit about what to expect.  I think so anyway.

I think so too. Could I ask how old you are I am 51 

She just turned 52 in May, so she was the same age as you at diagnosis.

I am 52 in sept... 

thank you for your support 

This does take over your life while on treatments.  And you'll get used to going to hospital a lot throughout it.  But it's worth going through it if you get your life back at the end.  Why we do it.  You'll realise you're stronger than you ever knew.

Hi, I am 52 now and always been healthy / no history in family .. when I was 49 my only daughter Aged 19 was diagnosed with bone cancer in her knee after complaining of pain for weeks then limping.. she had a full knee replacement versus amputation of her whole leg ... she fought this aggressive disease and we lost her on 7 th April due to metastasis to lung and following lung removal with clear margins the beast appeared 6 months later and was 15 cm and inoperable.. she tried chemo a 3 to time to prolong her time as had 4 weeks to live ( got 7) 

I am a wreck as spect 1000 days by her side trying to hold everything together but found a lump in my right breast 16 months ago .. I ignored and it grew but I couldn't face the possibility of me too having cancer while looking after Gabrielle or even telling her such news !

I had wide local resection as only one night in hospital and reduction on healthy breast ( was 36 D but I'm tall so all in proportion! They asked how would you be with size A ? I couldn't care less obv .. I didn't give my diagnosis a 2 nd thought as had to bury it .. it is stage 3 and I haven't been to check ups as grieving so badly for my girl .. on examethasone daily for 5 years and to start bisphosphonate jags to alter bone chemistry ( preventative measure ) 

margins were clear and lost a nipple , was in sentinel lobe .. did optima trial and lucky avoided chemo so had 4 weeks radio daily while attending the cancer ward at same time with my daughter.. stage 3 is bad and if I had gone sooner but hindsight.. it is treatable and 80 % survival 5 years .. mine is IDC oestrogen positive / her neg ... I now do worry re my future but nothing can be as bad as what I've been through as horrific treatment / chemo for 2 weeks at a time round the clock for my girl and a year to treat initially.. all in vain .. 

There is always someone worse off .. im

a dentist and had to leave work due to depression / anxiety cancer has caused me since may 2019

glasgow beatson 2 nd home hell