Hi Jeannie-sedg,

I understand your worry, but your consultant wouldn't leave you if s/he felt that it would impede on the outcome. It is unfortunate that you have the HER2 protein, but you still have a good chance of getting through this, when you have caught it at stage 2. There are many people on this forum, who have more advanced breast cancers and are still doing well many years on. 

One thing that everyone who receives a cancer diagnosis has to learn to come to terms with, is the fear that their cancer will spread or return. I found this particularly difficult, as mine, wich is not supposed to be a very aggressive type, produced a new primary, withinn less than a year.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thanks for you reply they do help, , I'm trying to stay positive, I wish you well, take care, love and hugs, jean x 

Thankyou, try not to worry, yes please let me know, stay in touch, love and hugs, jean x

I will, take care and try and stay positive x

Hi Elli,

I am so sorry to hear of all that is going on in your life. It sounds as if your cancer has been caught early, when this is the proposed treatment. No matter how well prepared we think we are for such a diagnosis, it is always a shock. Do you know what type of breast cancer you have yet?

I hope that all goes well for you at your appointment tomorrow and that you will soon have a definite treatment plan. I was just 2 years older than you when I was first diagnosed, 13 years ago. I had a lumpectomy followed by Tamoxifen. I had a second bout in the same breast the following year and had a double mastectomy, followed by Letrozole for 6½  years. I still lead a busy and fulfilling life and, hopefully you will soon too.

Please keep in touch and let us now how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Elli,

So sorry to find you here with everyone else in the thread.  Sorry to jump in but I really felt for you as our circumstances seem similar.  I'm 55 and was diagnosed with low grade and thankfully small ER+ HER2- invasive breast cancer a year ago.  There was also DCIS.  It was a journey for sure.  The sad thing was that my husband had also been diagnosed with prostate cancer four years prior to this and almost to the day.  
A year on (5 years for him this year) we're both doing really well and both of us had surgery alone and no chemo or radiotherapy.  I had a mastectomy last March and take Tamoxifen.  He had a robotic prostatectomy and recovered well after it with no major issues.

Getting the cancer diagnosis is really scary but you will both get through it.  I found it helps to take things one step at a time and once you have a treatment plan you will feel better.  I'm sure you feel it's terribly unfair for you and your husband both to have cancer but unfortunately some times it happens.  I suppose we've just been a bit unlucky.  Try to stay positive.  You will both be well looked after.  I too remember being terrified of it spreading whilst I had to wait for my surgery.  From diagnosis to surgery took about 10 weeks.  I was told there was no risk of spreading in this time and protocol is to be treated within 12 weeks, so you can remind them of that!

Wishing you and everyone else on here the best of luck.

Mary x

Hi Jeanie

Sorry to find you here so worried.  To be worried about cancer spreading with any delay at all is a perfectly natural reaction.  Any wait is agonising and we just want to get sorted immediately.  I was exactly the same a year ago.  Unfortunately you may find that the weeks can rack on a bit.  There can be delays with biopsies, mdt meetings, holidays, scheduling, and covid so you may have to wait a bit.  Your team will do everything in a timely manner I'm sure.  I was told by my surgeon that there was no risk at all in waiting for a reasonable time before treatment starts.  I think protocols dictate that from diagnosis to treatment should be no longer than 12 weeks, so do hold them to that!  I was 10 weeks.  

Wishing you all the best going forward.

Mary x

Thankyou for your reply, means a lot, x

Hi Mary,

Thank you for taking the time to message me.  I went for my biopsy results and treatment plan today.  I could feel my heart beating while waiting with my husband to be called in.

l have been told today that l have Grade 3 Ductal cancer that is aggressive but is only 5mm.  I will be having surgery to remove it within 2/3 weeks then radiotherapy. 

My husband is struggling a bit with his emotions. He burst into tears a few days ago.  I just feel emotionally exhausted but having trouble sleeping. It is now 03.28am.  
 

The surgeon was a really nice guy, he said he would look after me and keep me safe. He also explained that he would go in by cutting around my nipple and fill the gap left inside my breast by pulling nearby tissue across to fill the space and not leave visible incision scar.  He said that the lymph node removal area may be sore for a while though.  My Son is going to bring my 15 month old Beautiful granddaughter over to see me tomorrow so that will take my mind off things for a while.  My husband went back to work in November after us both being retired for Year & half  just to help out because the company is so short of Engineers, luckily we are in a position that he can just tell them that things have changed and he needs to be at home with me.  
 

Like you and your husband we will get through this together by supporting each other and make sure we live life to the full from now on and l wish you and your husband all the best x
 

Hi Jolamine,

Thankyou for taking the time to reply to my post. I do now know that although my lump is only 5mm it is an aggressive ductal Cancer that my surgeon is quite sure has not spread.  I will be having it removed within the next 2/3 weeks (pulled out through an incision made around my nipple) so no incision visible scarring followed by radiotherapy.  Apparently it is Progesterone fed so will need hormone treatment to rid my body of any it that (so won't be growing a beard any time soon) .  Your post is very helpful and positive so once again thanks and l even feel that maybe l will now be able to go back to sleep as it is 3.54am x