Hi, I think it's aways going to be hard telling your family this sort of news. I myself was diagnosed with breasr cancer on 28th January
I told everyone right from the beginning when I went to my gp. My children are all adults, and I have elderly parents. When I got the diagnosis, I picked a time when I felt calm, then phoned and talked to everyone. They've all been brilliant and it's great to have so much support around me. It really helped me just to be able to openly talk to people.
Hi Kirsty have the hospital referred you for genetic tests to check for the Brca gene? with this gene the type of cancer is always triple negative and always grade 3, I think it's important to find these things out for the sake of your family members as it gives them a sense of being forwarned that they are high risk, hope you are coping with your diagnosis, it does help to talk especially to others who are in the same boat as yourself, any questions I'm happy to try and help as best as I can xx
Thankyou for this that is very helpful, I have been told that they will be sending out a kit for genetic testing. Yes, triple negative but I was told that I am grade 2, is it just BRCA that would be grade 3 ? I was told there are up to 6 gene abnormalities?
I am doing okay thankyou for asking very early days surgery two weeks today.x
Was actually diagnosed on 18th not 28th, just noticed mistake. Have appointment with oncologist on 14th February, the waiting to start any treatment is driving me mad!
The waiting is the worst ! I am in Scotland so maybe the protocols are different up here but I have a date for a lumpectomy of the 20th of February but I haven’t seen an oncologist.
Where about are you in the country?
Hopefully things start moving quickly for you after you have had your appointment.xx
Hi Kirsty, I'm in Hertfordshire. I had hoped my surgery would be first. However, because I am HER2 positive, I need chemo first and Herceptin. Will then have mastectomy, radiotherapy and hormone blockers for 5-10years.Hope all goes well with your surgery and wish you well on the rest of your treatment. Xx
Some people have their surgery before treatment, as you are doing. Others have chemo first, in order to try and reduce the size of the tumour before surgery. After your surgery, the breast tissue that is removed will be sent for testing. This ensures that your surgeon has achieved a clear margin around the tumour and determines what the best treatment would be for your particular cancer. It is possible that you may not see the oncologist, until after this is all in place.
I hope that all goes well with your lumpectomy.
Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.
There are so many different types of breast cancer it is difficult keeping up with the ways that they are treated..
How are you coping with everything?It is a lot to process, be kind to yourself.
A friend was telling me her aunt described her chemo self as the best version of herself, it was positive for me hearing that everyone’s experience is different.Hopefully your experience of chemo is mild but the curative effect is huge.xx
