Hi GL91, I’m so sorry about your diagnosis, it’s especially shocking at this age, I’m 35 and was diagnosed in February with stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma too, I’m just over half way through chemo now. I have 2 young kids, a 3 and half year old and almost 2 year old. If you need to talk I’m here xx

Oh im so sorry you are going through this too! Its sickening isnt it. Did yours effect any lypmth nodes? Mine is 2cm ans 3 lypmth nodes are swollen. They told me chemo first before anything else, is that what they are doing to you too? Thank you.. im scared of the chemo etc. X

My lymph nodes were clear, I had surgery 1st to remove the lump which was 1.5cm and they also removed some lymph nodes to double check. Mine was grade 3 which is why they recommended chemo after, I believe grade 1 and 2 do not need chemo in most cases, but it also depends on the hormone receptors. Have they given you any info on grade or hormones? Chemo is tough, it’s draining but it is doable I promise. And you’ll feel better once you have a treatment plan x

They didnt really say as such just said they they will throw aggressive chemo at me i cant remember the name just because of my age. How did you find yours ? If you dont mind me asking that is. Mine is in the upper outer breast area.  They giving me chemo first before any type of surgery they said. They told me sometimes it dissolves the tumour etc all together.. i know every case is different for each people. They didnt mention hormones for mine its a case of waiting to see i think after treatment if i will need them. I had a genetic test too just to see if i carry the gene.. thinking of future for my girl. How are you feeling now? X

You sound like you’re in a very similar position to me. I’ve had surgery to remove the 14mm lump and no lymph node action but it is her2 positive, er+ / grade 3. I have my oncology meeting on Thursday to discuss next steps. I know it’s chemo but just wondering how many rounds you are having and how it’s going? 

Hello, im having 6 rounds of chemo once every 3 weeks. Then a possible lumpectomy at the end of chemo.. i might need more chemo after and radiotherapy. Mine is Her positive too but they didnt give me a grade just said it was early and the dr said treatable and even used curitive and thats all i am focussing on those words! They mentioned one node with me but found 3 swollen on ultrasound so i dont know 100% how many.x

Hi smudge I’m very similar to you had my lumpectomy mine was 16mm clear margins and nodes but I’m her2 positive and as positive grade 2 find out my treatment plan Thursday 

Hi Wendle75. I get my treatment plan Thursday too. Mine’s also oestrogen positive- maybe that’s what makes it grade 3? I wonder how similar our treatment plan is. What have you been told so far?

Hi so I’m her2 positive and oestrogen positive clear margins and nodes but due to the her2 factor I’m borderline to needing chemo so they will confirm the plan tomoro. But it’s looking like adjuvant chemo anti her2 treatment radiotherapy and hormone therapy have they give you any idea what the plan is?

Same as you, my consultant up to now has constantly said I’ll need chemo as they won’t give herceptin without having had some amount of chemo. I also wonder if treatment is influenced by age. I’m 43. 

Hi Em24ma, I wondered how your chemo is going? How many rounds are you having? And are you trying the cold cap? 

Hi Em24ma, I wondered how your chemo is going? How many rounds are you having? And are you trying the cold cap? 

Hello I’m doing ok thanks, ended up in hospital for a few days cos I had an infection and temperature. I think it’s quite common by this stage in treatment. I’ve done 4 rounds of EC and 1 out of 4 paclitaxel. I am cold capping and it’s been going pretty well, my hair is very thin and looking a bit bare on top but I still have hair, I wear a big head band and it looks ok. However I did really struggle with the length of time paclitaxel takes, it’s over 5 hours you need to have the cap on which is tough, I ended up taking it off a bit early cos I had a terrible migraine so not sure what effect that will have and how the next sessions will go. EC was fine, it’s only about 3 hours which I found bearable. 

Do you have your plan yet? x

I got the treatment plan today. It’s weekly chemo for 12 weeks with herceptin followed by radiotherapy. Really glad to hear the chemo and cold cap is going well. Wendle85 did you get your plan today? 

The size of your lump seems similar to mine. I get the resuts of the biopsy a week tomorrow. I really don't want chemo  or radiotherapy but I see you are having both. Can I ask why and were there other options?

The chemo is because the cancer is her2 positive. That alongside my age, 43, has determined the treatment plan. The radiotherapy is due to having had a lumpectomy. I believe you don’t need radiotherapy if you have a mastectomy but I was advised lumpectomy was best for me. I think it’s just 5 days so straight forward after the chemo. 
Do you know it’s cancerous already if you are waiting for biopsy results?

Not for definite but they said it appeared suspicious to them. It is 2cm and there is no sign of it having spread anywhere else. She said it was smooth edged. I think that's what she said anyway

Hi smudge so they have said to me weekly paxilatel then 3xec chemo herceptin and radiotherapy and also to start tamoxifen for the oestrogen positive part what chemo is it your having?

Weekly pacitaxel for 12 weeks with 12 months herceptin. Then radiotherapy and tamoxifen.

So the same apart from the 3x ec chemo part??? What’s that? Also how many weeks is your weekly pacitaxel?

The ec is another sort of chemo it’s usually every three weeks I’m waiting a call back on Monday as they confused me how many of each type of chemo but they said weekly pacitaxal I think for 9 weeks and then 3 x ec chemo along with the herceptin then radiotherapy and tamoxifen it’s mad how every consultant says different plans 

Yes, it is mad. It’ll be interesting what they say when they call you back on Monday. Did they give you a start date? I think mine might start on 19th August as they said I can go on the big family holiday we already had booked. 

I have a holiday booked 10 aug til 20th I’ve already cancelled one so she said I can have my hol first but I’m starting tamoxifen straight away then will need to stop it a week before my chemo starts