Hi Headlampeyes (love the name by the way!)

I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer last September, within a week of having ultrasounds and a biopsy.  I went on to have an MRI to confirm lump and size prior to having my treatment plan and starting treatment.  It all happened pretty quickly, within a week or 2 of each appointment. The MRI itself took about 20-25 minutes.  Not the most comfortable experience, but it's ok.  I started chemo in October last year, alongside immunotherapy.  Chemo finished in March this year and I had a surgical assessment and lumpectomy with removal and biopsy of 2 sentinel nodes at the end of April.  Like Poppy81, I was in day care from 7am and was home the same evening. The surgery itself took about 3 hours and the surgeon and his team were amazing.  He took great care to preserve as much of the nipple he could and the cosmetic repair was great.  You'd need to look really close to see a tiny imperfection where the stitches were.  There was some bruising and swelling, but nothing major.  The wounds healed very quickly and I can't fault the after care I had.  I then restarted immunotherapy in early June and have 3 more sessions of those planned (every 6 weeks). 

Once you have met your oncology team, they will always be there for you, as well as the breast care nurses.  You will be given contact details for both and any concerns, they will always call you back to answer questions.  At my hospital they have a rapid response team there, so if you have any reactions, pains etc for the duration of your treatment plan, they will triage you on the phone and there is a special unit to attend if you need to be seen by a doctor/admitted.  There's no waiting around in A&E (unless you're taken in by ambulance, so if you can avoid that, I would do so! I only had to get an ambulance because I passed out at home, my own fault, didn't listen to advice to take it easy etc after treatment.  I learned my lesson!).  

I'm not going to lie, I found chemo brutal, but I know people who have breezed through it, so don't panic.  You will be well looked after at every step of your journey. If there is anything you really can't bear, there are always alternatives, as long as you keep your oncologist informed.  Treatment can be changed, doses adjusted (assuming you need chemo) so it's not all doom and gloom.  At my hospital I always found treatment day quite entertaining.  The nursing staff and majority of other patients were always upbeat and it was a very happy place. 

And there's always this amazing forum to turn to if you need to ask questions or just rant. 

Good luck with lumpectomy and hope you get a treatment plan sorted soon. 

Carol xx

Thank you Carol and it sounds like you have come out the other end.  Reassuring to know that once you are embraced into the oncology group there is help and support available.  I considered myself to be a strong individual and will admit this has knocked me for six.  It’s because I cannot control what is happening to me and have to let others take over.  I haven’t accepted that but yet!  Hopefully once the treatment plan is in place I can see more structure.  Thank you for sharing your experience Sue x

Thank you Carol and it sounds like you have come out the other end.  Reassuring to know that once you are embraced into the oncology group there is help and support available.  I considered myself to be a strong individual and will admit this has knocked me for six.  It’s because I cannot control what is happening to me and have to let others take over.  I haven’t accepted that but yet!  Hopefully once the treatment plan is in place I can see more structure.  Thank you for sharing your experience Sue x