Hi Suemum

So sorry to hear of your diagnosis, but it sounds like you've caught it early, even if it's Stage 2.  I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in 2023 (Stage 2, Grade 3) and had a lumpectomy last year (after 6 months of chemo/immunotherapy treatment) followed by a short course of radiotherapy.  I had my first follow-up mammogram last month which has come back clear.  I was a bit like you when I found the lump.  I was seeing my GP regularly for other reasons and when she asked if there was anything else, I mentioned it really just as a "it's probably nothing".  She did an examination in the surgery and referred me to the hospital for further investigation.  It is very hard not to worry, and that period of not knowing I think is the hardest.  I too had a couple of sentinal nodes removed whilst undergoing the lumpectomy so they could do a biopsy but thankfully they came back clear.  The operation itself is very straightforward.  My surgeon did an amazing job and unless you look extremely closely, you wouldn't even know anything had been done.  They will take excellent care of you and from experience they are very considerate of the aesthetics post surgery. 

I know it must feel like an interminable amount of time between diagnosis and surgery date, but (easier said that done, I know), try not to worry.  It's ok to feel scared and it's ok to feel angry and upset too.  But just try to keep yourself occupied and try to keep positive (though at times I wanted to shoot anyone who told me to think positive all the time!).  I can empathise with how you're feeling.  Take some deep, calming breaths and if you can, try to find some online, short meditation audio clips.  That always helped me and settled my mind when it started to run away with itself. 

We are here if you need to rant and shout and get things off your chest. 

Keep us posted with how the surgery goes.  All the best.

Carol 

Hi, I don’t want to hijack Suemum3’s post but I’m in a similar position but stage 2 and need chemo first before the op and haven’t hit menopause yet so need that to be chemically induced too. Your experience sounds closest to me mine. I’m terrified of chemo, will I be able to work? We’re you able to? Any advice of what is realistically possible and what you can do while having chemo would be super helpful. 

Hi Sue,

Please mention your breast pain when you see the consultant tomorrow. You could also ask for further clarification on the type of chemo that you'll be having, as the effects of some are worse than others. Make sure to ask them , what sort of reaction they'd expect from you.

I shall be thinking of you tomorrow and I hope that it all goes well.

Please let us know how you get on.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Joanne 

So i had my appointment and I did see my consultant in the end. The Mammogram picked up a lump but didn't  pick up the cancer  lump as such. The ultra sound picked up the cancer lump. I now have two areas of concern. It was an error on their part and an MRI should have been done after the abnormalities found on the  Mammogram. So now all appointments are  cancelled and MRI on the 21st June. Team meeting on the 26th June and we go from there. I mentioned the pain but she said it was quite normal after biopsies. Xx

Hi Sue,

I am so sorry to hear that all of your appointments have been cancelled and that you are back to playing the waiting game again. I know just how frustrating this wait can be, when all you want is answers, but you are better to get an accurate diagnosis initially and the MRI should give you that. I thought that your consultant might attribute the breast pain to your biopsy, but you were best to mention it, just in case.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Just an update so far. Mri was  brought forward and had that yesterday and an appointment  for 19th to get results and to see if it has spread.  Hopefully I will know what treatment or ops they are going to do on that day 

Sue xx

Hi Suemum,

I am delighted to hear that you have finally had your MRI and that you are getting the results tomorrow. I have everything crossed for you that all goes well.

Kind regards,

JOlamine xx

Hi Sue,

How did your results go?

Regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine

Better than we thought.

The Mri didn't  throw up any red flags but my kind of cancer i have i will need Mri ever year instead of a mammogram. 

Its still stage 1 but i will need nuclear injection plus blue dye on the op day.  if it has gone into the lymph nodes it will be stage 2.  If it stays as it is i wil have radiotherapy after and then the tablet for 5-10yrs. I will also have herceptin but not sure how they are giving that yet. Feel a bit more relieved at the moment.  Just waiting for my op day now. Xx

Hi Sue,

This is great news. We all get the blue dye for the op, but it clears from the system fairly quickly afterwards. It's also good news that it still seems to be stage 1, so here's hoping that it stays at that stage for your op.

Do you know what type of breast cancer it is and have you been given any idea of when your surgery is likely to be? - I'm sure that you're keen to get it over and done with now.

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine 

It is aggressive ductal carcinoma  and still waiting for the op date. We are away for a few days this week so hoping it's  the week after. Xx

Hi Sue,

Not the best, but it is all still "doable". I hope that you enjoy your few days away this week and that the good weather continues for you.

Jolamine xx

Hi Sue,

Not the best, but it is all still "doable". I hope that you enjoy your few days away this week and that the good weather continues for you.

Jolamine xx