Hi petrgn,

We haven't spoken before, nice to meet you.  Great to hear that your surgery went well, and love your attitude.  I also had no pain from the mastectomy itself although very occasionally a movement I made would cause where the drain was inside me to hurt very briefly.  That dissipated fairly quickly once the drain was out.

Hoping that's it for you and everything is just preventative now.

LJx

Hello LJ

Thank you so much.  That’s my way of looking at it.  After the usual, anxiety ridden, two week wait will be the next part of the journey.  Chemo,  if I have it I’ll be so glad to zap all the straggling C cells, radiotherapy I’ll just moisturise well, if it’s spread to other places then I will fight it and live every day. Was so guilty of working much too much.  Cancer made me stop and smell the roses!!

I have read your posts and, as Jolamine and Marlyn say, we are all here for you. 

xxxxxxx

Hi Irene,

So sorry about your daughter's diagnosis, but her attitude sounds great!

I feel for you.  My mum was first diagnosed at 43, then against (different cancer, same breast) at 60.  Her first was lumpectomy and radiotherapy, but obviously with it being the same breast the second time had to be chemotherapy and it was HER2+ve and all that the second time anyway.

Still, I realise that my diagnosis is proving far harder for my mum.  Not helped by the fact that me getting it finally made the family eligible for genetic testing, which just confirmed what my mum and I always strongly believed.  My mum had pushed for genetic testing over the years but been knocked back time and time again, and I have pushed for early screening for me for the last 7 years and been knocked back.  No-one has broken any guidelines or done anything wrong, but it's hard when you're gut tells you there is something there and you are fighting to prevent it happening to others (and yourself) and the guidelines don't allow you to do that.  I've had a geneticist admit that they think small, predominantly male families are being let down because they are less likely to have enough cases of breast cancer to make them eligible for screening, yet with BRCA2 the male rates of cancer are still very low, so you could have a huge male family and none of them have cancer.

My mum now potentially faces losing a daughter (she's 72 mind you, but healthy) and it could have been prevented if the guidelines were different.  I think she's past the anger stage but I think she does need someone to talk to.  I might suggest to her that she contacts her local Maggy's, or something like that, we don't have Maggy's in Jersey but it looks good online.  And you should remember that cancer services like Maggy's etc. are there for family members too.  What you are going through now with your daughter will be so different for you that it might be helpful to engage with services in this different capacity.

As for the mammograms.  I see why the age is where it is currently, but the age for 'at risk' people definitely does need to come down, I know evidence currently supports a drop to 35.  Thing is, they need to reasses what they mean by 'at risk' too, because I will have had this cancer very possibly since my 20s, and it could probably have been picked up by a mammogram in my early 30s, yet I would never have been classified as 'at risk', so a lowering of the screening age wouldn't have helped me.  I will be writing to NICE as their list of what means 'at risk' strangely does not include a woman getting a second completely different cancer in the same breast, but does include if she goes on to get the same type of cancer in the other breast, which is just absurd.  Getting two different types of cancer, regardless of same breast or different breast, is a clear sign that there is likely a genetic mutation.

Sorry ranting on.  Thankfully my identical twin is now awaiting prophylactic surgery etc. but she still hasn't had a mammogram, I won't feel settled until I know she is clear!

Best wishes to you and your daughter.

LJx

By the way everybody there is a book called ‘How Not to Die’ has a chapter on breast cancer.  Fascinating.  For example sinks if Golden Delicious apples kill cancer cells in proven trials.  If all people was recommended by a Pig Vet friend of a friend!!!!

Skins.....I’m hopeless doing this on small phone xx

That made me giggle, "pig vet friend of a friend" just takes "friend of a friend" that hilarious step further :D  I will look it up.

I have a book called "The Complete Guide to Breast Cancer - How to feel empowered and take control".  It's written by Liz O'Riordan who is a Consultant Oncoplastic Surgeon that has had breast cancer, and Professor Trisha Greenhalgh who is a GP and is internationally recognised as an academic and who has had breast cancer.  It's a very easy read, covers everything from what I can see so far.  The obvious benefit is that they have seen breast cancer from both sides.

I have another recommendation if anyone ever wants it regarding metastatic breast cancer, written by a women with MBC who has literally just collated everything she has learned and studied throughout her own journey with MBC.

I type too fast for my brain whether on phone or computer!

I will most definitely be researching and reading those recommendations.  Thank you xxxxx

You are truly an inspiration Twin.

my daughter saw her surgeon yesterday. They are confident they removed all the cancer with good margins and is now cancer free. She has taken all the treatments on offer. Chemo, hormone treatment and radiotherapy. In her words not the tastiest of cocktails she’s ever ordered but hopefully the most effective!! It’s going to be a tough few months ahead for her but she also inspires me with her attitude.

I do believe that cancer ‘runs’ in families. My dad died of lung cancer, my brother has had testicular cancer and is at the moment being treated for melanoma. I’ve had breast cancer, now my daughter. Other relatives in the extended family have suffered too. 

I think we maybe hear much more these days because of the terrific advancements in technology and earlier detection.

i certainly aim to be more proactive when my daughters treatment is finished.

Don’t apologise for the rant. That’s the beauty of this forum. Everyone understands

wishing you well and sending hugs - Irene x