Hi Bluebella,

I hope that all goes well for your chat tomorrow. I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer, but was fortunate enough that my surgeon was happy to carry out a double mastectomy the second time. I have never regretted this, as I feel that I have done all that I possibly could to get rid of the cancer.

I sincerely hope that you and your surgeon come up with the best solution for you tomorrow.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi CHart

We haven't actually told our daughters, yet. If everything goes to plan with just a lumpectomy + RT then I don't see the need to worry them unecessarily yet. They're in their exam years, so if I can avoid stressing them more then I will. Obviously if I need more in depth treatment then we will tell them.

I love how matter of fact your little girl was, bless.

B x

Hi Jolamine

Thank you for your post. I have done tonnes of research this last week and found so many research papers stating that HRT after BC simply isn't the demon everyone thinks, and that survival rates after BC are actually improved if you decide to take HRT. 

I have been reading the work of Prof Michael Baum and Dr Avrum Bluming (who are both top surgical oncologists) who believe HRT should be given to women, if necessary, after they've had BC.

I have also found out that prior to Tamoxifen, the gold standard for treating BC was..........oestrogen! Yep!

I can highly recommend women reading 'Oestrogen Matters' by Dr Avrum Bluming - it blew me away and has totally changed my understanding of HRT and the despicable way the media operates.

Sorry, for waffling.....but women really need to be as informed as possible about their bodies.

B x

Hi All

Just to update, my appointment with my surgeon was very productive. I'm getting 'therapeutic reduction mammoplasty' which basically means the cancer cells will go + I'm getting a freebie breast reduction & breast lift! I'm actually really pleased because, as a 34G, my boobs cause me back pain and they have seriously headed South. The only downside is that he can't do them both at once, I have to have RT in between. So, it's two lots of surgery but I don't mind.

He was ambivalent about me continuing to take HRT. He agreed that my family history of osteoporosis and heart disease is a genuine concern, and that even with a DX of early breast cancer I still stand a higher risk of dying of heart disease or osteoporosis (which HRT protects you from).

B x

Hi Jolamine

I was a university librarian, so I enjoy doing research. My surgeon didn't know what any percentages were, apart from the standard 5% risk of reoccurance after 5 years & 10% risk of increase after 10% years etc. But these percentages are only for women with early stage IDC, with ER+, lumpectomy + RT + Tamoxifen. He didn't have a clue about what effect taking HRT too might have on reoccurance (which is fair enough as he's just a breast surgeon). He just said it was something to discuss with the oncologist at 'a later date'. He did admit that taking Tamoxifen only gives quite a small 'absolute percentage of protection' against BC reoccurance. Absolute risk percentage is VERY different to relative risk percentage

e.g 4% of women (not on Tamoxifen) have a reoccurance of breast cancer after 5 years - as opposed to 2% of women (who took Tamoxifen).

Now an increase from 2% to 4% is an increased relative risk of 50% BUT the absolute risk is just 4%.

(The above % is for illustrative purposes only)

But I have read about a dozen research papers citing that taking HRT after a breast cancer DX is not associated with a higher rate of reoccurance. And, that the rate of reoccurance is actually lower in BC survivors who do take HRT (plus they also were far less likely to be DX with heart disease or osteoporosis in later life).

Apart from the excellent 'Oestrogen Matters' book, I have also read all of Dr Avrum Blumings articles on breast cancer & HRT, and lots of articles by Prof Michael Baum, who is THE leading surgical oncologist specialising in breast cancer. He also debunks the popular myth that HRT = breast cancer.

Fascinating and truly life changing knowledge (honest).

Bx

Gosh, sorry for all my waffling. I'm just passionate about women accessing the right information and knowing the right questions to ask...

My surgery is Feb. 18th. On a lighter note, I happened to notice on my consent form the surgeon had written up to perform surgery on my 'left breast'......Er, no it's actually in my right breast, mate! He apologized profusely.......

B x

Hi Bluebella,

I thought that you had some research experience by the way you have faced this. I note that you say that you 'were' a university librarian? Have you changed direction or stopped working? If your surgeon wasn't up on his figures don't worry. Your oncologist should be better equipped to answer your questions.

Don't worry about your 'waffling'. I am delighted to see that you are taking a positive approach and finding out as much as you can to help yourself. This should also put your care team to the pin of their collars to do the very best for you. I have Mucinous carcinoma, a rare form opf breast cancer and not very aggressive. However, when I was diagnosed 10 years ago I found it very difficult to trace other people with this type of cancer. It affects only 1% of people. I found that the surgeon and oncologist classed it as DCIS and made no allowance for it being a different sort of cancer. I had a lumpectomy followed by Tamoxifen.

I had to venture to the USA to find information about this. I then had a second primary in the same breast the following year, so had a bilateral mastectomy, followed by Letrozole for 6 years. I finished taking this in July 2017. The fear of recurrence is always with me, because having had it once, I am aware that it can happen to anybody. There have been a number of ladies on this forum in the past year with this type of cancer and fortunately, more is known about it now. However, it still tends to be trivialised because it is one of the less aggressive forms.

It won't be long now until you have your surgery and, I'm sure that, with your newly gained knowledge, you'll overcome any challenges posed by treatment.

I shall certainly be thinking of you on 18th and praying that it all goes well.

Whe you are feeling up to it, please let us know how you are getting on post-surgery.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi [@Jojonrbrad]‍ 

i was just reading through this thread as I'm having similar symptoms as yourself and [@CHart]‍ and wondered how you go on after being referred? I am awaiting my appointment at the clinic at the moment. Hope you are well. 

Iv just been told I have breast cancer, the biopsy results are not due back until Tuesday but all  signs and symptoms is that it's cancer. I am 44years old have 2 wonderful children who are 11 and 8 yrs old and literally don't know what to do, I am an emotional wreck.