Hi Lorz,

They won't speed up your heart rate as such, but you will most probably have some pads stuck on to your upper body and then be asked to walk on a treadmill. This can be left flat or they can introduce an incline, if they think that your heart is capable of coping with this. This will give a tracing of how your heart functions with exercise, so it is nothing to worry about. The whole procedure only takes a few minutes. Taking your blood pressure and looking at your medication are always carried out in your pre-med before you have surgery. This is just routine and something that everyone has done prior to surgery.

Sadly, my mum didn't survive. She was diagnosed 34 years ago. She had a mastectomy and radiotherapy, but no follow up or after care after that. Twelve years after she was first diagnosed she started complaining of the severity of her back pain and, her GP admitted her to hospital. The outcome of this was that she was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer which had spread to her liver, lungs, bone and brain. At that stage there was no more that they could do for her.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Smarti,

A very warm welcome to the forum, although I'm sorry to hear of your reason for joining us. Please don't worry about not having all the scans you mention. These are only carried out to clarify things if there is any uncertainty about your diagnosis.

Did you have an ultrasound and a biopsy? This is often all that is needed. You will no doubt get some of the scans you mention after you have had chemo. They often do this to see that the size of your tumour has reduced before surgery. You may well be given a few bone scans further along your cancer journey. This is to ensure that your bones are not being affected by treatment or spread of the disease.

We all tend to think the worst at this stage, but fortunately it seldom turns out to be the case. It might be worth mentioning  about your back when you go for your next chemo session. How have you coped with your first session otherwise?

There are a number of people here who have experienced what you are going through and, I am sure that you will find it helpful to speak to others who really know what you are going through, as they have experienced it all for themselves.

Do please keep in touch and letus know how you are getting on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

I’m so sorrry your mum took secondary cancers horrible vile disease but they are supposed to be getting closer to a vaccination feel bad for people that’s worse than me I asked her over the phone about a tread mill she said that’s a different department when I spoke to the guy as I had to cancel forgot I had groceries being delivered leg dressed thank god my leg is closed up had leg ulcer for 2 years had 4 leg ulcers in 10 years they are keeping me on long term antibiotics to keep cellulites out of my leg I still have it compressed I can walk bettter I called back saying I could not make it today I got a guy who was a lot nicer blood pressure blood test cge of the heart  said they would it speed up my heart meet the pharmacist like you said take up my prescription to show them my medicine unless that’s wrong 3 times now they have said 2 weeks for first biopsy took 3 then right breast thank goodness was negative I have had this tumour for 10 weeks the surgeon did feel it said about an inch or wee bit more but he would operate 3/4 weeks  explaining heart tested it would be on a Tuesday but I’m glad I have lost over a stone sticking to it I went on a egg diet for 3 days off you tube lost 5lbs I’m eating salads drinking plenty etc  ty for replying it is a comfort to me when people explain ty for that once again so sorry about your mum take care x

I’m having a hard time understanding why there is no uncertainty, how can they be so sure there has been no spread without carrying out those tests? 

Yes I had an ultrasound and a biopsy and a breast mri which was then followed by a second ultrasound and biopsy on the inflamed lymph node. I think the lymph node that tested positive there was only minimal involvement. I think the only reason I’m worried now is I have a pain in my back for the last week. 

The tumour has already felt like it has shrunk to me even after just the one session, I’m just worried about the back pain, but also worried to get the scans as I’d be afraid of what they could show 

go to your doctor explain your worries he will arrange X-ray earlier caught better but again I’m not sleeping well 4/5 hours if I’m lucky was supposed to go today for heart test bad urine infection I seen my surgeon only Monday he said 3/4 weeks they now booked me in for next wed heart test I had swollen lymph node but when I got ultrascan no cancer there I have invasive breast cancer in left mammogram picked up right breast unfamiliar skin tissue but it was scarring off first operation this my second time breast cancer I was clear 9 years then up pops another tumour on my left it was pea sized now over a inch it’s the wait 3 weeks for biopsy to come back etc I try and not stress myself out thinking by the time I get my operation could spread to lymph nodes surgeon explained them that is worse than me go first try and not worry try gel pain killers no better by a week go to your doctor wish you all the best xx

yeah I know the earlier caught the better it would be, I’ve only just turned 30 last week though so the prospect of it having already spread to bones is such a scary thought, as I know it can be managed and controlled and many women live 20+ years after a stage 4 diagnosis, I’m just not sure how I’d cope. But I suppose if other people can, I can! 

Min regards to your own biopsy wait for surgery etc, it seems everybody does be in the same boat, so although you worry of spread in the mean time I think the risk is minimal , and that’s why they leave us waiting to arrange a proper plan to ensure as best they can that it won’t come back

I wish you well they are getting closer to cure it I know it’s worrying I don’t sleep well at nights knowing I’m overweight too I started slimming before I took tumour lost over a stone I still need to lose another 4 but I’m sticking with it this time I drink a lot of water diluted sugar free juice to fill me up plus I get bothered with urine infection too good luck you can chat to me I’m glad I found this site some people have helped me as it’s different to 9 years ago x

Hi Lorz,

Unfortunately, these things happen. Cancer robbed us of a very special lady and I still miss her every day. This is such a cruel disease.

I am glad to hear that you got a nicer guy when you phoned the hospital back and, that he was able to explain things a little better to you. There really is nothing to these tests. My hubby has heart failure and has them  regularly.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

jolamine

thank you very much for taking the time for that great response, you’ve helped to put me at ease a little! 

I noticed you said if an aggressive form of the disease, I did get grade 3 cells? Or do you mean if TNBC or HER2 + is diagnosed? 

They have said the HR+ and HER2- tends to be quite predictable and they know the pattern it follows. 

Im going to have 18 sessions overall.. 12 sessions of taxol weekly and then 6 sessions of AC biweekly! I’m also on a clinical trial for pembro.. so I have pembro/placebo once every 3 weeks as well. 

People have also been saying to me that the fact the clinical trial is for stage 2 hr + HER2- only means that I can be reassured that there has been a second opinion on the staging so to not panic over my back pain... it’s just really hard not to, I would have never thought anything of a little back pain before all of this!