I’m sorry to hear you’re going through this, I am 27 found a lump last week and have been referred to breast clinic on Thursday. I am petrified and I still have a chance of being lucky. I have found myself analysing every inch of my body to the point that I’m convinced I’ve just found a dodgy mole above my hip in the same side as the breast with lump, so now my head is being all stupid. 

I hope you’re appointment went well today and it was some positive news. Thoughts with you xxx

Hi Kmj,

Welcome to the forum.

I am sorry to hear about your lump, but glad to hear that you have been referred to the breast clinic and, that you are due there on Thursday.

Don’t forget to let your GP look at your mole, as this will need to be referred to a dermatologist if anything suspicious is noticed. It can take longer to get an appointment with a dermatologist, so the sooner you see your GP, the sooner you’ll be seen by one.

I do hope that all goes well on Thursday, but please don’t expect to get a definite diagnosis straight away. You will possibly have tests done to see if your lump is malignant or benign. The results of these tests then take 1-2 weeks to come back to the clinic, so you are likely to have an anxious wait for that time.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi BigJean,

I'm so sorry to hear about your struggles with chemo. I'm sure that you're relieved to just be down to the Herceptin now.

Have you got a date to see your surgeon to discuss the effectiveness of the chemo yet? I hope that you find that it's been helpful.

I'm doing ok thanks. My son is gradually improving now and will be starting 3 weeks of intensive rehabilitation at the end of this month.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

[@Jolamine]‍ [@Woollylamb]‍ [@BigJean]‍  [@Lorz]‍ 

hi all

sorry not been on here for a while. Had number five on Friday the first of my new chemo - pretaxillian or something like that. Sorry I’m not one for remembering what I’m on. My memory isn’t is the best at the mo. Was dreading it but think the double dose of steroids I on is getting me through it ok albeit not sleeping well. Lucky if I’m getting four hours but feel so tired but just can’t slerp. Abit of a dodgy belly and acid but not as sick as with my other chemo. Three more rounds every two weeks then I’m done with chemo. I did ask oncologist how does it know it’s working but because I had mastectomy and node removal there is no way to tell. He just said if you are not back here within five years with recurrence then we know it’s worked but without doing chemo etc the chances are Id e back. I’ll do anything to try not to be back. The only downside to these steroids are I’m becoming abit of a psycho - blowing up over slightest thing did anyone else get like that? 

When I saw oncologist I had a meltdown re thy scar had dimpled but he examined me and said it was normal. I said when I had scan for blood clot on arm and chest it bought back the scan on my boob and I’m now paranoid it’s my healthy boob. I just wish I’d been offered to have that one taken off too but bless oncologist he checked me thoroughly and reassured nothing was there but reiterated that I cannot be scared of examining myself and to check regularly and if any worries to ring and they will see me straightaway but he said it’s normal to think/feel like that. I do get quite abit if pain where my scar is but he said I’m still healing inside from the operation.

see you don’t hear from me for ages then I can’t stop rambling. I blame the steroids for this too .  My children have been great through this although my middle one lost his temper on the football pitch yday because someone said s*cj your mom! It was a far-away team so they know nothing About me and it was just a boyish comment but my lad lost his head. He has done so well since my diagnosis and excelled his and schools exoectations with his GCSEs And has shown no sign of struggling but I guess sometimes the slightest thing can trigger a reaction. 

Woollylsmn and bigjean I’m so glad to hear you have finished chemo . You truly are amazing ladies and jolamine I have no words to describe what a super trooper strong inspirational lady you are. I wish your son the best speedy recovery and I hope he is keeping well mentally too xx lorz I hope you are remaining positive and let us know how you get on x

if you are still awake reading all this then I applaud you take care my amazing warriors and speak soon xx 

so sorry to hear that  jolamine a double mastectomy  is what I was going to get if 8 had been carrying the gene but it came back negative I have had a lot of trouble with the left breast another operation on Tuesday here. I have terrible low blood pressure and my heart beat drops touch wood nochest pain last time the nurses were taking my pulse every hour got no sleep on Tuesday thank god by wed lunch time went back up the anestic lowers it as well I was looking at a video clear margins breast tissue cancer the USA have a white device it scans the skin called a prod so when tumour is removed they scan the tissue there and then if it’s still cancer they remove the skin there and then the uk is so behind  I listened as a lady surgeon explained no clear margin the patient has to have further surgery what is getting to me I saw him on Wednesday my surgeon he said it’s still better than losing the breast then said you may require 2 more operations did not cry but I did when I got home they are good they sedated me down there inject you to relax you the mask too takes your mind off it I suppose everyone be the same Mooney likes operations lol  my right breast was straight forward. 2 cm tumour removed 4 lymph nodes and chemo was fine for 9/12 years then I found tiny lump on left breast pea sized but over an inch after biopsy’s the right breast was scar tissue at first they thought I had tissue cancer there but no you have been through worse than me god bless you I know what you mean each day is a bonus xx

hi jean do they put a sickness injection through your line ? I had terrible sickness 9 years ago I got sickness pills too which helped me a lot ask them I’m waiting for another operation on Tuesday here had tumour removed lymph nodes removed but the surgeon explained not a clear margin I still have breast tissue cancer I watched a video clear margins on you tube in the USA they have a white device called a prod it scans the tissue there and then if it’s not good they remove it then too which prevents the patient going back for more surgery I have terrible low blood pressure probably get put on bags of water again ask your surgeon or doctor for sickness pills jean hope this helps you best regards Lorraine x

hi hope you get good news woolly I know what you mean I have been feeling low too knowing I could face another 2 operations uk so behind in the USA they have a small device prod it scans the tissue if it’s positive they remove the breast tissue there and then my surgeon told me I have not got clear margins the tissue is cancer all round the breast he said I will remove tissue top and bottom but you may need a third operation I could have wept he said it’s still better than losing the breast I’m hoping he can get it all this time I just have to think it must be done I hope things go well for you woolly xlorraine

Hi Mejules,

It's so good to hear from you and, good to hear that you are coping better than you did with your last chemo. Would you consider asking your care team or GP for a sleeping tablet to get you through this stage?There is no point in getting tireder and tireder because you cannot sleep.

Surely an MRI would still show how well your chemo has worked? Your emotions will hopefully settle down once you stop taking your steroids. I was an absolute mess emotionally when I started taking Tamoxifen and then Letrozole. I stopped taking Letroxole 2 years ago and have felt so much better since.

It is normal to get pain in the scar area for quite some time after surgery. I am so glad to hear that your children have been so supportive throughout all of this. Your son's outburst was just par for the course. Cancer doesn't just affect the person with it, but all of their family too. I'm sure that many family members need a release valve at times. Good on your son for doing so well in his GCSE'S. It can't have been easy for him, when he was dealing with your news at the same time. Hopefully, this reaction was just the 'trigger' you mention.

Only another 6 weeks to go and, I'm sure that you can hardly wait to put this all behind you. You are a true 'warrior' yourself having come through all this and I do hope that you manage to see it all through. 

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Ladies , 

I had mammogram and ultrasound last Friday . Didn’t get to see the doctor but asked the girl doing the ultrasound could she give me some results. She said my lymph nodes weren’t enlarged anymore. Nothing was said about the mammogram. So rang the breast nurse today and she told me I had response to chemo today in the breast and lymph nodes .  She didn’t elaborate on what type of response but I’m taking that as good results . 

Im meeting with breast surgeon tomorrow to discuss surgery. Another sleepless night for me but trying to be as positive as I can . 

Thanks all for listening. I feel like I’m back to the beginning all over again, I’ve pains in my shoulders I know this could be due to stress but very emotional today . 

Sorry again for long post .

take care everyone 

j xx

Hi

What fantastic news, hopefully you will get more details tomorrow on how big the response has been.  It’s hard to believe isn’t it, i was the same when I was told that mine had shrunk.

I also developed pains as well, I’m convinced it’s in my other boob, I guess that’s just natural and will probably be with us forever now, wondering if every ache and pain is cancer.

Hope the session with the surgeon goes well, I’ve got my third meeting with a surgeon on Friday, I’ve been referred to the plastic surgeons as my preferred option is the DIEP, however my surgeon doesn’t think the plastic surgeon will do it as I will need radiotherapy afterwards.  If he won’t then I will opt for the LD flap. I’m interested to hear what options you have and your thoughts after you’ve met with your surgeon. 

Will be thinking of you. 

WL

Hi BigJean,

This must be a great relief to hear that, after all that you have had to put up with, you have made some progress. I'm delighted to hear this.

I hope that all goes well tomorrow when you meet up with your surgeon to discuss surgery.I know that it is difficult to stay positive all the time, but the more positve you can be the better the treatment tends to be.

We all tend to find extra aches and pains at this time. Hopefully, this is all due to stress. Sorry to hear that you have had an emotional day today. Isn't that strange, when for a change, you've got some good news to celebrate? Not to worry, we all have good and bad days.

Fingers crossed for more good news tomorrow.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi BigJean,

This must be a great relief to hear that, after all that you have had to put up with, you have made some progress. I'm delighted to hear this.

I hope that all goes well tomorrow when you meet up with your surgeon to discuss surgery.I know that it is difficult to stay positive all the time, but the more positve you can be the better the treatment tends to be.

We all tend to find extra aches and pains at this time. Hopefully, this is all due to stress. Sorry to hear that you have had an emotional day today. Isn't that strange, when for a change, you've got some good news to celebrate? Not to worry, we all have good and bad days.

Fingers crossed for more good news tomorrow.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Ladies , 

Well met the surgeon yesterday he’s very happy with my response to chemo . 

He told me I will be having a mastectomy and lymph nodes removed with no reconstruction for the time being . He said I will probably have lymphodema which he told me is very common. 

The surgery is scheduled for 2 weeks, I’m ok with loosing the breast I think the thought of being put to sleep is freaking me out a bit . 

I hope all is well with you ladies . 

Take care 

j xx

Hi

I am really chuffed that you have had a good response to chemo. I find it interesting how different surgeons are happy to take different approaches, mine is happy to do recon straight away, even though I need radiotherapy and lymph node removal,  I was originally told I would have to wait. 

When did you have your last chemo session?

I have the same fear of being put to sleep, I've not met anyone who doesn't worry about it. Just think in two weeks the next phase will be done. You are completely nailing it.

x
 

Hi WL,

Good to heat you are doing well too . It is strange how different surgeons opt for different things . He did say something about my BC being quite invasive can’t fully remember what else . He said in time he would reduce the other one . They aren’t small I’m a 34 E !!! I didn’t question him about not doing reconstruction! 

I too will be having radiotherapy afterwards . My last chemo was 20th September. 

Have you got a date for surgery yet ??  Only good thing is it will be done before Christmas will be really looking forward to that . 

Take care 

j xx

Hey

no date yet. I had my last chemo on 11th sept,seen them surgeon twice and he referred me to the plastic surgeon as my preferred option is done by plastics. Seeing him on Friday , he may say no to doing it with immediate recon. Got a ct scan to check my tummy blood vessels as they take the fat from there and put it  in the boob and connect the blood vessel back up. I'm desperate to get a date as I would like to be in reasonable health for Xmas too.

how are you feeling after chemo, I'm still struggling with fatigue and my fingertips are numb.

wl

Hi , 

Hopefully you will have a date soon and fingers crossed all goes well with your meeting on Friday . 

Im still very tired after chemo and still have aches and pains . Luckily I didn’t have any numbness in finger tips . 

Let me know how your meeting goes on Friday will be thinking of you . 

Take care 

j x

Hi BigJean,

I'm delighted to hear that your surgeon was so happy with your response to chemo. I understand that they don't usually do a reconstruvction at the time of surgery if radiotherapy is planned after your surgery. I have never had reconstruction, but have managed well without it.

I also have lymphoedema.and, this is manageable. I attend a lymphoedema clinic for 2 weeks in every 12 and have manual lymphatic drainage followed by bandaging. Those 2 weeks ca be a bit awkward, as I look like the Michelin Man with both arms bandaged from fingertip to shoulder. I get some very strange looks and questions as result, but I can cope with that. In between I have elastic compression sleeves, which I wear all the time. Unfortunately, despite this I never get rid of it. One part of my arms will go up while another goes down, so at least I'm maintaining the status quo.

I shall be thinking of you as you undertake your surgery and hope that it all goes well.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Woolylamb,

I hope that all goes well with the Plastic Surgery guys on Friday. Don't be surprised if they decide not to do your recon at the same time as surgery. If radiotherapy is planned after surgery they tend to leave recon until later.

I hope that it all goes ahead for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, 

Thank you so much for your advice . To be honest from the start I said I never wanted reconstruction so that really doesn’t bother me . 

Oh wow there seems to be a lot involved with the lymphodema you poor thing . You are an inspiration. I know I’ll manage . He did say something about a sleeve too . 

I hope your son is doing well. Thanks again for all your advice and support. I really appreciate it.

take care 

j xx

Hi Jolamine 

Thanks for your message. My original surgeon is happy to do an immediate LD flap recon even though I need radiotherapy.  The surgery I prefer is the Diep one which is done by plastics, my original surgeon thinks they won't do it. So I'm guessing I may have the choice of delayed recon if I want Diep or immediate if I'm happy to go with the LD flap. In my head I'm thinking I want to get it all over and done with, it's a hard decision, one I never thought I would have the chance to make.

Hope you are ok.

x

Hi BigJean,

There are different degrees of Lymphoedema and I count myself lucky that mine could have been more debilitating. It can be awkward finding sleeves that are wide enough to fit over my arms and the 2 weeks of manual bandaging can be a little tricky. It also took some time for me to find the right type and size of compression bandage. The early ones tended to dig into different parts of my arm and some were very uncomfortale. We've overcome this now and, I now know what is comfotrable, but still gives me the necessary compression.

All of this is a small price for still being here 10 years after my first diagnosis.

My son is having 3 weeks of intensive rehab at the moment, but is doing well, all things considered.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx