Hello lovvie, I’m the same as Ploppy, well a couple of weeks behind her in fact.  Diagnosed at end of April but had to wait for my next period to have an MRI which I had on 18th May. They like to check just in case there are other nasties lurking in either boob that they didn’t catch at mammogram (mine didn’t show up at mammogram).

Results of MRI a few days later.  Surgery booked for 14th June.  Wide local excision under breast and 1 lymph node removed.  Went back last Thursday for my results and all clear!  

Next stop tamoxifen and then radiotherapy in August.

Please try to stay positive - so many of us are going through this to lesser or greater degrees.  You are not alone.  It’s one of life’s blips (admittedly one we could all do without!)

Keep us informed   X

Hey Ploppy - have you started your tamoxifen yet? I must admit I’m not keen on taking it but I will do, of course.  Am quite worried about the side-effects.  The breast cancer nurse I saw last Thursday actually said to me, DON’T read the list of side-effects on the leaflet that comes with the pills.  The main ones that you need to know about are ......

Anyway, I have to phone the docs this week and make an appointment to go and get my first prescription - and a prescription “exemption” (?) so I can have them for free??

Onward and upward, eh? X

Hi Nobbywatts, 

Thanks for your message, I am still waiting to hear from the hospital since diagnosed on Friday about dates for MRI and more results. Feeling very up and down at the moment, did you feel like that at first? The waiting is very difficult, trying to keep busy. 

That is excellent news about the all clear! Must be such a relief. I am worried too about hormone therapy but focusing on results and op first. Let me know how it goes taking it, I will keep you posted too. Best not to read side effects, just go the the flow and you might find you do not have any or they are not bad. 

That’s a good way to look at it! Xxx

Hi Nobby,

Yes have been on it for about two weeks now, no problems at all so far. I was told that if you do struggle with it you can change to a different brand as sometimes that helps, but all good so far.

I’m surprised you didn’t get an exemption form from the hospital, the day I was diagnosed my Breast cancernurse told me to apply straight away, it’s great free prescriptions for 5 years and not just tamoxifen, every cloud and all that. 

I’m hoping to get my letter this week regarding my radiotherapy, that’s the final part then I’m all done.

were you advised that you get a parking permit for the days you are having radiotherapy, I was told once my date is confirmed and I have it in writing the hospital will give me a parking permit to save a bit of money.

we sound like we are in the same boat, I too was clear after surgery, you can’t ask for more than that can you. 

Let me know how you get on with the tamoxifen, I just keep thinking, this wonder drug is doing amazing things for my body :-)

Yes, very normal to have up days and down days.

I was very open with my friends about my diagnosis but that comes with a price - everyone is always texting to see how you’re doing and some days you just don’t want to talk about it, you just want to keep yourself to yourself.  Other days I could speak freely and even make “quips” (at my own expense). And all the time I just felt like “bring it on, let’s get it over with and then I can get back to normal”.  The new normal, of course.

The waiting is a total drag - 9 weeks for me, from finding “it” to the op, but looking back those weeks did just slip past - I feel like I lost a whole chunk of the summer this year!

Anyway I’m rambling .... my advice: be very kind to yourself, allow yourself to have up and down days but keep strong.  Eat nice food, have treats, see friends (only the good ones!) oh and REALLY important - get outside into nature every day with your daughter - park, garden, countryside, seaside, whatever you have handy. Keep busy. Be organised.  Make plans for when you have your op.  Fill your freezer with lovely, easy food, put clean sheets on your bed the day before you go in.  

You can beat this - you know? Xx

Hi Ploppy, thanks for the tip about the parking permit - I’ve got my first appointment with radiology through for 25th July so I’ve written a note on the letter to remind me to ask as my brain is like a sieve these days! I’m at Norwich Hospital - where are you?

Question: where your wound is healing (on your boob) do you get little stabbing pains or any other sensations? I’m not overly worried as I assume it’s just tissues knitting together but it does feel odd at times. My surgeon said she was going to “rearrange” some of my breast tissue so that I didn’t have an indentation where the cancer had been and I have to say that she’s done an amazing job - it looks like it did before!

Note to self: keep repeating “wonder drug, good for me, wonder drug, good for me ....”!!

xx

Hey there

Sympathise completely. I was just told on the 14th June the same thing. I'd initialy investigated a lump in October and December and they said it was nothing suspicious so I was in complete shock when on my third appointment when they once again said it wasn't looking suspicious that it was in fact confirmed as Breast Cancer. 

I had to have an MRI and they did find a little extra mass, but now they are doing a slightly more complicated operation, but at least it still all seems manageable. I'm 43, so a bit older than you, but mine is similar, grade 3 and hormone receptive. I feel much calmer about it now and am just enjoying the last few weeks of my daughters activities at school before my op.

L xx

Hi Nobby,

I’m in Bath, hospital is a 10 min drive so am so lucky, I know some people have to drive miles for their appointments.

Yes lots of strange sensations, sharp pains, shooting pains, quite numb, it is still blue from the dye as well, it’s not pretty but I am so grateful I didn’t have to lose it. My wound under my arm is the most painful, they found a rouge stitch in it last week which didn’t help but I find that one is really tender. 

The surgeons do amazing jobs don’t they, I can’t fault them. 

X

Hi, 

jumping on here again, as struggling this evening. I feel very anxious tonight, keep thinking I can feel more lumps in my right breast and thinking the worst. Had MRI on Thursday and still waiting for more results since being diagnosed. I just really want to know what I am dealing with so I can focus on that. My breast also feels a bit sore now, prob because I keep feeling it. 

Did your ops happen very quickly after results? Also, going Thack to work on Tuesday as I need to carry on with life and find a new normal. Did anyone else take time off after being diagnosed. 

Any support would be appreciated xx