Hi Kebbs

Oh bless you with the breathing thing. Yes I've heard that it's slightly different with radiotherapy to the left breast. And I totally feel for you regarding the travelling. That must be a nightmare. I'm lucky because I work at the hospital so hoping to schedule the radiotherapy and work too. I'm 46 and not menopausal which I think makes my Oncotype score a different group of numbers to ladies over 50 and post menopausal.

Its just a minefield of information to try and digest. And everyone is different. Good luck with the rest of your radiotherapy and please keep in touch.

Jo

xx

Yes I will keep you posted on progress Jo. Please do the same for me. Would love to know how you get on. Life eh?? It’s certainly precarious  at times.

Very handy to work at the hospital?!! 

Look after yourself.  

Kebbs x x 

️ ️

Hi Jo,

It's me again,Catherine. I just read this message. I am in the same situation as yours intially. I have been told pre cancer and probably encapsulated cancer. They will find out if this is invasive or not. I did mammagram, ultra sound and biopsy. The result is B5C. The consultant explained to me this is stage 0 pre cancer by now. I am waiting for MRI probably in two weeks then another two weeks for the result. Waiting makes me so emotional. Sometimes I just burst into tears in seconds, and sometimes I told myself you still have a chance . I can't image how can I wait another 4 weeks before I have my surgery plan. It's totally the diaster. I am looking farward to hearing some good news from you next week.  I am thinking about go through the pravite hospital but now sure how much will cost because I don't have any medical insurance. I wish I could have surgery tomorrow. Waiting makes me crazy.

Catherine xx

Hi all.  I am in a similar situation.   Mammogram found a really small tumour (15mm) in Nov this year.  Had two lumpectomys as first did not get clear margins.  Had clear lymph nodes.  Went back to oncologist expecting to be scheduled in for radiotherapy but was shocked to hear I had a high onco score and am now scheduled for chemo, dedronic acid! Radiotherapy and then hormone tablets

Starting chemo on Wednesday and must admit I am scared.  Trying to remind myself that I am doing this for my kids so that I can reduce any chance of reoccurrence but it's really hard.  
 

I wish everyone on here best wishes and thank you for sharing your stories - whilst I would never wish this on anyone, knowing that you are not alone does help in a funny sort of way.  
 

D

Hi Kebb

Been reading through chats and see your profile is the most like mine . Grade 3 clear lymph nodes but unfortunately not clear margins. Had 1st surgery 11th Feb 2nd on 4th of March get results on 16th

My complaint apart from obvious about margins is I haven’t got an appointment to see an oncologist yet and I gather there can be some waiting time ...

 I am also on my 2nd course of antibiotics with an infection 

Radiation will be to my left breast and the heart lung thing does worry me a lot . Did you have radiation under arm when nodes were clear? 

I am pleased to hear you aren’t finding it too exhausting. How long did it take from surgery to treatment? I have 2 extra weeks because of re excision.

We are close in age too as I am 68

regards

Jess

Hi Mrsmac,

I so agree the 'waiting' for results is tough. It's always there in your head. Some days I felt positive while I awaited results etc. and on other days I struggled. It's not easy. 

I am not sure if I was just lucky but I found radiotherapy relatively easy. I didn't burn and it didn't really make me very tired either. I recommend drinking a lot of water and moisterising your treated breast as often as possible. It all helps. 

No when lymph nodes are clear they don't focus any radiation under your arm. It's just aimed at the tumour site. 
The 'breath hold' technique also stops  any radiation hitting heart and lungs. I wasn't great at it (!) but managed most of the time. It's not rocket science but somehow I made hard work of it?!! 

I had many 'hold ups' after surgery too for onco tests and an MRI so my radiotherapy was along time after my op which worried me but it was how it panned out. I suppose I started radiotherapy in the end about 12 weeks after my op.  Wasn't the best timing for sure. In fact I have never heard of anyone waiting for so long. 
 

I wish you well as you go forward. Don't hesitate to contact me should you want to ask anything further. People on here have helped me so much. I am happy to help if I can. 
 

Go well. 
Kebb. 
 

Hi Kebb

Thanks for details it will be 5 weeks from original op TIL these results .....then need to get appointments set up. I tried reasoning with breast nurse to make appointment as things were behind but she wouldn’t budge.....all my appointments so far have been squeezed in at short notice so here’s hoping! I’ve been quite upbeat most of time mostly because it felt like it was happening to someone else not me

Its good to read the success stories here and feel the empathy everyone has .We are all in this together and outsiders can sympathise but can’t really understand .

Thanks 

Jess

Hi there, ive just joined this forum, im in the UK. Glad to hear your lymph nodes are clear.  I have just been diagnosed with Encapsulated Papillary Carcinoma alongside DCIS and a 3mm Grade 2 invasive carcinoma NST (no special type). I think my invasion is from the Papillary cancer.  I had a lumpectomy as they thought it was DCIS on mammogram but the lumpectomy sample came back as Papillary.  Margins need doing again and to have  a Sentinel Lymph node biopsy this Thursday.  I see you are Papillary too, your right its usually in older women im 71!  I have read everything i can about Papillary ca and it has a very good diagnosis i think, yours sounded as if it is encapsulated so your prognosis should be good, even with invasion its supposedly good as it's described as indolent/lazy.  I noticed you asked for info on it.  If you haven't, google it and you get quite a lot of studies come up.  I was a nurse before retirement.  Have you found out anymore on the papillary side of things as i notice you are one year on?  Sorry just noticed your not papillary!