Hi I feel my story so far has been a success. I was diagnosed with grade 3 BC in Jan 2020, I have just completed 6 cycles of chemo which was horrendous but it's over I'm scheduled to have a mastectomy this month and follow up treatment. What is positive is following diagnosis you will get a treatment plan obvs things can change nevertheless I knew my plan so had time to process info. It will be a tough journey as you can see from stories shared but the support is here

Louise

I consider myself one! Have a look at my bio, similar operations to you and am now in 2nd week post rads/ 10 weeks post node clearance and feeling not too bad (some soreness/tiredness from rads).  In many ways I actually feel better now that I did pre diagnosis, cancer is a great way (!!) to put things into perspective and give you a kick up the bum.

I had a CT scan after being told I needed node clearance and all showed to be fine so am as free of cancer as I can be and intend to get on with life...and celebrate when pesky CV will allow!

There's lots of us out there who have gone through some spread, had it cut out and are living life to the max.

Good luck

Sam

Hi Louise I seen your post and just thought I would share my moms story with you. Like you my mom was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer grade 3. Although her lump was small it was aggressive. Her original treatment plan was to have a lumpectomy, chemo and radiation. After an mri scan it showed a shadowing of something that measured 8cm aprox. Had it biopsied and unfortunately it was more cancer that had showed up in mri. It originally wasn't detected on the mammogram due to her having dense breast tissue. So her only option was to have a mastectomy on her left breast as the area was too large. She had her mastectomy yesterday (June 2nd 2020) and I honestly think it was the best decision she made. The surgeon was confident that they had removed all the cancer and luckily her lymph nodes were clear. I feel like this is somewhat a road to suscess for her although it's going to be such a long road, I now have hope that things will get better. Treatment these days is amazing in what it can do and I hope this story brings you some type of peace and hope that your situation WILL get better. 
take care ,

Tee x

Hi  Tee

Thankyou so much for your message, it must be such a worrying time for you  I have 2 daughters and they are in bits, I'm glad your mum has come through the operation well and the lymph nodes were clear . I am seeing the surgeon on Tuesday and am opting for a mastectomy this time, they said they'll have the results from the lymph nodes 2 weeks after the op , this is what's scaring me most, but it's very true what you say, medicine is progressing so much and with that in mind and hearing peoples stories I'm trying to stay as positive as I can, I hope you're mum is feeling ok and I send you both my love and best wishes xx

Louise xx

Hi lupita

Thankyou for your message,  I'm glad you've got chemo out of the way, I think your right, having a plan will help and hearing stories like yours gives me hope and keeps me positive,  sending you love and best wishes

Louise xx

Thankyou so much and I'm so glad things are going well for you, I'm in the dark really until I see my surgeon on Tuesday,  at least then though we will have a plan and can move forward,  it is people like you that are helping me stay strong.

Sending you love and best wishes 

Louise xx

Hi Louise,

it is a very worrying time especially with the ongoing covid situation. I am such a worrier I worry more than my mom about the situation, she is so strong and is ready to take on anything that life throws at her and for that I am so grateful and so proud of her. My mom is recovering very well from her operation, She is back to her usual chirpy self and it makes it that little bit easier for me. I feel for your daughters I know how they must feel, every negative thought goes through your head and back a thousand times. I had that problem that's why I decided to enter one of these cancer chat rooms and honestly hearing people's stories is so comforting in knowing you're not alone. It's amazing how lovely people on here can be and it just restores that faith in humanity. I wish you every ounce of luck in your journey from surgery right to the end of treatment, you will get through this I'm sure your daughters are an amazing support system for you. I am only 25 and when my mom was diagnosed in March this year  I thought I haven't had enough time with her yet she is my absolute world! But seeing the type of care and treatment hospitals can provide these days, I'm confident I have many more years to go with my amazing momma. 
sending lots of love and air hugs :) 

Tee xx

You sound like such a lovely and amazing girl and I bet your mum is so proud of you,  you will get through this together just like me and my daughters will, stay strong 

Lots of love

Louise xx

Hello Louise,

i am so sorry to hear you are going through this trauma. 

I remember every detail of the day I was told (30/9/19) I had invasive ductal cancer. It was of course a bombshell. I had a lovely day out planned for that day too but I was too numb to do anything. I just sat. Couldn’t even cry. 

Anyway just want to tell you my experience so far. I had a breast reduction on 1st Nov. Didn’t need drains and no node spread which was fortunate. I stayed in overnight and home the next day. I felt fine really. Sore obviously from the operation  but on balance I really was fine. 

After recovery I had an Onco test which is where they take a slither of your breast tissue (taken when they did the operation) and sent it to Boston USA to be analysed. This informs the oncology team whether or not chemo will (or won’t)  be helpful. A high score of 25 or over means you would benefit from the treatment. A score of 25 or under means you don’t. My score was 9 so I didn’t have chemo just radiotherapy. I had15 sessions which I completed on 28th February. It was an easy process. No burn on my skin and I didn’t even get tired as most people do. So I was very lucky. 

I was then prescribed hormonal tablets (Letrozole) for 5 years. This is not my scene. Won’t bore you with details but I am anti such drugs. Trying them but this bit has, for me, proven to be the biggest struggle.  It’s me though. I AM bonkers about tablets!!

SO I am doing really good. This journey is unwanted and tough physically and mentally at times. For me I feel it’s only now I need counselling to open up some of my stored emotions. Overall though I can honestly say it’s not been half as bad as I originally feared.

I think the hardest part is the emotionsal strain.  You go through so many in such quick succession. Other people, those you love struggle too. They don’t always know what’s best to say. A lot of the time I didn’t want too many words. Somebody just being there for me was enough. We are all different... 

Go steady and always ask for what you want  when you need it. I wish you the very best of luck Louise  This site is SO helpful  

Go well  

Kebbs x x