Hi Phili1, I was diagnosed with grade 2 invasive ductal Her2+ (positive)  last Wednesday, and same as you, haven’t shed a tear. I guess everyone reacts differently, I am pragmatic and see the situation as ‘it is what it is’. I am having surgery first, as it’s an aggressive cancer, I have 2 tumours, small at the moment, and lymph nodes are thankfully clear, I am due to have therapeutic mammoplasty followed by herceptin, I will know more next wednesday when I meet with the surgeon - this info was relayed to me briefly via a ‘phone call from the lovely cancer care nurse earlier today. The thing that has surprised me the most is the almost staggering amount of different breast cancers and different treatment paths. What I have learnt in the last 3 weeks since mammogram, ultrasound and positive biopsies is that until it comes knocking at your door, it is purely ‘breast cancer’, when you read up on it, you realise we are all totally different, with vastly differing outcomes. I wish you well on your journey, and if you need a mate i’m here. All the best, L.

Hi Phili1, I was diagnosed with grade 2 invasive ductal Her2+ (positive)  last Wednesday, and same as you, haven’t shed a tear. I guess everyone reacts differently, I am pragmatic and see the situation as ‘it is what it is’. I am having surgery first, as it’s an aggressive cancer, I have 2 tumours, small at the moment, and lymph nodes are thankfully clear, I am due to have therapeutic mammoplasty followed by herceptin, I will know more next wednesday when I meet with the surgeon - this info was relayed to me briefly via a ‘phone call from the lovely cancer care nurse earlier today. The thing that has surprised me the most is the almost staggering amount of different breast cancers and different treatment paths. What I have learnt in the last 3 weeks since mammogram, ultrasound and positive biopsies is that until it comes knocking at your door, it is purely ‘breast cancer’, when you read up on it, you realise we are all totally different, with vastly differing outcomes. I wish you well on your journey, and if you need a mate i’m here. All the best, L.

Hi L,

Thanks for your support. 

I agree, there is so much more to it all than just cancer and chemo! My cancer nurse thinks my chemo will be FEC-T, although I haven’t looked into it much yet as it’s not for certain. 

I got some of my receptor results back on Christmas Eve, apparently the cancer is ER+ and PR+ but I’m still waiting on HR. This is good news I’m told, as it means I have more treatment options. So I’m clinging on to these positives.

How did you find Christmas? Hope you managed to relax. Bit strange isn’t it, we tried to forget about it for one day, although that’s easier said than done! 

Im glad your lymph’s were clear, that definitely good news. Hope Wednesday goes well, keep us informed and I’m here whenever you need a chat! 

Hi Phili, Christmas has been okay, no relaxing though. Hubby and me have my mum with us as dad had a horrendous fall on the 16th, the same day I got the cancer diagnosis, and is still in hospital 90 miles away - parents live in Yorkshire us in Lancashire, no visiting of course, so all in all i’m anxious, though nothing to do with the cancer! (Oh the irony). So pleased you have extra treatment options, that must put your mind at ease a little. Will Let you know how wednesday pans out. To other lovelies out there possibly reading, here’s to a brighter, healthier 2021.

Dear Phili1, Sue49, Amy1988 & Yorkiegal,

There are indeed a great number of different types, grades and stages of breast cancer, something that many of us don't realise until we become directly involved. Fortunately, treatments have progressed tremendously over the years and many people now live with it rather than die with it.

I lost my Mum to breast cancer, so thought the worst when I was first diagnosed, yet here I am 11 years on, still living a good quality of life. I had two young teenagers to break the news to, but they were and have been a tremendous support, as has my hubby. This first year is always a hard one, with so many uncertainties, surgery and treatments to get through, etc, but it is doable.

I had a seond cancer less than a year after the first and am currently undergoing tests for a third. This was a shock, but I have found that positivity has helped me through my journey

I wish you all the very best on your individual journeys and am always here if I can help you in any way.

Kindest regards,

Jolamine xx

Jolamine,

Thank you for your support. Your story is definitely inspiring! 

Im here to offer support back so keep us updated with your current tests

xx

Hi Phil,

Thank you. I shall certainly let you know how I get on.

Kindest regards,

Jolamine xx

hi yorkie 

i was diagnosed at xmas with er positve her 2 breast cancer lumps 3.7cm in three lymph nodes im doing 18 chemos its odd how some go to surgery and others dont

ruth

Hi [@WestieRuth]‍, anytime is dreadful to be diagnosed, but Christmas is absolutely the pits. I was diagnosed the week before you. Tumour size has absolutely everything to do with having surgery before chemo, at 3.7cm they would want to shrink it before anything else. It was originally thought I had one tumour of 6mm, luckily it was either attached to, or literally just under the skin surface at the base if my breast, so I found it whilst showering in late november. Seemingly at that very small size and being grade 2 Her2+ it was prudent to remove it fast. Infact it turned out to be two tumours one behind the other with only 20mm between, so it was a complicated lumpectomy because of the margins, so I opted for a mastectomy with recon which I had last week. The thing I learned early on, is the surgeon makes a best guess as to what is needed given size approximation and biopsy facts, I was told my nodes looked clear from the ultrasound, I am still waiting for the sentinel results to come in, it won’t suprise me if they aren’t clear as several weeks have passed - no ones fault. Everyone is in a state of constant flux, things can change on a sixpence. 6 chemos with herceptin and then a year of IV herceptin are on the cards for me, that could totally change when the surgery results are finally in. At first I was unaccepting of losing my hair, it was a big deal, now I just think WTH, it will either grown back or not. I would hedge a bet that every one of the wonderful men/ladies on here would admit to lowering their expectations at one stage or another. The one thing I do know is every health care professional involved is routing for us all. I feel humbled and totally in awe of them, and also everyone on here that displays true steel, guts and humility. Good luck with the chemo Ruth, I’m sending you a great big hug. lyn. X

im abit confused by 3.7cm do you think thats big for a lump

I don't think there is much in it in terms of what they class as a big or small lump. When my lump was 1st checked a month ago it was 18mm and I was told it was classed as small. Then my MRI showed it grew to 22mm and I was told that isn't big nor is it small either. 

[@WestieRuth]‍, Not at all Ruth, God I feel dreadful now, My point was more -  if it’s tiny and Her2+ they take it out quickly,  my surgeon was gobsmacked that I had found it at all, his very words were “females don’t usually ‘present’ (turn up) with tumours less than 2 - 4cm the reason being if it’s densely in the breast it just can’t be felt until it’s that size”. I was lucky because I had had a breast reduction 20 years ago and this tumour was on the surface, had I never had the surgery it probably would have been well buried in some of what was taken away. My cousin who had a larger tumour told me the reason chemo comes first with a larger size tumour is to shrink it to something really small (or even get rid of it altogether ) meaning the surgeon is removing a much smaller mass making it much more manageable, which poses less threat of the chance of cells escaping, things are easier to handle when smaller, because of margins that also have to be taken. Once shrunk It could turn what mat have been a mastectomy into a very small lumpectomy. I hope this helps. This has taught me a serious lesson in how to word things, so very very sorry hun. Lyn. X