Largerlime2011

I'm also 60. Recently diagnosed with ductal cancer, grade 2.

Op and Pr positive. Her2 negative.

29th December I had a wide local excision and sentinel node biopsy.

Tomorrow I go back to clinic to find out what is the next plan.

It took me until the day before my op that it sunk in that I have cancer.

This was only picked up from my mammogram screening.

Best wishes to you

Litchielou

Hi @Litchielou, 

Thinking of you today. Hope everything goes so well with your treatment. 

Finished my 5 sessions of radiotherapy (after a long wait) a week ago. Still coping with the effect of radiation but I’m doing well as I drink a lot of water (3 liters or more a day).

26th March will be my phone call appointment from my oncology. Just passing 3 months ago since my diagnosed of BC and all the treatment has been done, now I feel I can slowly put  the anxiety behind and look forward with great expectation. I know this is a long journey for us who got  cancers but we need to face and think positive at all times. Take care and keep safe. 

Sending you my love and best wishes. X

LL2011

Hi @Litchielou, 

Thinking of you today. Hope everything goes so well with your treatment. 

Finished my 5 sessions of radiotherapy (after a long wait) a week ago. Still coping with the effect of radiation but I’m doing well as I drink a lot of water (3 liters or more a day).

26th March will be my phone call appointment from my oncology. Just passing 3 months ago since my diagnosed of BC and all the treatment has been done, now I feel I can slowly put  the anxiety behind and look forward with great expectation. I know this is a long journey for us who got  cancers but we need to face and think positive at all times. Take care and keep safe. 

Sending you my love and best wishes. X

LL2011

[@lagerlime2011]‍ 

Thanks for your message. 

I went to see my oncologist last Friday, I've been told that I don't need chemotherapy. She is referring me to get radiotherapy. I'm also been prescribed Letrozole which I started that evening. 

My CT scan showed cysts on my liver and at the top of my spine which they don't seem worried about. Bone scan is at the hospital on Thursday.

It's only 2 months since my diagnosis. It seems like it is happened to someone else as it's been so busy.

Don't know when I'll be having the covid vaccine.

I'm glad you have finished the radiotherapy. And yes it's now time to recover and concentrate on something other than cancer.

Take care

Litchielou x

Hello @Litchielou, 

Thank you for your prompt reply! Much appreciated and thank you for taking the time to write to me. 

I’m glad you finally see your oncologist and that you don’t have to undergo chemotherapy. At first during the phone assessment I was ask if I will go for further treatment of radiotherapy or not. I was surprised knowing that patients can refuse the treatment offered by the breast team. Me ang my husband decided to go for the radiotherapy so that that will give us peace of mind. Because refusing treatment will put us at risk of recurrence in the future. And I know they know what is the best treatment for us base on diagnosis. 

I was not told if there is any problem with my CT scan but I will ask my oncologist once I talk to them on the 26th March. I’m sure there is no problem, if there is, they should have told me.

I contacted my Physiotherapist and book an appointment if she can possibly see me again and teach me more about shoulder exercises. Recently I’m struggling coping with the excruciating pain in my shoulders down to my elbows. I think this is due to my osteoarthritis plus recently had lumpectomy and that make the pain even worst. I search in YouTube about exercise for stiff shoulder and I come across to the NHS Post Radiotherapy Breast Cancer Exercises and do the routine. It helps but I need more routine to ease this throbbing pain in my shoulders and arms.

Before and after your radiotherapy make sure you drink a lot water. I have water in the car, once I get inside the car I drink water at least 2 glasses before going back home. (My husband is my driver) People undergoing rads they complain about being knackered for weeks. So far I don’t experience extreme fatigue maybe because I drink a lot of water at least more than 3 litres a day to keep me hydrated. Radiation stays in our system up to 3 weeks so that means you need to drink more liquid. (Water, juice, tea, coffee,milk) I also bring lotion with me, after the rads before getting dressed I apply lotion E45 in my treated breast so the skin won’t peel off and get sore. Radiation can damage the skin, it turn red like sunburn. 

This is all for now. Best of luck to your treatment soon. Please keep posting here if you can. 

Sending virtual hugs. Keep safe X 

LL2011

[@lagerlime2011]‍ 

Oh that sounds painful in your shoulder hopefully the physio can help.  My only ache is in my arm. The nurse thinks a muscle was pulled during the second operation. So every time I do my exercises it's hurting again.

I was surprised when I was told it was up to me to have the second operation. Like you I want everything that they can do to help me.

On Friday it was my descsion if I wanted to carry on with radiotherapy or just go to the tablets. They are the experts in my treatment.

Good luck with your treatment and let's hope you get good news in march.

Thanks for the tip of drinking more water etc. And I have already got the e45 cream.

Take care

Litchielou x

@Litchielou, 

Hi,

That’s good you decided to go for whatever treatment they offer you. They know what is good for us. Our breast team got  our NHS number and for sure they check our health history. At first I am thinking to refuse radiotherapy because I know there is side effect of it. Since I was diagnosed with severe osteoarthritis last November 2020, (before I was diagnosed with BC the following week) I am concerned that radiation might damage my collar bones and ribs make it more brittle.

 But according to the nurse I’ve talked to during pre-assessment prior to my breast operation, nowadays radiographer knows how to treat individual base on the type of cancer and diagnoses. They are thorough and only treat the affected areas to avoid damage. That’s why I decided to go for the radiotherapy then Tamoxifen. 

You are right. They are the expert of treating patients so they know what is the best treatment for us. They won’t offer us if they know our life will be in danger. 

Hopefully before my oncologist appointment over the phone by the end of March everything goes well with me. So I can put all the stress and nightmare behind me and started to go back to normal stress-free life. 

Water really helps our system after having radiotherapy and keep us hydrated and help us fight against extreme fatigue. I have been drinking a lot of water for years now. I have high blood pressure and it’s controlled with maintenance, statin. 

Keep safe and start drinking a lot of water/liquids everyday in preparation for your coming treatment.

Good luck. X

LL2011