Just read your post. Sorry to hear about your recent diagnosed. I know the feeling, once you’ve been told to have BC it’s like our world turn upside down BUT it’s not the end yet. Please stay calm don’t panic. Let me tell you my story.
26 October 2020 had my every 3 years mammogram. After a week I got a recall letter to repeat mammogram as they found something in my right breast. I went back to the breast clinic for second mammogram and then go straight to the other room for ultrasound. My breast doctor found a lump in my left breast but it looks like gel not solid. In my right breast she found lump and had biopsy. To cut a long story short I had lumpectomy on the 16th December 2020 more than 2 months ago.
After nearly a month after my breast operation I went back to see my breast surgeon. Final diagnosis;; 7mm grade 1 invasive ductal carcinoma, no LV1, lumph node negative 0/4, clear margin, ER 8/8 HER2 negative. So no more surgery and they give me treatment plan for radiotherapy.
A week ago I finished my 5 sessions of radiotherapy and I am on my long journey of “5 years contract” of taking Tamoxifen and mammogram annually. I feel good after all my treatment.
I know it’s not easy being diagnosed with BC but we need to be strong and always think positive. You are not alone. You have family and friends around you. If you need moral support let them know what’s going on. Worrying doesn’t help for our speedy recovery.
I am so glad that I found this thread chatting with strangers who understand how we feel as we are “rowing in the same boat.” Hope this message is a bit of help with your recent diagnosed. If you need somebody you can chat with, I am here. I am not working so we have all the time to chat here, and If you want to ask question please feel free to ask and I will answer you honestly.
thanks for the reply, glad you're on the way to recovery.
I just have wobbles every now and again. It's lovely that people are replying, it's just that I don't know what's in store. Great that you've gone through it and I probably will take you up on questions after seeing consultant on the 3rd now.
This is great news - not so good about the right breast, but hope that this turns out well too. Breast cancer is one of the most eminently treatable forms of cancer, so it is reassuring when they say that it is treatable.
Please keep in touch and let us know how the new scan and biopsy go. Remember that we are always here for you.
Thank you, I didn't write this very well, I am having an ultrasound and biopsy on the right, as the MRI showed a slight concern but they have said that it isn't mastitis so hasn't spread to any of my organs as they are all clear and the nurse was very positive over the current prognosis. I am taking this as a positive and know I still have a long way to go but there is light at the end of the tunnel after yesterday's call
Here's hoping that the nurse is right. It all sounds very positive for now and, it's good to see some light at the end of the tunnel. Don't forget to let us know how it all goes.
Hi All. Hope everyone is okay been a while but finally have most of my answers, results from the right side were benign I have my operation on Monday which is a lumpectomy and node removal, been told they don't think I will need chemo but not 100% sure until after the full results. Feeling more positive but not had the stage yet as I am pressuring this will be after the removal and tests have come back.
I am glad to hear that your operation is on Monday and that you don't have much longer to wait. You will get your grading after surgery. I hope that it turns out that you don't need chemo afterwards.
Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.
Having a little breakdown at the moment, went for my results from my lumpectomy and sentinel node operation last week, the margins are all good and clear but the node that they have removed has a small amount of the cancer in it, so I am back in on the 24th May for the sentinel node dissection which will then be sent to California for testing as the oncologist has requested this, but I am so scared right now and can't get my head around any of it.
I am delighted to hear that your margins were clear, but I am so sorry to hear there was a small amount of spread to your lymph node. Are you planning to have just another level of nodes removed or to have a total clearance of your lymph nodes? Fortunately, you only have another week to wait before these are removed and, I'm sure that you'll be glad that it's no longer hanging over you. It is only natural to be scared - we nearly all are. Crying is a great release valve, so please don't worry about this. You will feel much better once this is all behind you.
It is normal to send your tissue to California for testing, so this is nothing to worry about, you'll be glad to hear.
I shall be thinking of you on 24th and, feel sure that all will go well. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you - on good days and bad.
I was told that they plan on removing 3/4 of the upper lymph nodes, but have warned me of lympodema as she said there is a 20% chance and that this operation is more intrusive than the sentinel node I had with my lumpectomy, so I'm really scared as I am still suffering with the area that they were removed from last time.
Lymphoedema can occur at any time. When I was first diagnosed 11 years ago, I had a level one clearance, with 6 lymph nodes being removed. The following year I discovered a second bout and had a double mastectomy, where no lymph nodes were removed. I have been attending the Lymphoedema clinic twice a week for 2 weeks out of every 12 weeks, as I have it in both arms - lucky white heather, as most people just have one arm affected.
It is still early days for you to recover from your first surgery, so the area won't be fully healed yet and is still likely to be sore. I still find my right underarm tender after all this time, whereas the other side hasn't had any nodes removed and feels much better.
It is important that you get your nodes checked out, as you want to ensure that there is no further spread. I sincerely hope that this turns out to be the case and that nothing shows up in the other nodes. It is only natural to be worried, but this should be easier than last time. Just think - this time next week it will all be over!
Lymphoedema can occur at any time. When I was first diagnosed 11 years ago, I had a level one clearance, with 6 lymph nodes being removed. The following year I discovered a second bout and had a double mastectomy, where no lymph nodes were removed. I have been attending the Lymphoedema clinic twice a week for 2 weeks out of every 12 weeks, as I have it in both arms - lucky white heather, as most people just have one arm affected.
It is still early days for you to recover from your first surgery, so the area won't be fully healed yet and is still likely to be sore. I still find my right underarm tender after all this time, whereas the other side hasn't had any nodes removed and feels much better.
It is important that you get your nodes checked out, as you want to ensure that there is no further spread. I sincerely hope that this turns out to be the case and that nothing shows up in the other nodes. It is only natural to be worried, but this should be easier than last time. Just think - this time next week it will all be over!
