Hi - sorry to hear about your diagnosis.

My Mum had breast cancer just over 2 years ago. She too was told lumpectomy and then chemo but this was then changed to the sameplan as you. I think the way they described it to my mum that because hers was triple negative, stage 3 and quite aggressive - even though there was no spread - they advised chemo first to start getting it sorted and also if she didn't respond to the chemo as well as they hoped - they would have a head start in knowing what to try next! She didn't have spread either but there was lymph node involvement.

She had 2 tumours that were described as quite large.

My mum was quite phobic about anything medical but did cope quite well with chemo. She was never laid flat out ill or anything but had to have some doseage adjustments in her anti sickness medication and got dehydrated (even though she drunk loads!) and constipated at times.

She had a complete response to chemo but then unexpectedly was advised to have a belts and braces approach and had 2-3 weeks of radiotherapy. I think this was because they couldn't decide if chest lymph had been involved as they looked slightly enlarged on her original scans.

My best friend is currently going through cancer treatment (not breast cancer). She had 6 months of chemo and then 5 weeks of radiotherapy and chemo and has only had a few months off before starting another 6 months of chemo yesterday. She is also battling drug addiction and it may help put your mind at rest that she has stayed pretty well throughout x

Hi - sorry to hear about your diagnosis.

My Mum had breast cancer just over 2 years ago. She too was told lumpectomy and then chemo but this was then changed to the sameplan as you. I think the way they described it to my mum that because hers was triple negative, stage 3 and quite aggressive - even though there was no spread - they advised chemo first to start getting it sorted and also if she didn't respond to the chemo as well as they hoped - they would have a head start in knowing what to try next! She didn't have spread either but there was lymph node involvement.

She had 2 tumours that were described as quite large.

My mum was quite phobic about anything medical but did cope quite well with chemo. She was never laid flat out ill or anything but had to have some doseage adjustments in her anti sickness medication and got dehydrated (even though she drunk loads!) and constipated at times.

She had a complete response to chemo but then unexpectedly was advised to have a belts and braces approach and had 2-3 weeks of radiotherapy. I think this was because they couldn't decide if chest lymph had been involved as they looked slightly enlarged on her original scans.

My best friend is currently going through cancer treatment (not breast cancer). She had 6 months of chemo and then 5 weeks of radiotherapy and chemo and has only had a few months off before starting another 6 months of chemo yesterday. She is also battling drug addiction and it may help put your mind at rest that she has stayed pretty well throughout x

Hi, thanks so much for replying! Your message has helped me so much. I really hope your Mum is doing well now and that your best mate is doing well also! It is so cruel how many people it strikes but this forum is already helping me so much!

Mine is invasive ductal carcinoma and from what I'd read I wouldn't have chemo first but I think it's because they found more tumours in the same breast and the surgeon said they are larger than they thought.

It seems that the word "chemo" scared me more than even the thought of mastectomy! But reading your reply has calmed me down. 
 

I'm ready to fight!x