Hi Maggie,

Welcome to Cancer Chat - it's good to hear that you have found the forum helpful so far, and I hope that it continues to be a source of support to you. We're always here if you need it and it can often be helpful just to write things down, as well as reaching out to others.

Hopefully you will receive further replies soon, particularly if there are others here with similar experience to share. You can also try searching the forum, using the button in the blue bar above, for other potentially relevant discussions if it helps.

I hope you get all the information you need about next steps soon. Wishing you all the best,

Ben
Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi Maggie

I was just diagnosed with stage 3 invasive ductal carcinoma which they found in the 2 lymph nodes they tested. I still have a  couple more tests but have been told I will have chemotherapy first and after that either a lumpectomy or mastectomy depending on how the chemotherapy goes.

I totally understand what you mean about the horrible thoughts creeping in.

I am holding onto what the consultant said - this cancer is highly treatable.

X

Hiya Maggie.

sorry to find you here. But what a great place it is to get people's journey- your not alone.

I'm 42.found lump in boob 3rd August. 

10th August - mamogram.ultrasound , ultrasound guided biopsy or lump and lymph. Repeat mamogram. And saw doctor on same day and told breast cancer 

17th August -invasive Ductal breast cancer 31mm. Her 2negative. Oestrogen positive. 
15th Sept - lumpectomy and sentinal nodes removed( day case surgery ) 

28th Sept results- clear margins and no lymph node involvement. I thought whooopy. Best outcome. Then I was told about an Oncotype dx test. Works out a cancer recurrence score. Takes two weeks for results to be sent to USA.

12th Oct -oncotype dx came back 22. (I'm in the under 50age group so my number needed to be under 16)  Medium risk of recurrence. So referred for chemotherapy.

9th November -met oncologist and signed concent form

11th November -first cycle chemo ( first of 4 lots ) then radiotherapy and medication for 10years.

Anyways -so far so good for me. My boobs a little bit of a funny shape on one side. But that's a small price to pay to live a longer life.

Onwards and upwards -I won't be beaten 

Efffie x 

Hi Efffie,

Hope you are doing well, hows your journey going? My mother has been diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma(this week), Carcinoma of the left breast- invasive ductal cancer (1 cm on ultrasound and 16 mm on mammogram), ER 8, HER 2 negative. Is that the same as yours? The surgeon is recommending a lumpectomy rest of my family thinks mastectomy with radiation…. The doctor  will
Check the lymph nodes (sentinal nodes removed) to to see if it’s spread) the chances of it coming back is  it higher with lumpectomy? Just wondered what steps you took, and what you found ?  My mother is 63 and has also been recommend letrozole Thank you

Hi thought I would jump on this feed,

Firstly I just want to say that I am sorry that you find yourself on here and you will no doubt be so worried.  Hopefully I can ease that a bit.

im 38 and was Diagnosed with DCIS and IDC 19mm Grade3 HER2- Oestrogen Positive in October,

I had a Lumpectomy, and after 2 Surgeries had clear Margins, they removed 2 nodes from my armpit to check and they came back Negative, I was never given the Option of a Mastectomy and I was told that a Lumpectomy with Radiotherapy is the same outcome as a Mastectomy, though I would want you to double check that. I have since recovered well but due to it increasing to a Grade 3 after Surgery I am now having Chemotherapy.  My Tumor was sent away for a Oncotype DX score to America this might be something your consultant will do if he is thinking whether Chemo would be of benefit, it gives you a predicted distance re-occurrence score this might not be needed though in your Mums case. It's sounds positive, you have caught it early and they have a plan. 
She will be fine but understand your worry Love Sarah 

Don't give up hope.

can't believe my treatments over and done with.

4rounds of TC chemo and 5 sessions of Radiotherapy.

What a journey.

ive kept a diary which I hope to look back on and think how amazing I've been.

much love -Keep fighting 

Efffie x

Hi Efffie,

I have seen you posting through your journey often in the same feeds as me. I'm so pleased for you that your treatment is finished, your right what a journey. I still have a couple of Docetaxil left and Radiotherapy.

I wish you well. Enjoy life.

Love Sarah xx 

Hi, 

I've had an OK journey looking back- not many side effects so I've been really lucky. 
I've had lots of other issues tho. - work pay. Benefits , chasing up appoitments. Wig referral ( still not got my Nhs wig - I've been refered for wig November 9th and it's coming up to nearly 5months) and Works holiday entitlement -can't carry holidays over till next year.  
I've also been asking the entire journey about Ivf -I'm 42ans have no childrens-wanted to do Ivf but never had enough money.- my dad died in May and after sorting his house and financed out in inherited some pennies- was going to put that to Ivf but then found Lump and that plan changed. I've been asking at each stage of diagnosis and every appt about ivf and it was poo pood. Waited over 100days from finding lump to Chemo ( ideally they like chemo to start within 30days for better outcome -longer waits decrease chemo outcomes ) and I asked my chemo consultant before starting about Ivf ( she suggested freezing eggs but it's a slow process and delay my chemo ) but couldnt afford to delay chemo any longer.

I've found that not having a child harder to accept then finding out I have cancer.  

Buy hey I'm still here and plodding on slowly but surely. Trying to decide when to go back to working full time in the Nhs. 
much love 

Efffie x