Hi snow-drop

I'm 35 with 2 boys and very similar to yourself, went alone to my appointment to get told the same news. I wasn't prepared for it at all. Turns out mine is a grade 2 22mm ductal carcinoma.

I've had a lumpectomy also and my tumour went off to America for testing. All the results together, has meant my journey has now followed a radiotherapy path. I went everyday this week and back again Monday for more. It's tiring going everyday. It seems like I'm the youngest in the waiting room.

I'm so sorry about your dad. I lost my dad 12 years a go and my mum 6 years a go. I've found this journey quite lonely. I would give anything to have my parents support through this. Family and friends have been great but no one knows what it's really like to go through it and what is going round your head all the time. I completely understand how you feel. Why us?

X

Hi, Are stories sound Similar, mine was 19mm oestrogen positive and HER2- and I was told due to being contained and a grad 2 I would most likely have Radiotherapy after Surgery.  I was happy with this. 
 

Unfortunatly they Graded it a 3 after my lumpectomy, I got my head around all the other possibilities like if it' was in my nodes or HeR2+ but that floored me. 
 

My letter says that young women with grade 3 wil have Chemo .

I haven't told the boys anything and wanted to keep it that way they associate cancer with Death as both grandads died of it. Of course if I lose my hair I will hv to say something. 
 

I am so sorry you lost both your parents, that must be so hard for you, I couldn't imagine how extra hard your journey must be without them. 
 

i don't think people realise quite how we feel, I'm more scared about it returning and I'm only at the start. 
 

I hope your treatment goes well, and we can put this behind us soon xxxx

Thank you so much for this, I haven't read anything positive about the Cold Cap. I am going too definitely give it a go! I hide behind my hair and I can't imagine not having it. 
 

I appreciate you sharing this with me and I wish you well in your Journey xxx

Hi 35 and BC

I hope you don't mind I was reading your reply to snowdrop about your option to go into early menopause by having your ovaries removed, and thought I'd reply as that was an option for me too, but after delaying it last year (due to covid) I started on Zoladex (Goserlin) injections. I was put off this option by several people including my GP as the side effects can be pretty lousy. If this is something you are considering as an alternative to surgery, from my experience I've been fine on it. Sometimes a week after the injection I feel low and tearful but it passes. The injection itself is fine too a sharp scratch and then bit tender at the injection site, but I just go home and put on jogging bottoms, the next day I'm fine. Sometimes a small bruise might appear at the injection site. Of course side effects are very individual, but in my experience I would give it a go as a good option to surgery. If you have bad side effects you could always go for surgery later.  I'm on Tamoxifen too but I think my oncologist will switch me to an AI in the new year.

Wishing you all the best whatever option you decide on.

Nameste x

Hi Nameste 

Thank you for the reply. When I have my review after my radiotherapy finishes, I was going to ask about zolodex. I just hate the fact that my cancer is so hormone fed so I want to do whatever I can to minimise anymore risk in the future. Have you found tamoxifen ok? I've been on it a few weeks now but im also having radiotherapy so I'm not sure how I'm feeling is down to the tablet or radiotherapy! 

X

Thanks you for taking the time to reply, I have read it several times and it has helped me so much.

I didnt know that a Grade 3 like mine may have a low score and Chemo may not be needed, maybe they are preparing me for it.

They have mentioned zoledex to me but I was a bit worried about it, mainly due to weight gain and headaches, I will write that on my list of questions. Also they haven't said anything about Progesterone to me I asked the Consultant and she didn't know? Not sure if I need too know this or not. 
 

I have never smoked or Drunk, I keep fit eat healthy, no bc in the family either just bad luck,.. 

Thanks so much again it's really helped xx

Hi Snow drop,

I'm so pleased it helped. Did you know you can look up Oncotype testing online which will explain the results. Like you I kept swinging from I have a grade 3 therefore chemo will probably be necessary to it's not in my lymph nodes so therefore it hasn't spread so maybe I won't need it. It was a horrible week, not knowing and trying to prepare myself (if you can) for chemo.

In the end my score was 16 so Chemo was going to give me a 1.6% benefit whereas hormone therapy was closer to 5% in my case so it was a no brainer. For me chemo would do more harm than good. My recurrence score was also low just 4%. I also called Breast Cancer Now for advice and they told me that Grade 3 tumours were relatively common.

Zoladex made me feel neausous and a little headachy when I first started it, but it soon settled. One thing to say is my periods continued for the first two months I was on Zoladex, then since the third month I've had no periods so don't be alarmed if you start and you still get a period. I haven't gained weight although I seem to be increasing in belly fat no matter how many sit up's I do! Worth mentioning that exercise can reduce the risk of recurrence by 28% so once you are recovered from treatment, find something you like doing and stick to it. I'm trying to do everything I can to stop this disease coming back.

Yes we had no family history of BC either, I guess it was just one of those things.

Good luck for tomorrow x

Hi!

I've coped really well on Tamoxifen, I have no joint pain apart from a little in my fingers if I am rubbing butter into flour to make pastry that makes them ache but apart from that nothing. To be honest sometimes I feel as though the Tamoxifen isn't working as I don't have any side effects from it and it hasn't lowered my libido.

Having said that a friend of mine on Tamoxifen has really bad joint pain so it is very individual. 

But as you say the Radiotherapy is having an impact and if you are coming to the end of your rads then you may well be feeling tired so it's hard to pin down what is causing what symptom. Give it a few more weeks and I'm sure any side effects will start to settle.

Good luck with the Zoladex if you decide to go down that route. x

Thank you, if I am honest I haven't had the courage to look anything up as I didn't want too give myself anymore anxiety if I read something that scared me.

I think I will give breast cancer now a call,

I was relatively fit but looking back their was a definite problem as I felt exhausted when I did any sort of Excersice.  

Thanks again xx 

I know what you mean you have to be careful about what you read online. I only went to trusted sources.

Good luck with Breast Cancer Now call, they are super lovely ladies and I'm sure you will feel better afterwards for the chat x

Evening,

I joined you lovely ladies on Wednesday when the consultant confirmed that 2 out of the 3 breast lumps were cancerous as was the one in my armpit and they were grade 3.  Apparently they are oestrogen receptive but before a decision about surgery can be made I've got to have an MRI to find out if the 2 breast lumps are linked or separate. 

I'm 44 and mother to 4 (12, almost 11, 5 and 3) and to be honest I never thought it would happen to me until Hubby found a lump and in my gut I knew.

Only told hubby, best friend and my bosses (i have 2 jobs). I'm not telling family until after Christmas when I know exactly what surgery I'm having but it's looking like I'll be on Tamoxifen, chemo and radiotherapy

I am so sorry I didn't see your comment or get an email to say you responded on this feed!

nice to meet you, not in the best of circumstances.

i do hope your doing okay! What a shock for you.

i hope your have  your treatment path by now and things look brighter. 
 

here if you need a shoulder. 
 

Love Sarah

I am so sorry I didn't see your comment or get an email to say you responded on this feed!

nice to meet you, not in the best of circumstances.

i do hope your doing okay! What a shock for you.

i hope your have  your treatment path by now and things look brighter. 
 

here if you need a shoulder. 
 

Love Sarah