Hi Lilyanne, I'm really sorry to hear this, it's such a shock. I always get shocked lately when I hear people are told likely cancer - I wasn't, but it is for me (not meaning to scare you) as mostly they're not, im told and hearing all the time. 
Any idea when you will get your biopsy results? I had a mammogram last October and was given the all clear and by this August I had three different cancer sites of two different cancers in my right breast. My lump was not as large as yours, but mammogram then detected two further areas of concern. I did ask the consultant how this could possibly not have been picked up in my mammogram only ten months earlier, the consultant says it would go to audit to check, but the breast care nurse told me cancer can just appear over night - I have no idea - official websites I have seen say a lump takes a period to develop, but I know these are sometimes missed On Mammograms. This is just my experience I hope it helps you though as that was my intention x sending hugs Mickey x 

Hi MickeyM,

Thank you for your reply. I'm sorry to hear your news. Have you started any treatment yet?  I'm shocked to hear that your mammograms were only 10 months apart and it wasn't caught. Like you I've also read that it usually takes time to develop. Although I have heard Aggressive breast cancer can spread quite quickly.

It seems that I didn't pay enough attention to mine because my breasts have always been lumpy so I didn't think anything of it till it got quite big.

Due to Covid restrictions, it then took me a month to get an appointment with my GP (although I was diverted to a  practice nurse who fast tracked me to the breast clinic) I should get my results within 2 weeks which seems like ages.

After my mammograms & scans, the doctor at the clinic told me & my husband that it looks very likely that I do have BC and that the biopsy will inform us what type & whether it's spread.

A big hug to you too.

Lily x

Hi lily

i was diagnosed with invasive ducal carcinoma in dec 2020. My tumour was approx 10cm. My treatment plan was 8 cycles of chemo followed by surgery. Because the chemo didn't remove all the tumour (but surgery did as far as they could see) I was started on 8 cycles of an oral chemo tablet called capecitabine (Xyloda is the other name for it). Is this the drug your doctor was talking about. I have just finished my 4th cycle so thankfully half way through. 
hopefully your treatment plan is started and that you are doing well 

Best wishes

Lilywhite

Sorry to hear this, how have you been feeling on the chemo? Did you loose you hair and have you been very sick with it. ? 

I lost my hair during my initial chemo of A/C + Taxol. It had started to grow back reasonably well but just the other day I noticed my eyebrows were beginning to disappear again and there are definitely some thinning spots on my head, however I know it will grow back. On the oral chemo I'm not too bad however the nausea has gotten worse with each cycle in that when I started I took the anti sickness tablets twice a day, I'm now up to 4 times a day but it's manageable definitely compared to the original chemo. For me the nausea that came with A/C treatment floored me but I know of a lady who had the exact same treatment flew through it with no side effects  Everyone is different and may experience different degrees of the side effects. 

I hope that you are doing ok. The waiting is absolutely the worst part. Once you have a diagnosis and a treatment plan if needed will help you cope a lot. 

Take care x

lillywhite 

Bless you so you have been going through treatment for almost a year that's so long and must be so hard. X 

what was your Inital lump like? It was quite big ?

To me a lump is round like a pea or a grape that sort of shape. Mine was flat and long like a thickening of a muscle if that makes sense. It was approx 10 cm in size and the initial chemo reduced it to 1.5cm so it was a good result from that. The mastectomy then removed the remaining tumour. I could have had a lumpectomy but I chose to have the mastectomy for my own peace of mind!
Fingers crossed I will be finished my oral chemo on 23rd Jan 2022. I will have a break of approx 3 weeks then I will have 3 weeks of radiotherapy. By the time that is finished my treatment will have lasted 15 long months. Because I was slightly oestrogen positive I will then commence some hormone therapy presumably for the next 5 years!

My brother in law had cancer just over a year ago they first few cycles where very bad then he got told about another anti sickness drug so asked for that...so the rest of it wasn't as bad. 
 

he is now cancer free but had a different type of cancer think it was lymphoma....

My lump/ mass is around 5cm that I can feel. I'd say oval in shape, feels firm, doesn't hurt and is movable from what I can feel. 
 

does sound really rough for you x 
 

Shona x 

I sure felt like I was having a rough time but I'm sure that other people have had a much harder time than me! Is your appointment tomorrow? Good luck with it and let us know how you get on. We're all here to support each other xx

No next week. X 

Thank you for your reply.

I hope you are ok. Your treatment sounds to be going well but I'm sure it must have been really tough for you.

I'm seeing my Consultant on Friday to finalise my treatment plan so don't know the details yet.

Love from Lily x

Thank you for your reply.

I hope you are ok. Your treatment sounds to be going well but I'm sure it must have been really tough for you.

I'm seeing my Consultant on Friday to finalise my treatment plan so don't know the details yet.

Love from Lily x

Shona 

I will keep you in my thoughts. Sending positive vibes for next week x

lily

best of luck for Friday. Also sending you positive vibes x

Thank you for your lovely support x x

How did today go for you lily?

I'm ok thank you. I've decided to have a weekend away from it so I'll fill you in later. Thank you for asking x

Hope you're doing ok Lily x

I'm ok. Thanks for asking Lilywhite, Seeing Oncologist tomorrow.

How are you doing?

Love Lily xx

Hi Lily

im doing ok thanks. Nearly finished cycle 5 of oral chemo. 3 left! How are you doing now?

lillywhite

Hi Lillywhite, 

Hope you're coping with your chemo, are you more than half way now?

I'm starting mine soon. I'm been given 6 cycles of 3wks intravenous chemo with HERS2 starting with my 3rd Chemo session.

I'm feeling nervous as I don't know how I'll react to it, but I just want to get on with it. It seems to be taking ages to start, still have to wait another 10 days.

Sending hugs

Lily x

Hi lily

yes I am passed the half way mark now thank goodness. I'm suffering with ever increasing nausea but as bad as it is it won't kill me so I'll carry on and see it through. I was told by my oncologist in the beginning that I have a very sensitive nausea centre as he found it hard to control the nausea with my original chemo! only me

the waiting to start is so hard isn't it? Hopefully when you do get started that you will fly through it without too many problems x

Mind Yourself 

lillywhite xx

Thank you Lillywhite, I've been warned that it gets worse as it goes on but that it's possible to reduce the does but up the frequency. I'm not sure if this only applies to the intravenous treatment. Maybe your oral dose can be adjusted?

It might not be a good idea if it prolongs the Chemo.

Keep strong and focus on the end of your Chemo treatment, it's insight for you now.

Take care 

Love Lily xx