Aged 46, in May 2018, I found a pea sized lump in left breast also had a dodgy looking nipple. GP did urgent referral. Hospital did mamogram but no biopsy on lump. I had 5 appointments at breast clinic that year, ending in the December. They did biopsy on nipple and told me I had thickened breast tissue There's no cancer here they said.. Nothing showed on mamogram.
Feb 20' I noticed lump under arm back to GP and back to hosp.....Diagnosed by end of Feb '20 CT scan and bone scan all clear.
On March 31st 2020 I had a 16mm tubular lobular grade 1 breast cancer lump removed... Along with 17 lymph nodes, 3 of which had cancer. (PR+, ER+ and HER2-) Reconstruction was completed at the same time. I was home by 3pm with a drain.
The drain was removed a week later despite fluid of 100mls daily...
I had to go back on two occasions to be manually drained... 440mls and 700mls... Ultimately the wound began leaking and I got an infection... Swelling pain far worse than the surgery itself. Strong antibiotics given... This delayed my chemo by a week.
Chemo May to 18th August '20 and Radiotherapy x20 finishing 5th Oct.
Lymphoedema in left arm began 27th August. BC nurse referred my to Lymphoedema clinic and the date came thru 5/1/21...Hand had become involved by now so luckily got a cancellation and was seen in October...Now I have three compression garments....which I thought would be the end of the world but as it turns out I mostly forget they're there.
On waiting list for ovaries to be removed, having Zoladex implants until then.
Letrozole and Evacal started 7th September '20
Feb '21 - Having slight blurred/focusing problems so eye test next week...(Letrozole or brain tumour?
Pain in left hip/groin...had ultrasound and awaiting xray....(Arthralgia or bone cancer?)
Honestly...I'm driving myself mad looking for symptoms...I guess I'll calm down.
Incidentally...I drew round the lump twice with biro (for GP and for hospital appointment) and I now learn that tubular/lobular often doesn't show on mamograms. I want to go back to the ME in 2018 and make ME be more assertive about the lump...
Finding these sites helpful....:-
