33 years HER2 pos

Its shocking isn’t it! You never think its going to happen to you and specially with being young.
Do you mind me asking if you had any node involved too? They tested one node but said 3 showed up swollen.
I have my good days and bad days but my 2 year old gets me through it all.
My bad days creep in and i worry that waiting for my next chemo cycle ’ what if it goes in another node ’ stuff like that.x

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:heart:jill1998, Bernard are you able to add the link for the younger women please :heart::two_hearts::two_hearts::sparkles::sparkles:Shi xx

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Im not too bad at minute, i have a 2 year old and she is a big distraction…she is currently using me as a climbing frame as we speak.
I was scared about having chemo… i just never thought it would happen to me. But after my first round i not scared now… i know what to expect and try and keep on top of my side effects.
I found the injections the hardest… a few days into them i had sickness.
Im glad i joined now… i feel less alone x

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It really is. Nothing can prepare you for it. I am node positive too. They biopsied 1 node and it came back as positive for cancer. I have 2 kids aswell, aged 5 and 8. They definitely keep you busy and can be a welcome distraction. My 2 bring some humour to the whole thing aswell which is needed x

I have said exactly the same thing about my little one.
They offered to refer me to gyne so i could have my eggs frozen… but i decided not to bother i just wanted to crack on with treatment.
I think we just need to take each day as it comes. Will be glad to see back of 2024 though, my grandad passed last week too. Its just been non stop!
Are you having chemo every 3 week? X

Welcome to the forum @jeml

I am so sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but glad that you have reached out here.

The thread that people have been mentioning here about HER2+ is this one: HER2+ and need some buddies - Welcome and how to use the forum / Introduce yourself - Breast Cancer Now forum.

The younger women’s group that has also been mentioned can be found here: Latest Connect to people like me/Younger women topics - Breast Cancer Now forum. There are many discussions on there from emotional support to local resources, which may also be of interest to @jeml, @fhs92 and @rrey.

We have face-to-face and online groups that offer tailored support and the chance to meet people who understand what you’re going through, in a space that’s just for women aged 20-45. You can find out more about these here: Younger Women Together | Breast Cancer Now.

Please know that the forum is here for you.

Sending our warmest,
Lucy

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I’m 32 and just recently diagnosed. I don’t know all the terminology. All I know is that I’m stage 0 and having a lumpectomy on August 22nd. From there, the decision will be made what to do. I have an 8.5 year old son and a family history of breast cancer on my maternal side. Never thought it could happen to me this young.

Not at all- Yes I had at least one positive node when they did the initial biopsy. By the time I had my surgery (after chemo) they said they found microscopic traces of cancer in 1 maybe 2 nodes but I had a complete auxiliary node clearance anyway due to my age and because they had found cancer there initially.

Yes it’s such a shock- I had no family history either. I also had a different cancer as a teenager (apparently totally unrelated I must just be unlucky :joy:). You are very much in the early stages so just take one thing at a time. Emotionally I found everything didn’t hit me until the end of my active treatment so just be kind to yourself!!

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I had a lumpectomy and just wanted to reassure that it was so much easier than what I had built it up to be in my head! The recovery was pretty easy- I also an auxiliary node clearance at the same time with mine (which I’m assuming your not having- stage 0 is great news!).

In my experience totally doable. You’ve got this!!

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Hi, I’m 36 and HER2 positive. Was diagnosed end of March and started chemo mid April. Was originally for 4xEC fortnightly and 4xDocetaxel with Phesgo injections every 3 weeks but I now only need 3 Docetaxel due to having a good response at my midway scans. My tumour was about the same size as yours (no node involvement found) and I started feeling it going down fairly quickly. Plan is for lumpectomy and SLNB and take it from there. The pathology results from surgery will dictate how long I need my Phesgo injections for and how many radiotherapy sessions I’ll need. Have been told it could be 20 but won’t be decided till we have more info. I don’t have children but didn’t do any of the fertility stuff either.

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Sorry to hear about your diagnosis stage 0 is really good though and hopefully they might give you mascetomy due to family history.
Glad it was found really early for you x

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How was your recovery? I was told that I might not be able to drive for 2 weeks and that is more worrisome to me than the actual procedure. Lol

Thank you :heart: They found a bunch of radial scars and I’ve never been injured in my chest. Apparently radial scars are rare and that is where my cancer is finding in the bunched up tissue. Sclerosis of the breast but just in the right. I’m so so lucky that it was caught early.

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Hi @jeml and everyone else

This seems like a lovely thread but please do come on over and meet the gang on our ‘HER2+ and need some buddies’ thread if you fancy it. Loads of good stuff from women who’ve been there and walked the walk. Also lots of us are going through treatment at present. I myself am due a mastectomy tomorrow having finished chemo last month. Looking forward to a few days off. In fact this evening I hid a box of chocolates and some tiffin in my sock drawer ready for being stuck in bed for the next few days with a drain in my side! :rofl:
I also have a pile of books at the ready.

You have to look on the bright side and it seems like you do.

Love to you all,

Salbert
x

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From what I remember it was about 2 weeks before I was driving again but that was mainly due to the auxiliary node clearance and arm being a bit stiff. If I hadn’t had it I would have been driving sooner I think?

Little tip when you are coming home from the hospital have a cushion or pillow to hold against yourself as I did find the car ride home jostled things a bit. Having something to slide under the seatbelt (depending on what side your surgery is) might also be handy.

Make sure you have a variety of different strength painkillers just in case. I was sent home with a prescription for a couple of different ones but wasn’t taking any pain meds after the first 2/3 days.

I’m a front sleeper so this was the most annoying part for me!!

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Aw that’s great that you can have less chemo. How have you been finding it? I really hope your results from surgery are good :crossed_fingers:. I had 18 Phesgo I think and they went on for a year after my chemo ended. They actually went in really quick but was very glad to be finished at the same time- had to get mine in the chemo ward so I hated going back there!!

I don’t have children but didn’t go for the fertility stuff either past the initial appointment it was just going to take too long and to be honest I just couldn’t handle anything else at that point!

Wishing you all the best for your surgery!! You are just right- chocolate and books what else could be better!! :heart:

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Thank you for the advice! I’m a tummy and side sleeper. I found the biopsy annoying that I had to sleep on my back so I think this will be the same. I’ll def take my pain killers cause I have like zero pain tolerance unfortunately. :sob: I’m just worried about all the things I won’t be able to do and it just annoys me as a mom. I appreciate all your help :heart:

I’m a total wimp too when it comes to pain and honestly it was a lot less painful than I expected :heart: Totally understand- whole different ball game when you have kids. Hopefully you have good people in your corner who can help!

I’ve found it ok thanks. Have tolerated it not too bad…. Haven’t been without side effects but managed to keep up a routine/exercise throughout (just not to the same level as usual). Will be glad to have it finished after tomorrow though as it feels like a big milestone! Docetaxel has been hard for mouth ulcers so not looking forward to that again :see_no_evil: yeah they said to me either 6 months or a year of Phesgo so will just need to see!