UPDATE:
been reading some old books I have and google and def chamomile and thyme essential oils are good
… well they cant do any harm- so im going to get some from boots or health food shop and pop them in my bath… also chamomile tea. and pinot either colour lol x
I read turmeric was good too. I’ve bought some but not used it yet. Also green tea. I love lavender and geranium essential oils. Good for relaxation.
My friend bought a v-shaped pillow from Amazon. She loves it. Completely different op, nothing breast related. I thought I’d get one but actually was ok with an extra normal pillow and am back to just one now. I was terrified of giving birth but did it a few times but yes, there is a lovely little reward at the end of that. I’m also using hypnosis downloads to help relax and sleep. Meditation and mindfulness is also supposed to be good. My local hospice was recommended to me for support and I have friends who have been and said it helped them through. I was nervous as going to a hospice sounded scary but I’ve self-referred and been in to meet the staff. I’m determined to try anything to get some control over my over-active mind.
Zena - the v pillow is a must … I read the same advice so bought one and I have to say it’s the best thing ever … xxx
Thanks Zena xx
Hi Zena,
I was very much like you, although I had a grade 3 aggressive ductal carcinoma which is more likely to have spread. I didn’t know this at the time and when they sent me for a CT scan (when other people hadn’t had one) to make sure it hadn’t gone into any of my organs, I was beside myself with worry.
My Mum also died of BC, so I was fully aware of how it can spread and the fear just took over - I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t breathe, I hurt, it was bloody awful.
I found my lump myself on 12 November and I had a mx in 13 December, but it was only that quick as they had a vacancy, otherwise it wouldn’t have been in till about 22 December. I was so worried it would get bigger and spread in that time. My lump was measured at 37mm but when they took it out it was 47mm, but it hadn’t grown, some of it had been hiding.
I’m now waiting to find out when my chemo starts.
It will get easier, but waiting for results will always be **bleep**.
Sending you big hugs.
Susan
The whole boob/non-boob thing is really strange. I’ve got so used to my flat side that when I put my bra and softie in I quite often forget about my other boob and leave it hanging out of the bottom of my bra. Note to self…don’t wear cropped tops ?
Hahaha - lmfao, Jo, I’ve just got an image in my head now and it’s so funny. ???
Fuller … I’m so sorry…it’s so frightening I know …
It’s good you are here , there is lots of support .
I was the same after my ct and bone - I could hardly breathe with the worry … I felt I had months to live .
Waiting for the results is the worst bit , we are all with you on that hunny.
What’s happened so far , can you tell me ? Xx
It feels so good speaking to someone who is going through the same thing thank you! I was diagnosed last week Wednesday after a routine mammogram. The cancer is in my left breast they found it in 2 places and the lymph node is affected. It is grade 2 but now waiting for the staging which is so scary. I have not even told my work colleagues yet telling people makes it sound more real. Xxx
Ok just like me then … stage 2 is the staging bit . So that’s good , stage 2 is very curable. And I have lymph nodes too and with 2 Fec chemo it reduced from a lot to one raised one …
And my tumour shrank after 2 fecs .
MRI ? That will tell you the size and how far from chest wall and skin - the surgeon will look at that to see if surgery first or chemo to shrink then surgery., my lump was 5.2cm and now prob 3.5 cm - I started Fec on Jan 26 th … Fec every 21 days - I found it very hard but I’m rare as I get very sick in pregnancy so you may not …
ct scan will pick up anymore nasty things but also things that aren’t cancer - they found bone islands in hip and for a while I was convinced it was more but in the end it wasn’t . Still something ( shadow) on my rib , but need another MRI . Actually I’m not so worried about that anymore as chemo is given for it anyway and I’m have my that . So hoping that is zappoing anything else …
If nothing in ct bone will most likely be clear Hun .
If your tumour is small they prob operate first and then chemo … you will also have a test to see if you are her positive or negative and er positive or negative . Don’t worry about that too much now as it just denotes which drugs you have now and after - e.g. Herceptin… but I’m jumping ahead … it’s hard when there is no plan - that’s why I started this thread … I was scared and lost and felt I had this thing inside me eating away and nothing was happening… it felt like an eternity and I couldn’t sleep or stop thinking about it.
I cried so much and even howled at the thought of not being there for my 3 kids …
I still cry and am worried but also have a strong sense if it all now … the control is with me now not the cancer …
When you know more and have a plan it will get better… that’s no help now though , I remember…
You will be ok and get thru this , use this site as much as you need to .,these ladies have got me thru my darkest days …
I’m now 10 weeks into my new chemo which is paciltacel as they changed me from Fec . Then I have op in June - prob mx ( mastectomy) maybe both . Which will be sad but ok as I want to live …
Anything you want to ask just ask and anything you want to rant about you do it Hun … I love a good rant I promise you that.
Massive hug
Zena xxx
Sorry probably to much info there …
but it’ll be ok iscwhat I’m trying to say and that the treatment is so good now there’s no chance of you going anywhere for a long time yet even if it feels bleak now xxx
Fuller I was also diagnosed last Wednesday so know exactly how you feel… Im also stage 2 but have no clue about grades! When do you get further results? Mines Wednesday teatime and Seems a lifetime away I feel like I’m going mad waiting xx
Have you had your scans yet? I had mine today. Not sure when I am going to get the results.
Hi fuller. I found out Thursday I had stage 2 invasive lobular cancer. Had a mammogram today and MRI booked for next Wednesday then back with the doctor Thursday. The wait is awful I know how you feel. I’m 34 with an 11 year old.
Stay strong xx
I haven’t had a scan and they didn’t mention one, I don’t know if this is a good or bad thing!? Can anyone tell me if everyone gets scans? Another thing for me to worry about now :/I had a vacuum biopsy last Thursday to check the other lumps and calcifications, terrified of what else they may have found! I’m 38 with 2 girls 18months and 5 xx
Thank you Ann, what is lobular? Sorry for all the questions just so confusing and I’m hoping to understand some of what they might say tomorrow xx
Hi Melina
I’m so sorry about your diagnosis, I have a 4 year old and 9 and 10 …
It’s so frightening isn’t it.
Lobular is a more spread out type of cancer - it’s like a spider in the boob of cancer , it feels like a thickening instead of a hard lump . It’s very hard to detect so they use boob MRI to see the full extent of it … mine was 5 cm on MRI ?
It’s shrunk now due to having the chemo called Fec .
My hospital were slow and I had to demand an MRI and a ct and bone scan - ended up changing hospitals by calling a breast care nurse ( bcn) at another hospital a bit further away . But I’m glad o did , she was must more proactive and I got treatment started within 2 weeks.
Concentrate on you now and getting the best care - don’t be afraid to push , you have 2 babies that need you .
The treatments are hard but they do work. be prepared for a tough journey now and take any support offered and help .
Your gonna be ok Hun it’s just a process now till you get back there , but it will happen.
Don’t google loads but google terms and treatments otherwise you won’t know what everyone is on about . It’s like learning a new language now ( that you don’t want to learn at all ) use this site as much as you need .
Massive hug zena xx
hi Melia,
Ductal bc is the most common bc & arises in the milk ducts of the breast.
Lobular bc is less common & arises on the lobules of the breast. I understand the treatment is the same. As Zena says it does tend to spread out more, therefore an mri is used to see of there are any other problem areas & to finalise the treatment plan.
Most of us 80%, I believe, have ductal bc.
There are also other types of bc, but these are rarer.
I’m on my phone therefore cant do the link, but do look at the main breast cancer cancer care site links on the left, for info on anything you need to know. It’s best to start there & avoid general googling, as this can create a whole load of unnecessary anxiety in the early days of diagnosis.
You will get your head around it all, but do ask anything you need to.
ann x