The results are in: and yes, it is BC; ductal invasive; Grade 2 and ER 8/8 and PR 8/8. The HER2 result is pending.
So, I had a long chat with with the consultant, who called me while on holiday. He says that it is a small treatable BC and the likely treatment is: lumpectomy, radiotherapy, and hormone therapy/medication for 5 years. As you can see from the ER and PR results it (the BC) is hormone receptive - so I’ve thrown away the HRT patches!
It’s a relief to know, and at the moment I’m OK, but I know it’ll change when it sinks in.
The next step is telling the rest of the family who are all coming out to join me on holiday over the next two weeks.
Making memories for my 70th birthday, on Monday, is what’s important at the moment.
Thank you all for your support on this forum. The BCN app has been so informative and allowed me to understand the results and to ask the right questions. I think my consultant was able to easily explain my results and I felt confident asking about things I was unsure about.
@liv1liv1l I’m sorry it wasn’t better news for you. Sounds same type and grade as mine, except yours is hormone positive and mine is triple negative. Asking about my HRT and whether I should stop it is on my list of questions for the consultant next week. Weirdly I don’t feel worried about it all - yet! Maybe when I have my appointment next week it’ll feel more real. I’m trusting that they can deal with it for me - as the Dr on the phone put it.
Hopefully all goes well telling your family - mine are all very positive but I’ve kept them informed all along, and we’ve been concentrating on recovering from my accident! I also decided to tell all my friends and remoter family by one message rather than keep going over it again and again individually.
I hope you are feeling ok about your results - I’m not sure mine have sunk in yet to be honest but the morphine I’ve been on may have something to do with it!
Try and enjoy your holiday with your family - it’ll set you up ready to face the next steps. Let me know when you have details of your treatment and timings etc. and I’ll let you know how I get on next Wednesday with my appointment.
Oh bugger. Not the result you want, but I’m sure you’re holding on to the words ‘small and treatable’. That bit of the bad news is the good news. What a shit 70th birthday present, but glad you are prioritising what is important.
You are ok. It will sink in. You will have ups and downs. Just know we’re here. The people you choose to tell will be there for you. Your BC team are absolutely there for you too.
It’s a ride, no mistake, but lean on people and be kind to yourself. These are platitudes I know, but you will get out the other side. Thanks for updating us. xxxxxxx
Hope you’re doing OK. Did you have your appointment yesterday and are you up to talking about it?
My BC nurse messaged me on holiday and said I have an appointment with my surgeon on 1st June (wedding anniversary!) at the Breast Test Centre - where I had all the biopsies done.
He’s ‘pencilled in’ my surgery for 23rd June at my local hospital. I guess I will know more about the treatment plan on June 1st.
HER2 results still not back, BC nurse says she’ll let me know, soon as.
Biggest problem at the moment is what and how to tell my youngest daughter(with DS). I phoned my other two kids to tell them before they arrive here for holidays on the weekend. They were upset but ok, and I want them to support her. She’ll know there’s something going on; as she reminds us often, “I’m not stupid, you know!”
I hope you have a plan in place and that you’re not too overwhelmed with it. How are you post accident, now?
Glad your family are ok and being supportive. Maybe the breast care nurses can advise how best to talk about things with your youngest daughter - might be worth asking them how to phrase things etc?
So had my appointment yesterday. Surgery was scheduled on 4 June at minor hospital under general anaesthetic as a day case. Will include dye into the lymph nodes and removing a couple. Several pre surgery things to be done beforehand including radioactive marker inserted to guide surgeon on 2 June. Six weeks post surgery I will need a week of radiotherapy - most likely a session a day for 5 days Monday to Friday.
As I have a triple negative cancer, it’s quite likely that I’ll be offered chemotherapy by the oncologists (depending on results after surgery, any lymph node involvement etc). I’ve already decided I’ll have whatever is offered.
Went back today for pre operative assessment stuff and anaesthetist wasn’t happy about me having the surgery at the minor hospital (where they do day surgery only) as my chest xray showed there’s still residual stuff in my lung after the pneumothorax I suffered in the accident. So for safety sake I’m having my surgery at the major hospital with all the facilities on 12 June instead. I guess the extra week gives my ribs more time to get better as still a bit sore.
Have to cancel our holiday - was due to go on 5 June but didn’t want to put surgery off so need to put a claim in to our travel insurance I’ll deal with that one another day!
Hope you are managing to enjoy your holiday and feeling ok about things? I feel relieved that things are happening so quickly - starting to feel very ‘real’ now!
Thank you for sharing the details of your appointment. I really appreciate it.
It does all become a bit more real when you look at courses of treatment. I keep gaining solace from the amazing medical advancements of recent years. It blows my mind that they can get so much information about the individual BC from the biopsies. Of course, we very quickly have to learn what it means for our personalised treatment plan.
My appointment on 1st June will, no doubt, be a tsunami of info; weird that we feel ok, but know the treatment may make us feel a bit worse. Still really grateful for screening
Enjoy the sunshine - it’s warmer in the UK than Portugal…
@liv1liv1l let me know how your appointment goes on 1 June. Yes I got given a whole folder of information to read - haven’t read it all yet - been busy filling out claim for our holiday insurance which I can’t finish yet as need to get GP to complete a form with my medical history
Yes it’s uncomfortably hot here at the moment - probably better off in Portugal for sleeping!
The breast care nurse I’ve been allocated at the hospital was lovely - very reassuring, and full of information. There’s also a Macmillan centre at the hospital - I haven’t looked in there yet but they do all sorts there which I might investigate at some point - I have all the leaflets in my folder but think I’m a bit head in the sand at the moment. Like you say we feel well currently and it’s hard to get your head around the fact that we have something trying to ‘get’ us! Oh well one step and one appointment at a time! I have bought a couple of post surgery bras as nurse suggested getting them ready for after the surgery.
Sorry to hear you’ve had to cancel your holiday, especially as it’s to celebrate significant events.
Wishing you all good vibes, strength and resilience for your upcoming treatment.
I’m finding the women in my life are coping better with the news than the men; my poor son-in-law was crying on my shoulder last night, bless him.
I’m still waiting HER2 result. I phoned again this morning but was told it can take several weeks. Maybe it’s different in Wales - I know it went to a different lab for analysis.
@liv1liv1l thank you - yes it’s a shame about the holiday - my brother and sister in law are still going, but we’ve promised ourselves a lovely holiday when treatment is finished.
Hopefully your result comes through soon and in time for your appointment - mine were all dealt with together and notified to me two weeks after biopsy, but like you say maybe it’s different in Wales
My husband, son and son in law are all being very positive - it’s me who has the dark thoughts trying to creep in from time to time, although I know my cancer is tiny and found early. Partly stems from losing a close friend a few years ago who was successfully treated initially and who we subsequently lost a few years later, but I remind myself we are all different and my surgeon was very positive in my appointment. Just want to get started on getting rid of blob now - roll on 12th June!
You stay strong too and let me know when you get all your results and have your appointment xx
@liv1liv1l Sorry I’m late responding as I’ve been away - I’m sorry it wasn’t better news however you know what you are dealing with now and with a treatment plan in place ,I felt personally that I was a little more in control from and was doing something proactive .
The waiting was awful as I just couldn’t do anything apart from worry! But it felt like a relief to get a formal diagnosis and start treatment .
You sound like you have a wonderfully supportive family which also will make the world of difference x
Thank you for your message which I got in the waiting room, which was nice.
I’ve now seen the surgeon who will be doing the op and had a really good discussion with him about the way forward. The HER2 results are still ‘under review’ but that doesn’t affect what’s going to happen next.
So, surgery on the 23rd June followed by radiotherapy a couple of months later (now only 5 days as opposed to over a number of weeks). My petty fears of claustrophobia will need to be dealt with!
Obviously, sentinel node results, size of margin, and HER2 will affect the plan.
But, the thing I’m taking away from all this is that it is a process (thank goodness for science and the NHS) and I’m going to cross each bridge etc.
I’ll deal with that one another day!
however you know what you are dealing with now and with a treatment plan in place ,I felt personally that I was a little more in control from and was doing something proactive .
Arty1