Hi guys, 2 weeks ago i got diagnosed with breast cancer when i got told my mind what to cotton wool and all i could see was a mouth moving and sounds coming out of it. I got a letter from the consultant saying that from my mammogram , ultrasound and biopsy they found i had a 16mm grade 2 ivasive adenocarinoma and that its er+. They haven’t given me a treatment plan at the moment as i have to have the genetic test to see if i have the gene so have to wait 6-8 weeks as my mum had breast cancer in both breasts at 49. Im now 49 and the bizarre thing is ive been diagnosed in the same month as my mum was all them yrs back. Anyway back to what im trying to put here. So on Thursday i got a phone call from my surgeon saying that my cancer is also her2 positive, and now i have to have chemo so now my mind is going into overdrive and ive convinced myself that the cancer is spreading and im going to die young. Is er+ and her2 positive really bad ?? Sorry its so long
sorry you find yourself here do check with your team why they are not starting chemo till after your genetic test? They can usually start chemo while waiting results for genetic test? I was already in chemo while waiting for genetic results as I’d had the test just before starting chemo. Do you have a treatment plan yet? Do get your teeth checked before starting chemo, your dentist will get you in 
do ask your team about a wig voucher and do sign up at the MacMillan at your trust for the look good feel better session, also ask about complimentary therapies you can have too. I had a notebook and wrote all my questions and their answers down in there but that’s not for everyone do join the chemo thread when you start chemo you all get each other through with kindness 
and wobbles take it a day at a time and be kind to yourself ask away on here, everyone will reach out 
Shi xx
Hi,
I am so sorry, you are currently in what I found, the worst time-waiting for all the results to come together to make a plan.
ER + means you will be offered medications post treatment to reduce your hormones because they are fuel for the cancer. Reduce the fuel and it’s less able to return.
HER + has really good targeted treatments alongside or after chemotherapy.
I was HER 2 negative so not able to give you personal experience, however I am sure there will be lots of people along soon who will.
So your question was is ER and HER2 bad-no, not at all. The team just needed to know so they can determine the right treatment.
Do they need to wait until genetic test results prior to chemo? Call and speak to your breast nurse and ask if you can start and let result follow when ready?
This stage is really scary but now they know what they’re dealing with, that’s good. Your team will make a plan tailor made for you.
There are chemo threads to join, lots of topics on HER2 or ER, breast care nurses you can call here with questions or ‘someone like me’ you could look into, matching you with someone who has gone through a similar diagnosis.
I hope you have good support at home, make sure you’re keeping healthy and not forgetting to eat and drink, get sleep where you can and plan nice things for your mental health too, all so you’re ready to hit this head on!
It’s doable, it’s only for a set time then you will get back to your life.
We’re all here for you
Big hugs
Laura
I got the phone from my surgeon on Thursday i rang the breast care on friday asking if someone could ring but friday is their busy day so may ring me tomorrow. Thanks for the advice xx
Thanks for the advice I’ll look into that. They have started me on tamoxifen but tonight im even more freaked out as before i couldn’t feel the lump but after my shower tonight i can feel the lump. Im hoping i can get to speak to somebody tomorrow xx
if you don’t get a call back do try ringing one of the secretaries and also your team again, you should have been given a dedicated breast cancer nurse who you can ring, I’ve always personally found them extremely helpful and they do ensure you are called back also there’s the helpline number on here too where you can speak to a nurse Shi xx
Hi, its all a shock and a start of a journey but just wanted to say I was er+ and her2 + and its 18 years since i was diagnosed. Treatment is better now too. Take things step by step and you will come put the other side. Best wishes.
Try not to worry i know thats easier said than done you will get a treatment plan just do everything your oncologist tells you
I am lucky in that I trust my onc just returned from him having not seen him since may all cancer is stable and I collect more capecitabine tomorrow ive been on it for seven months now No hair loss no side effects at all take care
So sorry to hear of your diagnosis, it’s one none of us want to hear.
I am a little older than you (59 @ diagnosis), diagnosed E2+ & HER2+ in May 23. Chemo, then surgery & radiotherapy. Now I’ve 3 left of 18 doses of targeted therapy to help reduce the risk of return and am adjusting to daily tablets to suppress my E2.
It’s a long haul but I’m cancer free and responded really well to the chemo which I had first - like you I was bothered at first that the disease was already rampant in my body.
Like others have said, getting used to the news and waiting for a treatment plan is one of the hardest parts. The other groups and people on here have been a real support to me.
Just a quick tip to avoid that cotton wool moment. Use your phone to record all your appointments, its amazing what you miss.
I think the waiting is one if the worst parts following diagnosis. Sadly its something we all have to do, sometimes its easier than others. Once you have a treatment plan it will feel better but even then there are waits. My very best wishes.
Hi everyone thank you all for your tips they have helped. I spoke to an oncologist nurse this morning and she has put my mind at rest and answered alot of my concerns. So i think ive got my head out me a*se so to speak 
.
Still dont have a date for surgery but its looking like it will be in October and then after a few weeks i will start chemo. Thank you all once again xx
Hi, I have tried to add a message here twice now so hoping it works. Feeling tearful today as am awaiting a treatment plan following a biopsy on Wednesday. I’ve been here before but have had a recurrence in my axila nearly 6 years after my first diagnosis. I have a CT on Monday for staging etc and then on Friday I get results. I had chemo last time so hoping I don’t need it again. She said an op and rads are needed and it’s treatable and don’t dwell on it but easier said. I went private through work this time but it’s still a waiting game as the MDT need to discuss it prior to a plan being made. If I need chemo I’ll have it locally as I travelled quite a long way to get an earlier appointment by going privately. Hi Sheila do you remember me? X
Linda_Corinne yes I remember you sorry you find yourself back facing further treatment you know everyone’s here and treatments have come on a lot and changed since 2017/2018 when we went through chemo if you do have to have it again. 
it’s just rads Shi (I’m not Sheila though) xx
Shi, Thanks. Sorry I thought you were for some reason. Doesn’t seem like 6 years. Yes they said things have changed. It all depends on the biopsy and if hormonal, her2 etc I think. Anyway I’ve caught it early this time so hopefully it will be less harsh. Just the thought of going through it all again is awful but I will if I need to. I’m still in touch with afew people off here and they are all being supportive. Fingers crossed anyway it’s just an op and rads (although that’s bad enough). In what ways has it changed? X
no mai7 and I named ourselves after mushrooms we still see each other and our oct17 gang still speak daily I have noticed on the threads that there have been different chemo regimes compared to fec-T which all out oct17 gang had and we were a mixture of different types of breast cancer. Keeping every:crossed_fingers:
it’s just rads for you, do jump and the chemo thread again if you do have to do it and make sure you’ve got a nice treat planned at the end whatever your triplane ends up being you have to have treats take it day at a time again good to hear you are still in touch with some of your gang too let us know how you get on, I know Jill1998 will remember you too Shi xx
I see the text gremlins out tonight, sorry for some of the random words in my above message 
Shi xx
Any idea if people who have a recurrence end up doing chemo? Mine is less common as isn’t in my breast but in my axila (under arm). Same happened to my cousin and it was HER2 so she had t x6 first. I got a call last night saying my mammogram was clear so no need for a mastectomy. Thank god I check myself every 3 weeks and found it.
I’ve had a few friends have to redo chemo after recurrence but you know treatments are tailored specifically for you so till your team has decided on your treatment plan you just have to take it a day at a time like you did last time Shi xx
Half expecting I will have to re-do it as think it’s prob her2 or triple negative as still on Letrozole and it’s not worked. I’ve taken my dressing off but still have steri strips where a biopsy was done. I had a shower but they’ve not come off. Shall I leave them to come off themselves or remove them? Thanks. Xx
check with your team about removal of steri strips, always best to check with them and follow their guidance Shi xx