Hi
I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer last friday and since then my world has been turned upside down. I have been told that I have two lumps (one at the 11o’clock position and one under my arm). My surgeon has suggested that I have a mastecomy, followed by chemo and radiotherapy. I have also been told that the cancer is sensitive to hormones and I’m really concerned that this means no children. I wonder if anyone has any advise of what questions I should be asking/what websites I can look on etc etc
Thanks
Kte281
Hi Kte281
I am sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis, but would like to welcome you to the Forums. I am sure you will receive lots of helpful advice and support from our users.
Below is a link to a Breast Cancer Care publication Resources Pack which can be ordered on line, it is filled with information to help you better understand your diagnosis, test results and the various treatments available.
breastcancercare.org.uk//content.php?page_id=7514
I hope you find this information useful
Kind regards
Louise
Facilitator
Hi,
I was diagnosed a year ago last Feb and I was 28 too. Can completely sympathise with you feeling that your world had been turned upside down. It’s such a horrible, horrible shock.
I had what they thought was 2 lumps and was had a mastectomy, chemo and radiotherapy. My cancer wasn’t hormone sensitive but it was HER+++ so I am having Herceptin for a year.
When you have your surgery, they will take it out and then sit down with you and tell you what they found and what the plan is. I had an 8cm tumour and 14/25 lymph nodes were positive. So then I had chemotherapy - 3 FEC and 12 Taxol. 5 weeks of radiotherapy.
It sounds like a hell of a lot to deal with - I couldn’t believe what they were telling me at first. It was crazy. The person I relied on most was my breast care nurse who was fantastic at helping me understand diagnosis, what it meant and what was going to happen. Do you have one supporting you at the moment? The one thing I will say is although it’s by no means easy, I didn’t find it as awful as I would have imagined it to be before I had cancer. You will find strength you never knew you had! Don’t worry about falling apart or asking for help if you need to.
I found it helpful to make a list of worries and my drs were really good at talking it through. I was told that being under 30 meant fertility was likely to come back. I didn’t need hormone treatment, but I know there are women on here who have had children after tamoxifen etc. Just be kind to yourself and take it a step at a time.
I decided that I wanted the focus to be very much on my treatment plan, rather than talking about prognosis or stats or anythign like that. I wanted to know all I needed to about staying healthy and strong, but didn’t want to look too far ahead. But essentially it’s whatever works for you. They will tell you whatever you need and want to know about. Don’t be afraid to take up lots of their time!!
Huge hug for you - it’s a very hard and horrible time, but you can do it a step at a time. People are very supportive here.
Lots of love, liz xx
Hi Liz
Thanks for your post and your support. I have the most lovely breast cancer nurse, I really trust her and feel confortable with her. Will she stay with me all the way through?
I totally agree with your attitude of staying focused on the treatment plan and although slightly curious I don’t really want to know how agressive etc the cancer is. My family have put me on a fresh fruit and veg diet - did you have any advise given to you on what you should/shoud not eat?
I have good days and bad days but the good days are now out-weighing the bad.
Do you mind me asking how long your chemo lasted? I know my consultant said that everything is tailored to the individual but I have no idea how long it will last. I went to look at wigs today - I have been told that I can have a cold-cap but I really don’t like being cold and so I think I have decided against this. What do you think?
I think what is terrifying me the most is waking up after the operation - I’m only a B cup so I imagine I can hide it easy but I’m worried about how people are going to react. I’m having an imediate reconstruction which I hope will make it less traumatic.
I’m concerned about every single ache and pain throughout my body - is this something you felt?
Sorry I’m questions…questions…questions
Thanks for everything
Kate
Hi Kate
Just wanted to say I totally understand everything you are going through, though i’m 39, ten years younger than you. It is hard to get your head around everything that is happening to you when you’ve felt well and then all of sudden to realise that your body has suddenly developed this ‘thing’… it is so so hard. I cried a lot in my first few weeks but once surgery and chemo started and treatment got underway, I felt a little more in control and this board has helped lots. I’ve posted at my most lowest of times and someone has always got back to me and reassured me that i will get through it. I finished chemo last week and i’m onto rads then herception in a few weeks. You will get a hold of it all and will find amazing strength to get through it and some days it’s not always the first thing you think of, you start to think of just getting through the treatment and getting your life back again and you will. It is truly amazing the treatment that is on offer to us nowadays and I am just grateful for all the options. Take as much time as you need before making decisions, don’t feel pressured, don’t feel guilty for crying or shouting or anything, talk it out as much as you need to with your breast care nurse, they are amazing, and everything else, the hair loss, the side effects - not nice but they’re manageable and it’s all a small price to pay for a healthy future life. I am wishing you all the luck and strength that you need right now, take care, carrie x
Hi Kate,
Really nice to hear from you - v glad good days outweighing bad! Me and husband were putting pics from this year in an album (lots of mini-breaks!) and realised that in midst of all the cr8p we’ve actually also had a lot of fun this year too so hooray for good days!
Right, questions questions! My bcn has stayed with me all the way through and has been great. I can call her whenever I need to and she is still helping me navigate appointments and stuff as I’m rubbish at organising myself.
My mum tried to cook the cancer away when I was first diagnosed! and I read a book by Suzannah Olivier on breast cancer. Initially I was cutting out meat, dairy, caffeine and booze for a bit. But, my drs and breast care nurse said they’d far rather I was eating everything in moderation. Some people with hormone pos cancers cut out dairy. I’m trying to have loads of fruit and veg, beans pulses etc, drinking lots of water and green tea, cut down on meat, eating fish, not much dairy (trying rice milk instead) and only having the odd glass of wine. While you’re having chemo it’s best not to drink that much as your liver is working hard to process all the drugs. I think there are factsheets on here about healthy eating and stuff. Basically I just decided to put my health first and be kind to myself, but not go mad. My BCN said she’d rather I went out and ate a big lasagne with a glass of red and was happy than sat on my own eating lentils and miserable! I think it’s whatever works for you, makes you feel good and doesnt’ stress you out too much.
I had chemo from May 11th to beginning of October. It sounds a long time and although it’s not easy I found the time went really quickly in the end. You are so focused on getting through it. Plan lots of nice things for when you’re feeling ok in between sessions. I wore the cold cap for my 1st 3 sessions and then stopped as I was going to have 12 weekly sessions after that and couldn’t bear it any more!! I did keep my hair for most of the time, but wore scarves over my bald patches. At the end it was in such a state I shaved it off anyway. I didn’t like it and wish I hadn’t bothered at the beginning as it means you’re in the chemo unit for longer and stuff. Also, my hair thinned so much it didn’t seem to me to make that much difference and I bought so many scarves I could open a shop!!
I had an immediate reconstruction too and it does mean you wake up with boob which definitely helped me I think. Apparently under the influence of the drugs I pulled up my top to show it off and was telling everyone it really wasn’t a big deal at all and I was very pleased with it…! Hmmm. To be honest I forget it’s not real. It hasn’t affected what I wear. Went on holiday and bought 3 new bikinis and was a lot more bothered about the size of my butt than my boob! It was swollen for a bit at first, but they’ll give you exercises and it does go down pretty quickly. I don’t think anyone could notice in clothes and the only thing that makes it that obvious out is the lack of nipple!
I can completely sympathise with aches and pains - I am a total neurotic and trying not to be. I had scans everywhere after diagnosis to check. Then had extra scans when I became nuts about pain in ribs, tummy etc etc Your bcn will be great with that and if there is anything you are really worried about she could arrange for it to be looked at. Someone on here said something v sensible about a 2 week rule - checking your pain and seeing if it goes or gets worse within 2 weeks and then doing something about it. It’s horrid and stressful wondering if the bl88dy thing is in the somewhere, but you are under the care of people that you can talk to and who can reassure or investigate if you need them to.
Take care - god sorry this is soooooooo long!!!
xx
Liz/Carrie,
I can’t thank you enough for your support. It is so comforting to speak to people who truely understand how I feel. I have an appointment with my consultant today - it’s the first time I’ve seen him since he diagnosed me on the 29th Feb. I’m terrified that he has more bad news for me!!
Lots of Love
Kate
Hope everything goes well for you today, take one step at a time as most people have said, you will find the strength to get through all of this & you will find lots of support of this site, I was diagnosed at 35 just started trying for our first baby so that was our first concern was fertility, they do say it should come back after all the treatments have finished, make sure you let your oncologist know you do want children in the future it may have some significance on what treatment you have.
good luck for the future
Hugs
Helen x
Hi Helen
Thanks for your post - I really appreciate the support on here! I found out today that the cancer hasn’t spread - all my scans are clear. To counter that though he did say it was a Grade 3 Cancer (which was as expected due to my age). My consultant’s advise was that irrespective of the nature of the cancer the surgery would be the same so don’t think too much about it. I feel as though I keep harping on about children to the doctors - but it’s really important to me. I haven’t met an oncologist yet - but I will be sure to mention it. How are you getting on? Are you at the end of your treatment?
Thanks again
Kate
xxxx
Hi Kate
You must feel so relieved at your results and no spread, that’s fantastic!! Those appointments are just agony aren’t they, my heart is always in my mouth when i have to go for results, no one knows unless they’ve been there what that feels like. Just concentrate on getting through your treatment and as my BC nurse reminded me yesterday, we mustn’t forget that the large majority of women come through this fine. Ask your oncologist about preserving your ovaries so you can still have children - they give you an injection to switch them off during treatment so that they’re not affected = my oncologist said to me he knew lots of women who had gone on to have children once they’d finished treatment so don’t feel too downhearted, there is nothing to suggest you wouldn’t have the same. Just keep focused and count everything off and i really echo what Liz says, try not to cancel your life… plan things still, don’t let it completely take over and above all when the dark thoughts creep in, just try to replace that thought with all the positive things you have been told about your likely outcome. Wishing you all the very best and lots of love, YOU CAN DO THIS!! Carrie x
Hi Kate
Great news no spread! I think you’re right and a lot of younger women seem to have grade 3. I was told it’s as our cells are still dividing quickly etc. It’s v good you now know what you’re dealing with and treatment can start. Those appointments are so horrible - for a while it feels as though every time you go they kick you in the teeth with something else. I was really cross at the beginning as I felt “you’ve told me I have cancer isn’t that enough?! When are you going to start giving me good news!!” It’s really hard, but once treatment starts then the appointments become a lot more practical and gradually you do seem to get your head round it. You’re over the first hurdle of knowing where it is. Now they can take it out and then all your treatment after that will be an insurance policy.
Take care
xx
Hi there,
Just reading this thread and thought I’d say Hi. I am also a young woman, was dx last year at 27 but was misdiagnosed when I was 26. I am finished all treatment now except for tamoxifen and zoladex. I found the whole treatment very do-able. It is dealing with the breast clinics that misdiagnosed me I am finding stressful. I am glad you had no spread. This is really good news. I also had grade 3 cancer and I think you are right that most younger woman have this. I had quite a lot of spread to my lymph nodes. Anyways, best of luck with all the treatment. I’ll bookmark this thread so I can keep an eye.
All the best,
Teacup xx
Hi
I just wanted to say thank you for all the support I have received in the last week - you are all so lovely! I have three whole days off now until my surgery on Monday. I’m dreading sunday night - but I need to move on with this journey now.
Kate
x x x
Hi Kate
I’ve just read your thread. Like you I was dx with a grade 3 tumour on Jan 2nd, mine too had’nt spread but it was also HER2- and had no hormonal involvement with means the only follow up trewatment for me is chemo, which I’m scared about - but after reading other womens stories on here it gives you great support. I have two chilgren who are almost 3 and 6 so it was a huge blow to me, I thought I would never see my kids grow up, but my surgeon told me that surgery is to get shot of the disease and the follow up treatments are precautionary. I too am a nurse so that took a bit of getting my head around, as I see patients with cancer all the time and you just don’t think this will happen to you!!
Also like you I was terrified about surgery, I asked for a pre-med before my op to help me relax,and when I woke I felt a huge relief because the cancer had gone, like everyone else has said I know its hard but take on step at a time and you WILL DO THIS, I know women that have gone on to have children and see them have children!!!
I’m waiting to see my onc - I go next week, so will know more then, I’ll be thinking about you, keep in touch and please know you are not alone, we will help each other.
Take care, huge hugs xxxxxxx
Paulaxx
Hi Everyone,
Today is my first day home from surgery. I can’t beleive the results of my reconstruction - it’s fantastic! I’m feeling so positive and excited about life after breast cancer it’s untrue!
Kate
x x
Hi, Kate,
SO glad the surgery went well! You’ll be so happy that’s over and done with.
I’ve just been reading this thread, and thought I should wish you well with any follow up treatment. I think we are really blessed to such quick diagnoses, surgery and treatment compared to, say, 20 years ago. I expect the next lot of statistics will be fantastic.
I’m much older, 52, and have still found it difficult. So, my heart goes out to you. Looks very positive that you will be able to go on to have children and enjoy a full and healthy life.That’s my prayer for you.
God bless,
Ann ((hug)) xx
Hi Kate, just wanted to say well done, the surgery is over and I’m so glad you’re pleased with it. I’m 51 and had mastectomy and immediate DIEP recon and am delighted I did so, even in a t-shirt nobody would know. I’m advised to have chemo, rads and tamoxifen and see the oncologist tomorrow to find out more - I’m not looking forward to that bit! I wish you the very best of luck with the rest of your treatment and keep posting here, it is the most invaluable source of support and information. Love, Lyn xx
I’m delighted that the surgery went well for you Kate. It’s good to have that part out of my way. What kind of recon did you have? I had a LD flap recon. Best wishes, teacup xx
Hi Kate
I Just came across your thread and just wanted to say well done, you have achieved so much In such a short time, and I hope you stay positive although I know how hard that Is.
My son was diagnosed 18 months ago at 24 with a very agressive breast cancer that had gone into the lymph nodes so I know how scary It can be.
He had a radical mascectomy and lymph removal then 6 months chemo and radio after, he is now on tomoxifen for 5 years,
The hardest thing for us was that because he is youngest male to have this there was very little advice as they dont have the answers, but he Is a saint, he dealt with It ( he never said why me)
We were told that as far a fertility goes a womens generally returns after treatment, but Nickys was being destroyed before the treatment and so far has not returned.
I hope you are doing well, keep fighting, and take all the help that you are offered.
Love and Hugs
Irene
Hi Kate
So pleased that the surgery went well - I checked on here to see how you were doing. It’s great you’re feeling so positive. It is such a good feeling to wake up knowing it’s been taken out. I found the waiting difficult. Go easy on yourself, one step at a time. Keep in touch
xx
Irene - your son sounds very strong. What a shock to be such a young man and to come up against there not being a lot of advice around etc. I hope he’s found support - I’m sure his family has been a huge help
x