Hi both, just thought I’d catch up!
Caro - so pleased you got through the MRI, and the results were good. Hope everything goes smoothly from now on, and glad OH could check up and reassure you - and why not! Not many perks in the NHS!
Claire - how’s it going? Have you had MRI yet, or have you a date?
Lizzie
Thanks Lizzie.
Although the MRI was clear, I’ve still decided to go for a bilateral mastectomy. It’s looking highly likely my bc is genetic, as I just found out my maternal grandmother died of ovarian cancer (and my mum died of bc at 41). Therefore, if it is inherited, there’s a high risk of recurrence, so I’d rather have the preventative surgery now and not spend the rest of my days worrying about it coming back. I’m scheduled for surgery on 16th July (going on holiday to AMerica for 3 weeks before having it done!).
Claire - haven’t heard from you in a while; surely you’ve had your scan by now…? Let us know how you got on.
Caro xx
Hello everyone…
I’m going for an MRI tomorrow… I’ve recently started having pains in my “good” breast (I was diagnosed with IBC in the other breast last May and had chemo, mastectomy and rads…) hoping it just turns out to be Duct Ectasia which is a benign condition… but even if it is they may want to operate to remove the milk ducts…
All last year I wanted to have a bilaterial masectomy (had chemo first) but they wouldn’t let me… Now wondering if they need to operate to remove the milk ducts should I really press and see if they will do a masectomy… I come from a family with a really bad history of breast cancer - but they never seem to have taken it that seriously… 
Theresa
Hi
No I’ve not got my date yet, they are going to see if I can be sedated by the Breast Surgeon, I know you may think I am mad but I am very claustrophobic, even though I know it is important that I have this MRI I just can’t do it without any help.
I shall let you know when I hear anything. I am hoping to hear this week though…
Theresa - good luck for tomorrow.
Thinking of you all.
Claire xx
Sorry for butting in, Ive got one tomorrow - tried it a few months ago, travelled 3 hours for it and couldnt find a vien, after hour of stabbing sent me away, try again tomorrow with anethetist!
Good luck x
Theresa - I cannot believe they didn’t offer you a bilateral mastectomy if there’s a strong family history of bc?! That’s outrageous! Have you ever had genetic testing? If I were you and you need the milk ducts removing, I would definitely push for a mastectomy. Also ask about being genetically tested, as some faulty genes also increase your risk of ovarian cancer, so you might want to consider an oompherectomy if it is genetic. It’s definitely something I’ll be doing if it proves I have the faulty gene. If they don’t take it seriously, I’d ask to be referred to someone who will. This is your life they’re playing with! Good luck with MRI, let us know how it goes.
Claire - let us know when you finally get a date for your scan, and good luck with it.
Caro xx
Hi Caro…
I first went along to the breast clinic when i was 38 as i developed a strange dark patch on my right breast - and explained then about the family history… that turned out to be nothing after ultrasound and mammogram…
Just to explain the family history - my maternal grandmother died of bc when she was 45, her three sisters also died of bc in their mid to late 40’s… (this was all in 1940’s…) my mum’s sister was first diagnosed when she was 48… she had a masectomy and was fine for 10 years but then it came back and she died… whilst i was growing up my mum was forever hearing of cousins back home in northern ireland who had been diagnosed (daughters of my gran’s 3 sisters…) despite all this they just didn’t take it seriously… they said the relatives were not “close enough” as my mum and sister were okay…
It occured to me really recently that the unusual thing about my mum and sister was they both had early total hysterectomys… my cancer was 8/8 er+… so i wonder if that is the reason they were okay…
When i went for that first clinic appointment i was asked if anyone had ovarian cancer… but they didn’t ask any other questions about other cancers etc etc… (my mum’s other sister died of a heart attack but her post mortum showed she had stomach cancer, later her daughter died of meningitus but her post mortum showed stomach cancer as well… )
I was put on annual mammograms after that first appointment and they explained about other changes to look out for… which is why i knew last May when i suddenly developed IBC… i had a mammogram in the early May which didn’t show anything as IBC doesn’t show on mammograms even though the tumour was 5cm… (It forms as sheets rather than a lump…)
I will ask again what is happening about genetic testing as they said when i had my masectomy that they still don’t think i have a strong family history but would refer me if i insisted… (rolleyes) but i havn’t heard anything (they said it might take several months…)
Theresa
Hi
Theresa, I really think you should push for genetic testing, demand it if need be. I think it is ridiculous that you have not had the option of doing it.
Take care
Claire x