Chemo before surgery

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Hi

I am new here.  My diagnosis was confirmed on tuesday - Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer, Grade 3 - 17mm lump in right breast and cells fouond in axillary lymph node.  I am 44.  My consultant has said they are recommending I have chemo first as it is ‘active’ (presume a nicer word than an aggressive little f****r).  I am abit freaked by this as am aware that most cancers are surgery first.  Obviously am waiting for scans to stage and am trying hard not to worry about mets.  Would love to hear from people who have had chemo first…

Thanks x

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Hi missy, welcome and glad you have found your  way to the very supportive club that isn’t high on people’s  wish to join :relaxed:.  I had surgery before chemo but there are lots of ladies on here who had chemo prior to  surgery who will be able to share their expieriences  with.  You. Good luck and ask,  rant away if needed that’s the beauty of the forum  x

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Hi Missy  I have been reading the forum for a while and found a few ladies on here who have had chemo first but we are in the minority.  I finished chemo in March and had operation in middle of April.  I was told chemo was first to make surgery less invasive.  Like you I had grade 3 with spread to the lymph nodes but also had a grade 2 in the other breast with spread to nodes as well so I’ve had quite a bit of surgery.  One of the advantages of having chemo first was that I had a scan half way through which showed that it was doing a good job in reducing the tumours, so I knew it was working…      I remember the wait for test results at the beginning and particularly the wait to find out if there was any spread anywhere else and I think was the worst part of the whole ordeal.  So I am thinking of you as you wait and know what it feels like!  It felt better once I knew what the treatment was going to be,  you need to just take it one bit at a time.  x 

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Hi Missy

Please dont worry there isnt a norm when it comes to treatment for BC everyone has different stuff done at different times its all whats best for you

I had neoadjuvant chemo (chemo before surgery) and 90% of people I know from meeting at appointments who are under my consultant had it this way too so thats the norm for me its more how the MDT work where I am being treated and most young women get it that way round ,the older ladies get it the other

Its good because you know its working my lump was so large I could feel mine getting smaller

Take care

Jen x

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Hi I am in the situation and am totally blown with it all. Scared is an understatement. Think loosing my hair is stressing me out initially as chemo will be the first thing

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Me too! I’m wiring 4 diagnosis Monday 16th may & finding it really difficult 2 get my head around it all :-/ x

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Hi everyone, I’ve also just been diagnosed with breast cancer this week and will be having chemo first to shrink the lump. I’ve been told about the cold cap they offer to minimise the chance of hair loss. They reckon if it works hair loss could be 30-50% using this method. Good Luck to all facing this journey into the unknown. This is my second primary cancer in two years. The first was bowel cancer which was sorted by surgery alone. I sort of feel I’m getting someone else’s share now. Hannah56