Hi kaq - sorry for the confusion. No the tumour was very large when I “found” it. I did regular breast exams, following a benign lump in 2008. My regular check was end of month. I’d do it lying down (30 deg incline) & standing in shower. I felt nothing odd 30 Dec. While showering on 12 Jan, I felt a hard “shell” size of my palm on upper part of left breast. Standing couldn’t really see what it looked like. Got distracted & didn’t do visual check until Friday 13 evening. My left breast showed 3 classic signs: oedema & hard plate above nipple; sever subduction of nipple; orange peel skin below nipple.
I was seen by my GP 9:20 Monday morning; breast clinic within 9 days; plus mammogram, US, & biopsy of breast & left nodes (my breast looked lit up like a Xmas tree!). Body & CT scan on the Friday. Saw consultant & surgical team the following Thursday with diagnosis & confirmation of the cancer, plus NO metastasis.
Every doctor I saw confirmed by their facial expression that what I had was an advanced breast cancer. The surgical team were mentioning mastectomy before the path results. To be honest looking at my breast in mirror on Friday 13, if the results had been negative I probably would have asked for a retest!
Treatment was neo-adjuvant to reduce size so that surgeon could do a simple mastectomy WITHOUT skin grafts.
The size was 10+cm, which for invasive lobular is misleading. Lobular is flat - in lobes & spreads flat. Invasive is when it spreads first from initial lobe & then vertically into ducts. So in 3D terms it was 10+cm horizontal & 10+cm vertical. My lit-up Xmas tree was essentially 80% of my breast tissue.
Neo-adjuvant was not expected to reduce more than by 40%; my results were very unusual. I felt a change by C3, which is why they did a US & yep I had a 40% reduction by then. Surgical & oncology team were all smiles. By C6 the radiologist doing final US confirmed he could find “no sign of disease”. But that is NOT unusual for lobular. It is notoriously difficult to pick up on mammos & US. 66% of lobular cancers present as invasive (spread from their initial site).
Yes the Phesgo is a joint targeted (HER2) & hormone (ER+) treatment. By injection. Was still in trails as recently as 4-5 yrs ago. HER2 is growth hormone so cancer is very active, but also the targeted therapy is very effective against it. So chemo is generally very effective.
I don’t need the targeted any longer, but continue with oral oestrogen (aromatase) inhibitor. Letrozole is supposed to be the most effective & I luckily tolerate it very well.
I saw the consultant radiologist before my treatment. He did a very detailed letter, with the benefit of full pathology results from my mastectomy & axillary clearance. It was his detailed letter which was able to clarify & record the details as would have existed at outset.
Time from seeing GP to surgery was 27 weeks. I was essentially cancer free then. Radio & adjuvant chemo was to tackle any possible cancer DNA - residual clear up to improve recovery, staying clear, & limiting recurrence.
1st annual check August 24, all clear. 5-8 more to go.
Yes my neo-adjuvant was docetaxel & carboplatin. Plus was given dexamethasone 2 days around my infusion dates. I cold capped & kept my hair. I’ll be honest that chemo was brutal. My problem was gastrointestinal tract. Luckily NOT mouth, but severe nausea, acid stomach & liquid poo (sorry for description). Given meds for stomach & nausea - they worked. But lost appetite. I suffered hyperemesis gravidum with both pregnancies & oncology were prepared. As results were so effective I was reduced by 30% after C3 & dexa halved. Diarrhoea never controlled (even with codeine phosphate). Luckily my white cells all held up well, but platelets, potassium & magnesium all plummeted. Had infusion of the last 2 in the 6 weeks before op to get back to “normal”. Sorry it’s all sounding grim, but think in my case probably saved my life - made surgery easy & effective. Bloods all fully recovered. My mastectomy was end June 23 & axillary clearance mid Sept 23. I started my adjacent chemo mid Oct 23 That was kadcyla. Bit of nausea, tiredness, loss of appetite, cramps & mild joint/muscle ache. 12C finished end of May 24. By then I just felt I’d aged & body worn out. I walk, swim & sail. By mid Sept 24 I was fit & well enough to do the 11 day walk from S Devon to N Devon (110 miles). By Xmas I felt that everything was back to normal. Last things were finger nails 
. It was a long haul, but for some reason the cancer was very aggressive - only grade 2 & no mastatisis. So on balance I look back on it all as right for me. I haven’t sugar coated it & hope that’s OK. If u have any more questions or even if you want to speak that’s OK with me. I’ll just answer your questions & let you know how it was for me. All decisions etc are yours. Keep strong & im with you all the way. Annaxx