Diagnosed 6 weeks ago but new to all of this...

Diagnosed with breast cancer Recently diagnosed with breast cancer
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Hi everyone :slight_smile:

 

I’m a 38yr old lady who was diagnosed 7 weeks ago, but everything has happened so fast that I am still processing and catching up mentally, emotionally and physically.  I registered here on the forums a few weeks ago but there’s been that much going on that it hasn’t been until now where I felt like I had time / space to read and post!  This might be a long post so sorry in advance for the long read, there is just so much to talk about that my head is all over the place.

 

I’ve already read through a substantial amount of stuff on the forum that has kept me sane and made me feel comforted, so I wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone who shares their stories and experiences on here, as honestly, I don’t know what I would have done with out it.  I am simply in awe (and inspired) by how strong, courageous and caring everyone in this community is :smileyvery-happy:

 

I was diagnosed with Grade 1 invasive ductal carcinoma, 5cm tumour and node positive.  I am still struggling to get my head around how I didn’t even know that tumour was there - it wasn’t so much a lump as a “hardness” or thickness, which now when I think about it, have no idea how I didn’t feel it.  That in itself frightened me quite badly, as I do usually do regular checks…but well, for some reason didn’t even pick up on this.

 

Treatment plan is chemo before surgery, so 6 cycles of FEC-T, followed by full mastectomy, rads and 5 - 10 years of Tamoxifen.  The NHS haven’t messed around…within a week or two of diagnosis, I’d completed MRI, CT and bone scans and started chemotherapy. I’ve already managed to get through 2 cycles of FEC and am due a third next week.  

 

I was told my scans came back clear but with some stuff they don’t know what the issue is (bone scan showed a bit of deterioration in my upper spine which could be due to family history of stuff like osteoporosis and spondylitis) and apparently I have quite a lot of cysts on my liver which although harmless, is a little unusual.

 

So that’s me and where I’m at.  I found a lovely support group through my local hospice but have had clashing appointments or hospital stays so I’ve only really been able to talk to other ladies on one occasion so far.  I figured I needed to be involved a bit more with others as it really is quite isolating otherwise, no matter how wonderful or supportive friends and family may be.  It has given me real comfort and hope reading everyone’s experiences and stories on here.  If anyone is from the East Lancashire or Greater Manchester area and would like to get in touch to meet up for a coffee and a chat, I would be very happy to do so :smileyhappy:

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Gillyflower

 

A very warm hello and welcome to the forum, which you have already seen has loads of wonderful ladies who will be able to help and support you.  As much as you have your family and friends around it is lovely to have a safe environment in which you can say things that you dont want to say to them for fear of upsetting them.

 

I was the same, following a routine 3 yearly mammo (the 3rd one I had had since turning 50), I was recalled as there was an area which was thickened, I never felt it, I will admit I did not check myself regularly, however the nurse said to me that I would not have found it in a month of sundays, so I would not beat yourself up about not knowing that it was there.  I was diagnosed with tubular bc, 17mm tumour which was eostrogen positive.

 

I joined here six weeks after I had had surgery as I was scared to post on a forum because I had never done it before, that was 2 years ago next month.  I had a lumpectomy, snb which the surgeon achieved clear margins, 20 sessions of rads and I am on hormone blocking as it was ER+ for 10 years.  It is a lot to take in but it is good that you are giving yourself time to process it all and honestly you will get there. I have a DEXA scan every two years as I have osteoporosis of the spine and being on the tablets they like to keep an eye on it and have a benchmark to refer to.

 

Keep coming here whenever you want to and there will always be someone here to help

 

Sending you hugs

 

Helena xx

 

 

Well done for getting through your treatment so far

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I had a thickening which I felt and turned out to be lobular cancer. When they MRId my other breast, there’s a 4cm cancer sitting in that one too, which none of the doctors can feel, even knowing where it is! I certainly had no idea!

Waiting second mastectomy, axillary node clearance from the original side then chemo and radio. Good luck

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Hi Mukul,
A warm welcome, although of course, you’d rather not be here.
There are certainly others here with a similar diagnosis & treatment plan to you, who be be along to share their experience.
Do look at the ‘going through treatment ‘ thread, where you will be able to join the monthly chemo thread if you want & talk to others going through similar.
ann x

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Hi mukul

And welcome gillyflower
I find great knowledge in these forums
I am also TNB
I have had lumpectomy and my first chemo is tomo
I only had mri no other scans
I got clear margins with surgery
This isn’t a place anyone wants to be but it shows us we are not alone xx

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Hi
I didn’t sleep much due to being anxious and nervous
Spent the majority of yesterday trying not to cry
But the nurse was lovely was all over in two hours
My husband took me for lunch
We brought a wig from the hospital ready
I have to say this I was really dreading but the lady was just so nice
I am now feeling a little sicky and have lovely pink urine but it really wasn’t as bad as I thought actually having it
I hope your both holding up as well as you can
I know the first few weeks are just awful the waiting feels like years but as you see I’m sat here saying one chemo down 7 to go xx