I have been following threads on here for a while now and have just moved across from waiting for results. After a hideous two week wait I got my results today. Grade 2 in 2 places and mastectomy.my boob is too small for lumpectomies. Don’t think lypmph nodes affected but they won’t be sure till after surgery. Can’t tell me follow up treatment yet but I am praying not chemo. Thanks to everyone who has already commented on the other thread it helps so much. Can’t really take it all in but he said I will have tamoxifen. My biggest dilemma is I had a holiday booked for 3 weeks time and I don’t know whether to cancel or not. The surgeon said it won’t make any difference to outcomes if I still go but part of me thinks get this thing out and start moving on and the other part thinks have a holiday first then deal with it. It probably sounds a bit trivial but I don’t know what to do. Can’t think straight! How did you all feel after results and how did you get through it. It all seems a long and difficult path at the moment and I don’t know how I am going to negotiate it. Claire xxx
Hi Claire
I’m sorry you have now got your dx. But at least you can now start dealing with it.
As far as the holiday is concerned I would say go for it. I was in a similar situation and moved my holiday forward to have it before my surgery. Yes, the time away was bittersweet but good to have that time as once you start on the treatment track there’s always something else, waiting for the next set of results or starting on the next stage of treatment.
Good luck whatever you decide.
Mary
Hi Claire. I am 45 married with 2 gown up children and a 3yr old grandson. I found a lump on May 31st and got my diagnosis on June 18th, grade 3 invasive. I waited until August 10th to have a lumpectomy and in between diagnosis and op took some annual leave and went to Liverpool for a few days. 1 month after the op i took some more annual leave and I went to Bulgaria. I have been back two weeks now seen the oncologist and just waiting to start 21weeks of chemo and 4 weeks of radiotherapy and then more drugs to take for a few years. I have had 7 days off work in total and have found the best way for me to deal with it is normality as much as possible. I know everyone’s different but I’m feeling strong and determined! It’s s long road but I take it each stage at a time. Diagnosis. Op. Chemo. Radio. You will get through this go away relax recharge you need it x x x keep us posted xx
Hi Claire. Welcome to the club no wants to join!! I’d definitely do your holiday. It won’t make any difference especially as consultant said so. I’ve had extremely long waits as hospital has been overwhelmed with cases. I was diagnosed on May 8th but didn’t have op until June 22nd and waited 13 weeks for rads to start such was the backlog. It’s a long haul post op so I’d enjoy the holiday first. If they thought it was urgent you’d be in now! Good luck. Cx
Hi Claire,
I agree with everyone here (and your consultant). Have your holiday. As people say, there is so much waiting around but then once the treatment plan kicks into place there are lots of appointments, sometimes at short notice, so it will be harder to plan anything once that starts.
I’ve spent this last year postponing doing things because my elderly mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s earlier in the year and I was worried about her. I now bitterly regret it as just as I was about to start making plans the BC hit me. I probably won’t get on holiday until next Spring now but the thought of it is keeping me going at least.
I had three areas of grade two spread out over a B-cup so a mastectomy was the only option. I was devastated and terrified as I’d got to the age of 51 without ever having surgery or even much more than a virus. I am now just over a month post-operation and am glad to say that the whole experience has been much less traumatic than I imagined and considerably less painful. Not sure if you are thinking of reconstruction but thought I’d share my experience. I went for an immediate implant with strattice mesh and it looks a lot better than I thought it would and, so far, problem free. I am so grateful to my surgeon and all the people who have looked after me thus far.
Good luck with your treatment and hope you have a nice holiday. xx
Hi Claire
So sorry you’ve had to join us but as you’ve already found there is so much support on here :smileywink:
I was in a similar position to yourself regarding a holiday. My immediate thought on diagnosis was get it out, get rid of it, cancel holiday, but due to having to have a second MRI scan it pushed everything back a bit. This meant I was a couple of weeks on from the diagnosis and was starting to feel differently from those initial days when things seem like they’ll never be normal again and emotions are all over the shop. When I asked my surgeon about it his exact words were “I think you should go” & “it will do you all good” & “will make no difference to the outcome of your surgery” so once we had the green light from him we decided to go. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to relax or enjoy it, but me my husband and 2 sons did manage to have a lovely week away, I had a couple of wobbles, but wobbles are par for the course and it’s good to release the emotions when you need too. Was nice to be away from everything for a while where no-one knew us or what was happening to me. I did take lots of books to read as it shut my brain up from thinking too much!
Give yourself time to digest all the information and emotions you’re having to deal with just now, before you decide, we only made our mind up the week before the holiday when the surgeon told to go, up till then we were going to cancel.
Take care and good luck with everything :smileywink:
Julie :smileywink: xxx
Hi Claire,
Yes, I do have to have chemo - I start a week tomorrow and am anxious for sure but just want to get on with it now. I had one node involved and the primary tumour was 3.5cm which is why they recommended that route for me. It’s hard not to think too far ahead but I think if you can, just focus on getting the surgery out of the way first as you can drive yourself mad with all the “what ifs”. Of course I’ve not always taken my own advice! As you say, it really is a bummer when you actually feel well but this thing hits you but your life is/will be great again. Sounds like you have a great hubby and family and that you appreciate life. But as Julie says, wobbles are normal. I’ve had plenty I can assure you - hiding in the work loo having a weep was a regular occurrence in the early days.
Coming on here has been a great comfort and people are so wonderfully supportive. It really has been an absolute lifeline.
Look after yourself and come and have a moan when you need to. xx
Hi Claire, I was also in your position with a holiday unfortunately we had to cancel due to my surgery being done 3 weeks before we were due to go if you can you should go and try to enjoy ( I know it’s easier said than done). I have since had all my results back was grade 2 er+ her2- with no nodes involved. They gave me a 90% chance that the cancer will not return without chemo and if I wanted to go for it a 95% chance it won’t return I have still to make my decision.
Give yourself time to digest all the information and emotions you’re having to deal with just now, before you decide
Good luck with whatever you decide
Katrina
Hi, I was diagnosed a week today, I’m 41 and consider myself to be very fit, this is a shocker for me, my hubby and 19 year old daughter. I was advised I will need a mastectomy and chemo and possibly radiotherapy depending on results from an MR I scan. We had a break booked to Barcelona from 1st to 6th October and the doc told me I must go clear my head ready to fight back, we’re due to go back home to Manchester and we’re dreading it, I think reality is now kicking in! Go and try and enjoy your holiday hun, you’re bound to have some blips! Good luck with your journey and stay strong, we all need each other here xx
Good luck with tomorrow Claire, will be thinking of you. I have my scan on Thursday which I’m trying to put to the back of my mind as it scares me! Hopefully tomorrow you’ll come out of the appointment with a plan of attack in place! Sarah xx
Hi I was also diagnosed grade 3 tumour and asked about holiday 2 wks booked to Turkey was advised to go which I did and am scheduled for surgery on Thursday. Still very scared though but enjoyed holiday. X