Hi Angie. I was lucky in that it wasn’t in my lymph nodes so I didn’t need treatment. The waiting is never pleasant but for me the wait after surgery was better than the wait for individual test results before the surgery. I think that is probably because I was recovering from the operation whereas before it I felt physically well and could still do most of my normal activities. I just wanted definite answers and a plan of action but it is not always as easy as that.
I am struggling a bit now as I am usually on the go all of the time and have been forced into doing very little. I thought I would be ready to return to work but I am not.
Hello again Angie,
and others rosebud, Sue and MaryDan ( sorry if I’ve missed anyone who has just replied)
Angie, lymph nodes are filters for the body, their design is such that they keep toxins (like cancer) if they are working effectively. Now, of course this doesn’t mean that some haven’t escaped of course, but as you’ve been told they will take lymph nodes until they reach a ‘clear’ status which minimises the possibility that cancer cells can spread from those nodes to other parts of the body. When nodes are affected it is good practice to do some further scans ‘just to be sure’ that none have escaped…after all you’d want and need to know so treatment could be tailored accordingly. I know it’s a scary thought, but don’t panic even if various nodes are affected, there are so many people who have had just that scenario and had effective treatment. I’m not much help with advice on the whole lymph node thing, as I was fortunate enough to have clear sentinel nodes, but I’ve seen it talked about on here so often.
Marydan, you are right to take it easy and follow advice to do so! Best to not rush things as healing and recovery will take longer, especially with your MS. We all want to get back to normal ASAP, but some care needs to be taken to listen to your mind and body.
hugs to rosebud and Sue x
Hi Angywd
Hopefully meeting with your oncologist was able to allay some of your fears. I’ve been offline a couple of days (thanks BT!), so you may have posted elsewhere or had other feedback. However, if not, then a huge hug and welcome to a friendly place to safely offload a lot of the fears we all share and know that your anxieties are understood. It sounds like you’ve been dealt multiple rubbish to deal with. When is your surgery? Hopefully you will have a good BC nurse who can advise on support available both of you and your children locally. I did go and see a counsellor after I was diagnosed, which helped hugely and you maybe able to access this via GP, if not your BC nurse. big hugs xx
Doh! I suddenly see loads of replies, which weren’t there when I first looked - maybe BT was doing me and my addled brain a favour keeping me offline! Xx
Not sure if Im doing this right . Im awaiting the results of my second biopsy to tell me if the DCIS is contained or whether there is other cells present aswell . Looking at other threads with ladies with tumours I feel perhaps I shouldnt feel as in need …if that makes sense . But never the less Im feeling bit spaced out and overwhelmed . Ill be going to see surgeon in next couple of weeks . I believe he /she will tell me final results and discuss options . Am I supposed to ask questions at this point ? dont even know what to ask ? Im so sorry 7oanne for what you are going through , I think Im experiencing similar anxiety that you have . Hope you have sorted your management plan now and it is clear , goodluck x
Thank you for reply . Iv just read it and two seconds has passed and I can’t remember much of what you said …how bad is that ! I can’t retain much at all at present . I will write the questions down and ask what you have suggested although much of it makes no sense . I’m guessing the terminology will start making sense soon . I’m probably a week behind getting my appointment with surgeon as machine broke the day I went for 2nd biopsy and it was end of following week before I had it . This resulted in missing the MDT meeting . I’m hoping to get at least a date to see surgeon and hear final results and options by the end of this week . First biopsy was so positive and I felt deflated when I realised the second one can change the picture of the diagnosis. Hopefully not long to wait . I will revisit your advice and pop it down in my writing pad . Thank you and very much appreciated x
Hello Angie I’m not surprised you feel out of control. What a shock for you and all in 3 weeks . My problem was picked up on my routine mammogram. I have no pain or lumps that I have noticed . I feel so grateful that it has been picked up and I am on the pathway. That is something I have not managed to get any information on yet . So I don’t know what the guidelines say. Because I now know the second biopsy can tell a different story I don’t really know what my definate diagnosis is . I have DCIS and it is widespread in my right breast . That’s all I know other than its probably a mastectomy. I’m not frightened at the moment but I am very stressed with the wait . Iv had a few weeks to absorb things unlike you who has had so much thrown at you in a short space of time . Big hugs for you and thank you for sharing your journey with me x
Hi Jo
Great name 
I thought I would introduce myself as I am also due to meet an oncologist tomorrow for the 1st time after being diagnosed with grade 3 er/pr+ cancer back in July. 10.5.mm, No nodes involved but terrifying none the less. I opted for a double mastectomy (which I had on 25th Aug) as I have a family history of bc and wanted to do everything I could to minimise future risks.
My boobs still feel tender and a bit lumpy where I can feel stitches, etc. I also have a bit of swelling on the side of one that my surgeon assures me is perfectly normal. I am still sleeping on my back propped up by several pillows!
The thought of chemo makes me nervous as I have a busy life with 4 children and can’t bear the thought of being incapacitated for days on end, but they way I am looking at it is a few rubbish weeks in exchange for a (hopefully) long life after. I have a friend going through chemo now and she has assured me it is nowhere near as bad as she was expecting and has managed to work throughout most of it. However, I accept that everyone is different and I may not fayre so well.
I am planning to join the monthly chemo thread once I know when I will be starting and think it will probably be October for me too. It would be good to go through this together.
Good luck tomorrow and let’s share stories after
Jo xxx
Hi Jo
My diagnosis was similar. Er+ but grade 2. One SNB node affected so then went through full node clearance. Right side mx with temporary expander which will be swapped for implant. No radio. Still not slept on my right side as very uncomfortable.
I had first chemo last week which I was dreading. Cold capped so was there for longer. Felt nauseous from about 2 hours after treatment and I was sick the first night. Nausea feeling lasted about 6 days in total. By day 7 I felt fine. Back to normal near enough. I went back to work yesterday. Everyone is different though so you may find completely different or very few side effects.
I’ve had a Picc line fitted as my veins were too small to even get blood from let alone try and get the chemo in! Best thing I’ve done. The nurse who popped it in said if she were to have chemo it would be the first thing she would ask for. One of the ladies I met insisted before treatment she wanted a line, so maybe that’s a question for the ONC. Also anti sickness meds. They are changing mine for next time as original ones were not that effective. Emend is apparently the gold standard, a lot of people ask for this from the start. I didn’t know anything about it but have asked for it next time on advice.
As sue said, they can give you the 10 year prognosis. My ONC gave me it without asking but to be honest I’d already looked at the Predict tool anyway!
Hope all how well tomorrow
Sarah x
Hi Sue H-S, Joandthetribe, Sarah04 and Angywd,
Thank you for all your responses.
I had my appointment with the Oncologist the other day (albeit an hour and a half late so enough time to start feeling anxious!).
It seems that I will need 6 cycles of FEC type chemo followed by three weeks of radio as well as the hormone tablets. They said that they want me to start the chemo on 13th October (only three weeks away now!)
They made an automatic appointment for me to have a PICC line fitted just beforehand but I’m quite worried about this as I’ve heard about blood clots and Thrombosis etc. Do the majority of people opt for the PICC line and if so do you have any problems with it? Is it a good thing to have? (thanks for your advice on this Sarah04). I can decide not to have it fitted by cancelling the appointment, but then I will have to have injections each time instead.
They have also suggested that I have the Flu jab before I start as well as a dental check-up.
The Oncologist said that the margins were clear around the tumour and that the node that had the trace in was a micro mattise.
I hope your results with the Oncologist were good (joandthetribe - let me know) and I hope your surgery is healing well (Angywd) and that there are no more affected nodes.
Lots of love and hugs to all
Jo xx
Hi Jo
Personally I am very glad I had the Picc line. I hardly notice it’s there really apart from having it flushed every week. I’ve only had one round of chemo so far but absolutely no problems with the Picc. I know that I would have dreaded the cannula every time, and all the ladies I have spoken too have said they are glad they opted for one.
Hope this puts some of your fears aside.
Sounds like our regimen is similar. I’m having 6 EC.
Love Sarah x
Hi ladies,
I just wanted to tell you of my experience - I had 6 rounds of fec-t all of which were delivered via a portacath.
I have private health insurance with my job so luckily was treated privately & they offer a portacath as standard (one of the girls in my monthly chemo thread lives in France, she was not a private patient but in France a portacath is standard practise - makes me cross our NHS doesn’t do it)
A picc line is certainly better than a cannula however if you can get one then a portacath is better than a picc line.
Ok it’s a bit more involved fitting the portacath I had it done with a local anaesthetic but some people opt for a general - once it heals it’s easier to look after, there’s no infection risk & no weekly flushing required.
With regards to supplements you shouldn’t take anything without speaking to your oncologist first as there are some things you shouldn’t take when on chemo.
Best of luck x
Hi Angie,
Yes, join the October 2016 thread as you can start plotting your way through with others who are going through it at the same time and pick up useful tips. I’m from October 2015 so feel some responsibility for the October 2016 folks :smileyhappy: I found it hugely helpful going through it all with others - it helps you feel less isolated I think and I’m grateful I went through my treatment in the internet age.
Ruth xx
Thank you for asking 7oanne I had a positive meeting with the registrar (apparently they do the initial info giving meeting and I will see the actual oncologist next week to sign consents and get all the technical info)
I need only 4 sessions of FEC and will be starting on 7th Oct. I will also be having zoladex injections to suppress my ovaries and injections of zoledronic acid to protect against osteoporosis. This also has the added benefit of helping to prevent secondary bone cancer and is a new treatment they are offering to early stage bc women. I was like ‘yes please, give me all the drugs’!!
Feeling quite positive about everything and just want to get started now. Will be heading over to the October thread shortly.
Jo x
Hi everyone
I had my surgery just over 2 weeks ago, lumpectomy and full clearance of lymph nodes. I have now had my results and I am reeling… My tumour was twice the size they expected, the surgeon also took 7 biopsies of breast tissue and they are all positive. There were also 9 positive lymph nodes. I have already been booked for a ct scan and chemo to start next week. After chemo I will need a mastectomy.
i actually don’t know what to say anymore, every time I go to the hospital it just gets worse. I try so hard to be positive for each appt but I have completely run out of steam now. I feel that I know the ct scan will show secondary cancer and all I want to do is hide myself away. I can’t sleep or eat and I’m pushing everyone away cos I don’t know what to say to anyone anymore… I’m a single mum and my kids don’t know but I don’t know how much longer I can hide it from them and I know they will devastated. They have no contact with their dad so they have no one to turn to.
ive lost all of my fight and need to find a way back to it…
Angie
x
Angie
so sorry to hear your news . No words can make anything better. Sending you big hugs xxx
Hi everyone, had my meeting with Oncologist on Wednesday - liked her, and am due to start FEC within the next 2 weeks, am having ecg this coming Wednesday. Just about getting my head around everything, but again sometimes feel like I’m in a bubble praying it will burst and I can get out to the normal world again. But I know this will not happen ?Everyone is being supportive - my son is shaving his head in ‘support’!! And my daughter who lives in Australia is planning on coming to see me (I was supposedly going to see them next month). My husband is amazing ?? just want the first treatment now so that I can start the count down to the finish - apparently I need 6 ? then further surgery and radio.
I have found it helps to talk to the professionals in my life - i.e. My hairdresser, the guys at the gym and beauty therapist - it’s incredible just how many people’s lives are affected by Cancer, not just personally but family members too. We are not alone. Be strong everyone. We can do it. ???