Looked on here for the first time today - as just been diagnosed yesterday. Phew! Thank goodness I did - I now feel a little more sure of what truck just hit me. Can anyone tell me why some people have chemo before radiation and others just get radiation? Thanks Jo
Hi Jo
Welcome to the Breast Cancer Care forums. I am sure you will get lots of help and advice from the many informed users of this site. You may find BCC’s resource pack helpful, it has been designed for those newly diagnosed. If you would like a copy just follow the link below:
breastcancercare.org.uk//content.php?page_id=7514
If you feel you need to talk to someone in confidence about your fears and concerns, please give the helpline a call, the staff here are all either breast care nurses or people who have personal experience of breast care issues and are able to offer you advice and help or just a ‘listening ear’ The number to call is 0808 800 6000 the lines open Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm and Saturdays 9am - 2pm.
I hope this is of some help to you.
Best wishes
Lucy
Hi Jo
I have only recently been diagnosed (last week) and have been asking similar questions to yours. Im not totally sure and Im sure some other ladies will help me out, but I think the type of treatment depends on where the cancer is and wether they think it has or has a chance of spreading. This is the probably the same with the type of operation that you will offered, removal of lump or mastectomy.
It really does help to discuss your symptoms, appointments, treatment etc, on here I have found it so informative. These ladies have been there and done it they know how you feel and can help you through.
love and best wishes
Ann
Hi Ann
Thanks for your help - I have sent for the pack they recommend on here so perhaps that will help too. I thought perhaps that was why - I haven’t had my op yet so any treatment they have mentioned is only theoretical so far - just praying not to have chemo (vanity - long hair)!
Is your op scheduled for June like mine?
Best Wishes Jo
So sorry you have had to join us here on the forums. I was dx with invasive ductal bc in January, and like you I was dreading chemo. I was told at dx that following my surgery (WLE - or lumpectomy as it’s also known) the most likely treatment plan would be chemo then rads and then tamoxifen and/or herceptin depending on the lab results. In the end the onc team decided chemo was not required in my case - just 29 rads and tamoxifen for 5 years. When they told me I would not be getting chemo I was releived but also a bit scared… I had resigned myself to the idea of chemo and was prepared for it … now they were taking it away and that meant I had 1 less weapon to fight the cancer with, but they assured me that tbe 2 weapons still at hand would be enuff.
Good luck with your op in June.
Hi Jo
My surgery is booked for June 4th and my results should be back by June 18th, what are your dates?. I’m also getting the results of a “suspicious” cyst tomorrow. If you are anything like me your emotions will be up and down like a yo yo.Trying to take in all of this information and still get on with your day to day life.
Have a read of my posts under newly diagnosed with breast cancer ( what should I do ) I have been given lots of help and advice from the ladies who have replied to my questions.
Remember we can and will fight this. Ask questions and read the other ladies stories and experiences, we need to have as much information as possible as there a lot of decisions to make along the way.
Thinking of you
Love
Ann
Hi Lilacblushes
Thanks for the info I will check out your thread.
I hadn’t thought about chemo as another weapon - but I guess you are right - better no hair and well than lovely locks and maybe going thru the whole thing again! I think (as I’m sure you all do) that the not knowing and the waiting is the worst. I am trying to look on the bright side. It is invasive cancer but only 8mm (as far as they know) so a good prognosis hopefully.
I hope your treatment went OK.
Best Wishes Jo
Hi Ann
The op is scheduled for 16th June but they haven’t said when I get the results. Maybe I get more info when I go for the pre-med on Thursday.
So sorry to hear you have a ‘suspicious’ cyst - hope it turns out to be OK. Yes the emotions are all over the place and yet I am almost detatched from it as well. I have told my Mum (who is a GP) who will transmit it to friends and family and I am dreading the phone calls now. Also my son is in the middle of his AS exams so I am waiting till they are over before I say anything to him and trying to act normal and not just bursting into tears and hugging him is very hard. My OH has been wonderful but I somehow feel guilty that our life together is altering and it is all my fault.
Oh well - enough cathartic verbals, back to the Sunday roast.
Thanks for your info on your posts - I will check them out.
Best Wishes Jo
Hi Jo
Just wanted to let you know that I was thinking about you. How are you feeling?
Lots of love
Ann
Hi Ann
Thank you so much for caring. I think I’m OK - asked about proceedures on ‘Sentinal node & blue dye’ and got some good answers so far.
May have alianated Pauline by calling her a Smurf tho - oops!
How are you - didn’t you find out about your ‘suspicious’ cyst today? Hope it was OK?
Jo xx
Oh Ann
Just looked on your thread and saw your news - so sorry. Certainly makes the decision easier for you tho. Is the date still the same for the op?
How are you feeling?
Jo xx
Hi Jo
Yes date still the same. Was hoping for it to be just a cyst but it will take most of the doubt away that it might return. I think we must have some hidden coping mechanism if someone had told me this was going to happen a couple of months ago I would have had a nervous breakdown. All that really matters now is getting rid of it and not letting it beat me. A few war wounds along the way should be expected, I’m sure one day I will be so proud of myself for getting through this. Marcus (hubby) has been great I didn’t think he had it in him but would have been lost without him.
Have been told the blue dye thing can take a while to fade, couldn’t they make it pink or brown so we look suntanned!!
Anyway has your son finished his exams yet? It will feel a little better once everyone knows at least then you can talk freely.
Funny story for you. Let all of my friends know by text on Sun night so was a bit on edge picking my boys up from school, left them in after school until 4.30. On the way out I saw one of my friends husbands who I know very well. He hadn’t realised that I had seen him and quickly put his mobile to his ear and started talking very loudly. As he walked past me he put his thumb up and said ok (what’s all that about!) and continued with his one way conversation rushing quickly past. I do wonder what goes through their minds.
Thinking of you
Ann
Hi Ann
People are funny aren’t they, Its like all of a sudden you have grown two heads!!!. On the whole people have been ok with me, but they will keep telling me ‘you look well’ which really p****s we off, I must admit I usualy snap back ‘well I should do. i’m not ill’. I don’t know why it just really bugs me. And my mum rings me every day asking me how I slept(another annoyance). I know people are only being kind but somethimes it just wants to make you scream!!!
Debs x
Hi Ann
I know what you mean I am coping better than I thought I would (OH is always a rock). My son’s exams don’t finish until same day as your op - so yes I will be happier when he is in the loop, but he is a very sensitive boy and internalises things and worries so I am hoping to stress that I am not going to drop down dead immediately!
Not so much worried about the dye not fading as the fact that I may not be offered the choice of Sentinal Node thingy & them just taking pot luck and butchering my perfectly good arm!!!
My OH has emailed all our friends and I told my Mum & so far I haven’t had to face anyone as OH is getting the phone calls and emails - but I am hopeless at social niceties and will probably just deck someone if they p**s me off!
Hope it isn’t the BC nurse who I will try to contact about the Sentinel Node thing later on!
Yes I am sure the coming beautiful Summer - when we are all off work and sunning our bruised and cut bodies in the garden with OH & kids will help to remind us how lucky we really are (if rains all the time tho - I will blackmail my OH into a very expensive hol abroad - I need some Sun).
Off to buy some MRSA Pyjams from M & S now - another thing I had never heard of before I came on here. Also some serious ‘spoiling me’ shopping as we deserve it.
We will overcome.
Love Jo
xx
Am going shopping tomorrow to buy some easy on easy off tops and some new make up. Determined to look as good as poss.
Bloods back this morning all look fine hopefully this means it hasn’t spread, and the BC nurse is trying to get me a scan booked as concerned (me not them) about the pain in my arm.
Phone keeps ringing and texts keep coming but can’t be bothered to reply back, am having a lazy day at home, hubby is coming home for lunch and I feel pretty good today.
Have a great day ladies.
Love
Ann
Hi Ann
Good news about your bloods I’m sure this means it is just localised and when they whip it away you will be all clear again.
I keep getting pains in my arm and also in my other breast, but everything has come back OK so far so it is probably just in my fevered imagination.
I am still dodging phone calls etc. My sister and brother are both abroad at the moment so will no doubt have to go thru it with them. My sister has just had a boob job so I am sure she is going to go ballistic incase she is likely to get it too. Ha! She paid all that money and I could get one on the NHS.
Hope you had a nice lazy day yesterday with hubby and go mad with the ‘spoiling me’ shopping today.
Love Jo
xx