Hi - just wonder if this has happened to anybody else? I had high grade dcis and a mastectomy was recommended as it was a large area including nipple and I have /had big boobs. Surgeon sent me for snb - came back clear so op went ahead. I had mastectomy, immedaite recon and reduction on othes boob - in hospital a week and delighted with results - had dressings off on Friday and felt life was great and back on track. After I had dressed was told that path lab had found a small but very aggressive tumour - grade 3 in the removed boob - so now I am waiting to see oncologists - re chemo - - in 4-6weeks - can’t get my head round needing chemo if my lymph nodes ere proven clear and tumour is totally gone - any ideas? Also any way you can get body prepared for chemo - diet etc . I’m usually a cheery soul and have been thus far but not at the mo…x
Hi chebsy13
Welcome to the Breast Cancer Care chat forums where I am sure you will get lots of help and advice from the many informed users of this site. In the meatime you may be interested in BCC’s publication regarding chemotherapy. You can either download a copy or order a free copy on line. Just follow the link below.
breastcancercare.org.uk/content.php?page_id=664
If you feel you need to speak to someone in confidence then BCC’s helpline is available Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm and Sat 9am - 2pm. Calls are free, 0808 800 6000 The staff here are all either trained breast care nurses or people with personal experience of breast care issues. Hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Jo, Facilitator
Hiya
Im sure you will get lots of responses. Its not nice finding out like that but look at it that chemo is going to help you. Its hard emotiaonally and physically but it is doable and well for me wasnt as bad as I’ve built it up to be, ive just had my second. I was going to diet and things and my nurse told me not to, enjoy my few normal weeks and in fact Im putting weight on as it makes me want to eat all the time - trying to get some healthy things in but nurse again said have a bit of what you fancy and then worry about it after the chemo - that might not be everyones view though
xxxx
p.s. even after chemo life does go on - im back at work and socialising with friends - infact have a busier social life
xxx
Hi Chebsy,
Sorry to hear you are walking this walk with us but nice to talk to you. I know how you feel about the chemo, that made me cry more than the BC dx. I have grade2, lumpectomy and no nodes and I am on chemo, mainly because I am under 50. I was told the under 50 bit does it most times in my area but also told it would significantly improve my chance of not getting it back, so have gritted my teeth and getting on with it for a better future. Well actuallly I moan a lot about it!! But it feels good to know that I am doing everything I can (still got radiotherapy after this too, yipee) to make sure that all the micro cells that are too small to see are zapped and anything else lurking about. It will give you your best chance of beating BC for good, chemo increases your chance by one third. So if your % chances were 60% for example they would go up to 80%. You can find out more about your individual chances with or without chemo but think hard before you ask. I decided I would not be able to stay positive if they told me it was well below my own expectation from things I have read and chickened out, just happier personally to remain blissfully ignorant. You may of course feel that knowing is better for you but you cannot forget once they have told you. As to the chemo itself, well I was convinced I would die on the spot but of course I didn’t. Skipped out the hospital, fine for 2 days, then got side effects, then better and 2 weeks of fun and eating for England again. I don’t enjoy having it but in my case no pain, no sickness just very weary, a bit emotional, funny tastes and a bit delicate like being pregnant. It depends on your treatment really once you know you can look up the drugs and ask people who have been on the same ones.It is a lot to take in, the shock of it, ask anything you like. You can do this and everyone here will help as much as they can. Just take little steps in the right direction. I had dose 2 last Tuesday and am planning a great day out tomorrow.
Hugs to you
Lily x
Hi Chebsy - Sorry that this has come out of the blue for you, and no wonder it is a shock. Like you I had clear nodes, but had a grade 3 tumour, am under 50 and also had some lympho vascular invasion. Taken together, I was advised to have chemo to mop up any cells that might be lurking. I had a WLE, so am also having radiotherapy (nearly finished now). As Lisaf and Lily have said, although it is pretty hard doing, it is manageable, and well worth going through as a good investment for a healthier future. You will find lots of threads on chemo here, and if there are a group of you starting around the same time it is a real support sharing experiences and encouraging each other as you go along. It may seem a weird way of looking at it Chebsy, but the good thing is that they have found the tumour while it is very small, had you not had a mastectomy I wonder how long it would have been before it was found, or before cancer cells had spread to the lymph nodes. I am sure that you are reeling at the moment, and am sorry you have to go through this. We will all be here supporting you and please let us know how you get on. Sarah x
Many thanks to all of you for your sympathy and encouragement - i love the phrase- “it is doable”- great word and if you can all do it then so can I - was wondering about taking extra vitamins - have just come off hrt for the op and am worrying about going into free fall without my prop!
Just waiting for appt to come through so I know what’s planned…still - got a great pair of boobs out of it - and can stand up straight without being weighted down…and I can see my feet when i am standing up - now 36 c instead of 38f /ff- lost weight too - down to just below 10 stone- still recovering from op - so not all bad!
Thanks to you lot - I think the Mrs Positivity is back - onwards and upwards - lots of love x
… well, with your new body and changed shape it must surely be a good reason to take yourself to the shops for a bit of retail therapy once you are really over the op! Personally, I can’t think of any better preparation for the chemotherapy than spoiling yourself with a little bit of pampering, and while you are out you might like to treat yourself to some lovely body cream/face cream to use if your skin feels dry during the chemo (a little bit of luxury goes a long way). You will get through this Chebsy, despite the days you feel yuk you will find that you will hopefully then get a couple of weeks when you don’t feel too bad again - just take everything one day at a time, and be very, very nice to yourself, and make sure everyone else is as well!! Let us know how you get on. love Sarah x
hi i was the same as you. my god what a shock when you have just had op. before mast and recon i was having lumpectomy and rads. all changed as found bits in margin lymph clear though. they said mast and imm recon and wouldnt need rads. so i thought gt go for it. then to be told i may need chemo. well at my meeting i was offered chemo but would only gain 2 percent by having it. but if i had it i could have herceptin. according to my surgeon over treatment. onc said as under 50 (only just) i was offered it but up to me. if i was over 50 wouldnt offer it and if i was 40 i would be told to have it. this made my decision harder. my local hosp wouldnt have offered it as small gain not worth putting body through. i eventually decided to go for it as wanted herceptin. i was down for 6 fec but could stop at 4 if felt like it. as long as had 4 i would be allowed herceptin. i had 1st dose and felt great could have spent night on town. no side effect at all. i couldnt believe what fuss about it had to get worse. 2nd dose ill for about a week. third dose ill all time. 4th dose the same even with extra strong anit sickness pills. it wasnt worth putting my body through any more chemo. i decided to stop and onc thought i had done right thing although she couldnt say till i made my decision. now waiting for herceptin. i also used cold cap and it worked. sorry to put a downer on things as such but some times all answers you get are the ones you want to hear if you know what i mean. i really hope all goes well for you. i also think it was hard as couldnt see any improvement as such as nothing to improve just added insurance. it must in a way seem easier to carry on if have a tumor and actually see it shrinking. i hope i have explained in way it was meant and not offended anyone. take care julie.
hi Chebsy
I think we spoke when you first joined the forum. I had wle no clear margins so mast no nodes involved, I have just finished 6 FEC and I am waiting to start rads. Although I wont say its a walk in the park, it is deffinitely doable. I was originally told that I would be having wle and tamoxifen boy did they get that wrong. But at the end of the day if it gets rid of the little b@@@@@@@r I will have whatever they want to throw at me. There is a really good thread on here top tips which is brilliant and gives loads of good ideas. Everyone seems to be different, I was on a thread with several other ladies so we went through it together (same chemo, same time) which really helped.
The top tip seems to drink loads of fluids which is easier said than done when you feel sick, but your meds can be adapted to suit you so you need not suffer.
Hope this helps and wishing you all the best, you will be surprised by how quick it will go - I was.
Love and hugs
Karen
XXX
Hiya Chebsy
I’m doing chemo and also had no lymph involvement, ie treatment is adjuvant (just in case). I’m also under 40 but as one of my tumours was not responsive to hormones chemo is the only ajuvant treatment that suits.
So I’m doing the chemo, just done round 1 fec and am entering my good week, not so bad so far. Actually last night a friend in the pub (yes pub) pointed out that I was more stressed waiting to see the oncologist because I didn’t know what was next, so if you turn out to be like me you may very well be more stressed right now.
Angie
Hi Chesby,
I too was really shocked when chemo was suggested. I had WLE & 3 lymph nodes removed (all clear), then further WLE to clear margins as tumour was larger than expected (lobular not ductal). All along I was given the impression I would have surgery, then radiotherapy, then hormone treatment for five years. I found myself very ‘low’ for a few days after the bombshell, but have now had my first chemo and it wasn’t as bad as I expected 
Hi Chebsy
Nice to hear you pulling it all back together so well. Vitamins are tricky on here, some will say absolutely and list them like a pro and others will say no don’t bother, so probably a personal choice. One more little bonus, the amount of chemo is partly based on your weight, so I guess you will get a bit less now. Just eat healthily and try to avoid bugs as you want a strong immune system
Take care
Lily x
Hi Chebsy,
My initial diagnosis was wide-spread DCIS so I too had a mastectomy with reconstruction. However, like you, an aggressive tumour was found during the surgery so although no lymph node involvement I was offered chemo ‘just in case’ and to lessen my chances of recurrence. Like Lily, I decided not to ask about statistics - my brain doesn’t work like that so thought I probably wouldn’t understand them anyway - but to go with the oncologists’ advice. I had my first FEC last Friday and apart from a few moments of quesyness and a funny taste in my mouth and tiredness - it has been okay. And the ladies on here are so supportive and helpful. Make the most of your time before your chemo starts - let others treat you and spoil yourself too - so you have some good memories going forward.
Take care, Angela
Hi all - thanks very much for comments - especially those who didn’t know chemo was a possibility - it is now the waiting to find out that’s hard as Angie said. But you lot make it sound …well…doable! Still convalescing well ( read that as spoilt brat - husband actually borrowed a chaise longue so I can lie there and demand peeled grapes) And as a supply teacher in small primary schools and living in a small Cornish village - I am surrounded by flowers - florist in next village thinks I am setting up in opposition …See my lovely consultant on Tues but really the meeting with oncologist is what I’m waiting for-o date yet - lots of love to all you lovely peeps xx
Adding a PS - Saturday -last night found small very hard lump on maste/recon side below scar - scary but luckily seeing consultant on Tues as I said -
Chebsy,
really sorry to hear that but it could be scar tissue. Brilliant timing to be seeing the consultant and thinking of you. Good luck and keep us posted
Hugs
Lily x
Hi Lily - thanks for that - will keep you posted - just phoned BCN here in Cornwall - at my husband’s insistence - seeing the big man tomor so felt no need - think it was to put his mind at rest…she said it might be a small build up of fluid that could have solidified! …sounds like chip fat! well? Wait and see tomor - how are you doing -Did you have a good day out last week as planned? I faced the world and his wife yesterday - first outing - went to christening and then down to local for drinks and nibbles - all a bit overwhelming - such a tiny village yet so many caring people- wanted a tattoo across my forehead -“I’m fine - no worries!” One white wine spritzer and I was ready for home - still it was good! Cheers xx
Wondering how you other peeps are doing - Lalalla, Angie, Julie Karen Sarah Lisa- Hope keeping fit and fine- you are all so brill at encouraging me after your treatment - I look forward to doing the same for others -xxxxxx
HI Chebsy - How did you get on when you saw the surgeon? Hope he was able to reassure you. I had WLE which now has hard lump under, but have been told it is most likely scar tissue. Glad you are getting good support. This is a brilliant site - has seen me through the last seven months! Sarah x
Hi Chesby like you I had mastectomy & recon (I had lobular cancer) I had good clear margins and no node involvement. I too was sent to an Onc and chemo was recommended (in the process of having it now) which I was actually glad about as my sister wasn’t given this opportunity 4 years ago and she had a recurrance in Oct last year. I hope that by having chemo now I will not have to go through what she has had foru the last 6 months…hopefully she is now in remission again. Chemo isn’t nice andI I will be glad when it is finished but it hasn’t been as bad as I thought it would be. Hope you have good news today and you can move forward.
XX
Hi all - feel a bit of a prat - the lump I felt was the wee attachment for increasing/decreasing my implant…would’ve been good if they told me it was there - anyway - saw my lovely consultant and his gang today and posed for the after photos …be in the Sun next week - joke…I think…they like me are absolutely delighted with their creation -and I 'll hopefully get new nipple in six months “Looking for an unusual Christmas presnt - how about a new nipple?” It’s well worth the hour and a half’s drvie to these appointments - don’t knowif I said I live in wilds of Cornwall? Now waiting for oncologists appointment - Love to all xxx