I am new to this site, but I think it will be really supportive in the coming months.
November is a horrid blur of finding a small lump whilst showering, being assured it was just a cyst and then on 15/Nov being told it was in fact breast cancer. I am 36 and still feel quite young, even though I know much younger women get the same horrible news. My husband has been in bits, but my 3 year old son has kept our spirits up.
I had my surgery on Dec 1st, and feel really lucky that I was able to have the sential node procedure, (although I did turn blue for a few hours!), and it was only a wide local excision and not a full mastectomy.
Last night I got the news I was hoping for that there was no spread to the lymph nodes and so I am now officially Grade 3 Stage 1, invasive ductal carcinoma, not HER-2 receptive. I know I will have to face radio and chemo therapy in the new year, but I feel really positive that it will be preventative treatment and not a battle to reduce a tumour.
I have a great support network at home, but I have found it really makes a difference talking to people with similar experiences and not just buckets of sympathy. Looking forward to making new friends.
sorry you to join this site but it really does help.
I was diagnosed on 15 nov too, but due to an ifection i was not able to have my WLE until 2 days ago, thw surgeon is pretty cetain i have lymph node invasion so i have see onc next week and start chemo and thrn rads.
Well they can throw what they want at me as long as they get rid of this wretched disease.
I hope you are not too sore and bruised, and that you get your results soon (mine took 10 days). My sis-in-law went through all this 2.5 years ago, had grade 3, stage 2 spread to lymph nodes and is doing really well now.
It was such a relief to me to have the thing taken out, and I feel the same as you about facing the next stage of treatment - whatever they need to do to fix me. I am lucky that I don’t have to have further surgery, and I hope you don’t either, but my only priority is to be around for my son and my husband.
I am glad you have a great support network at home, but as you say, any time you need to let off steam, this site is invaluable. Also I am pleased you are happy with your treatment. Knowing that they are treating you well is a great comfort.
Anyway, all the best with your results and ongoing treatment, same to you Linda
Hi Everyone
It has taken me a while to join in but I have found all your comments very helpful. I was diagnosed on 8.11.2007 and had a wide local excision and sentinel node biopsy on 29.11.2007. Good news they did not use the blue dye. It was 3.5 but I had a lot to work with so excision was fine. My consultant is female and now she has moved the tissue around it is hard to see the difference between the two breasts. Results on Thursday 13th December and the healthy tissue sample was clear. Unfortunately sentinel node is positive so I have to go back and have them cleared. Someone has cancelled because of xmas! so I have a slot this Tuesday( 17th) to have that done. I am quite happy to get it over and done with so I can move on to the next set of results.
One thing I have learnt from this site is that I am certainly not alone!
Thank you
hi cathy,
i was dx in jan 04…after having very small lump for 18 mths before GP referred me …‘’ to put my mind at ease !! ‘’…result…12mm tumour, grade 3, no node involvement, ER+…WLE, chemo, radio’ and now tamoxifen…
do stay in touch…its very friendly here…I’m just sorry you have had to join us.
Thanks to everyone for the messages, hope things are going well for lindysloo. Been stupid busy with Xmas and my three year old, and the news I got from the oncologist on Monday. Was expecting them to throw nasty stuff at me and they confirmed it. I will start my chemo in the first few weeks of Jan and will be on Epirubicin/Cyclosphosphamide combined then Taxol alone in an acelerated course over about 3-4 months in total.
I am expecting to lose my hair and have booked an apt with a wig place tomorrow - any tips? Will also check out the rest of the forum.
Not looking forward to it, but I know it is a neccessary evil and I should be through it all quickly.
Hope all went well for acornj on the 17th - must check the rest of the forum! Still getting used to finding my way around.
Feeling positive still, but the holidays are a wonderful distraction.
Hope everyone on this site has a good time in the next few weeks.