Hi Chipper,
I think it is the way you get the news that accounts for some things. I was never actually told chemo would make very little difference so did not have that to consider. Since finishing,I have been told I would have been in a good position without any treatment but have had a lot of treatment to improve that further. Onc told me at the start that chemo would significantly improve my outlook as I was rather young (48 then). He said age was the thing I had going against me. It would be a lot easier if they all spoke the same language!
With regard to the tamoxifen, it was no big thing to me after surgery and 12 visits to the chemo unit. Dropping to one tablet a day and 2 minutes on the table was quite celebratory.That sounds terrible now, but that was how I felt after 7 months chemo.
To me even a 1% better chance of keeping my feet on planet earth with my family, would be worth going through a lot for so I always come down on the side of treatment. (Get that tablet down asap to keep you safe x)If I hadn’t done everything they recommended, it would be worming its way round my head all the time, giving me no peace.
Wouldn’t it be fascinating to go to another onc or several and see how they would deal with our individual tumours.
Take care
Lily x
Hi, I’m post surgery 18 days WLE and was given perscription for Tamoxifen this Thursday.Have yet to see onc re Rads.Still not sure about Tamox myself Chipper I’m 51 and not looking forward to the possible SE. But its got to be better than the alternative!!
jellylegs - we could start at the same time for moral suppport and have an encouraging thread - someone sensible suggested this to me on my other thread about refusing tamox.
I started Tam last Thursday so will look out for your thread Chipper and Jelly Legs 
Only taken 4 so far but just seem angry the last 2 days like PMT. Probably something to do with the weather lol.
Lily - I didn’t even query chemo,or think to ask whether there’d be a benefit,however small…I think sometimes if you don’t ask you don’t get told information…I hadn’t considered chemo would come into it.
If they’d given me a choice that would’ve been hard too ! I think had I been through the rigours of chemotherapy I’d’ve not questioned tamoxifen as it can’t be worse than chemo. However,as tamox. after rads is my only line of defence, not having had the purging of chemo , I’m going to try it.
gocat ! the weather is enough to induce PMT
Hi,
The docs seem to agree about Tamoxifen being one of the most successful drugs they ever had and not in just one small survey either. The protective effects last years after you stop taking it too. Glad to hear you are going to take it and hoping it will be an easy step for you
Lily x
Hi - Grade 2 IDC dx 15 July 2009 - Oncoplastic WLE and SNB 6 August - er+ pr+ HER2 - DCIS in margins - Both sentinal and one suspect node positive for cells and vascular involvement. Not sure what stage yet as I have just got out of hospital after node clearance - awaiting tests to see how many involved. Still to see oncs but surgeon told me I will have chemo (I’m 52) and rads, also 5 years of 2 drugs (can’t remember first one) but second one tamoxifen. All sounded so much treatment - not offered any other scans yet - should I be? Am prepared to throw everything at it. I went on Adjuvant Online program and the number of nodes involved and chemo treatment/tamoxifen seeme to make a lot of difference to prognosis and recurrence rates. Anyone similar to me? Lyn xxx hugs to you all.
Hi Lyn
gosh you were brave looking up stats. It was ages before I could do it. Good for you. It depends on your individual onc as to what scans you have. In my area everyone routinely has a chest x-ray, ecg, bone scan and CT scan. In other areas they don’t scan unless/until someone has a problem that needs checking. I think it might be saving money but the other argument is the risk associated with too much radiation, etc. I have not had an mri scan but most of the local ladies I know have to pinpoint tumours.
It does sound like so much treatment when they reel it off. I used to just think about the one next thing I had to do as looking way ahead can be scarey or overwhelming. I am at the end of 3 ops, 28 weeks chemo, 15 rads and so far 6 months through hormone tablets. It still surprises me how that time passed by, which seemed so daunting. Find some ladies going through chemo at the same time as you by putting a post and it will be the best support in the world. My chemo buddies are still there for me.
Lots of luck
Lily x
Hi
can I join you ? ( have “met” chipper, gocat and a few others on another thread I think…)
I am 43, mum of 2, boy 12 girl 9.
Got my official results yesterday.
diagnosed 31/07/09
had WLE on 21/08/09 (and sentinel node biopsy thing with blue dye and radioactive tracer)
11mm IDC with 2mm DCIS (left breast)
clear margins
Grade 2 of course
stage 1
2 sentinel nodes plus 2 others sampled all clear
ER+ (not sure about the fraction out of 8 thing other people have quoted, they didn’t tell me that)
HER2- after inconclusive reading on first test they did FISH (?) test to confirm
PR not mentioned at all ???
They have recommended 15 rads, planning meeting is next Weds
And Tamoxifen, which I am nervous about.
They said chemo would not be of significant benefit but did not give me the percentages. I was glad not to have to have it.
I have not been offered MRI or bone scans or anything. I asked cons and she said it was not relevant or necessary in my case.
Was almost elated yesterday with results being “good” but today feel rubbish and anxious about starting the treatments.I am on anti- depressants from GP as have a history of depression including PND. Only been on them 2 and a half weeks tho so not really working yet.
Love to all
Anna
Hi Anna,
sorry this happened to you too buddy but everyone will help all they can. Just keep switching threads as you go through different parts of the treatment. Takes a long time for it to sink in and even longer to push it to the corner of your mind (still working on that one myself). Just keep chugging on through your big tick list in the sky of things to do and apppointments to go ot. I just thought about the one next thing I had to do and it helped me to not be overwhelmed by it all. Nothing hurts when you have rads. Tattoos on your first appointment some people feel but they are usually tiny like a pen spot or mole. You are often only in there 2 minutes.
Big hugs buddy
Lily x
Hello Grade 2 ladies - sounds like we’ve passed a piano exam!
Got the results on Thursday from my axillary clearance op - 24 nodes all CLEAR - halleljah - only 3 nodes from original op to cope with. I did not see many others mention vascular involvement (which I have) and I almost had skin involvement too as to get a healthy margin my surgeon had to shave away at the fat and ‘sub’ skin so the area above my lumpctomy has a very thin layer of skin (originally he was going to remove skin but rassesed during the op. The vascular involvement and 3 nodes means I definately get chemo even thouh i’m 52. I have private medical through work so I am seeing an Onc on Monday at The London Bridge HospitalWe’ll see if he recommends any further scans - will not be because of money saving if not I suppose.
Chipper are going to start taking the Tamoxafin now? - the benefits must outweigh the SE’s.
Elinda there are lots of node involved ladies who are still around to see their grandchildren grow - just hold onto that and know that you are one of them.
Anna - I too am on anti-depressants and seem to be coping quite well now after 3 weeks - just focusing on each step at a time.
Jeannie - wish you luck with your battle against the system- NHS - if the anger keeps you going good luck - I spent the last couple of years being angry and frustrated due to some unfortunate circumstance when my mum died (bit of GP negligence too) and other family problems, I did not take it further because her husband did not want to - but sometimes I feel that the anger contributed to the BC developing - I may be wrong but it was a negative emotion for me -I am now taking stock of things and ready to move on to a new life stage when the treatment finishes - I am trying to be more tolerant of people and accepting of circumstance - chill pill. I had a detailed mammo at Kings College Hospital in London in Sept 2007 and they said I had benign micro-calcifications - grew to Stage 2 - 5cm by June 2009!!!
Denise good luck to you too.
Lily - thanks for your support and guidance - I will start up the chemo thread in a few weeks.
Hugs to all you grade 2 ladies - Lyn xxx
Hi Lyn, what a lovely posting - thank you.
Great news on your axillary clearance. I’ve had 6 chemo sessions so far (2 more to go) and although I’ve had lots of problems it is doable and we get through it. I keep focussed on what it is doing to the cancer and take one day a time through treatment. The support on this site is amazing and has helped no end.
Elinda x
Hi Ladies (thanks Lyn for making me laugh!)I too am a grade 2 having just been given this news on thursday after sentinel node and lumpectomy on 26 August following routine mammogram, no lump felt etc. I have mixed IDC and Lobular cancer, left breast, tumour 1 cm but they have got in all out and node clear. Was originally told needed an MRI as mammos do not always show up lobular cancer…then had phone call to say, after a team meeting, they decided I didn’t need this as my mammo films were very clear. I sort of worry now though that they may have missed something.
Anyway now waiting to see onocology radiologist to sort out my radiotherapy sessions, sounds similar to your situation annalou. I have been given Arimadex as post menopausal, I’m 58, though I know I have to have them SEs sound horrible. Maybe I will be lucky!
I am feeling quite positive but anxious at the same time that it really has all gone and whether it will return. My family and friends seem to think its a done deal now after my “good news” which I suppose it is when you consider what others go through.
Its great to have this forum and all of you lovely ladies to chat to and unload all these conflicting emotions.
Laurasue (Chris) xx
Hi i am grade 2,mixed lobular/ductal cancer 5cm with lymphovascular invasion and skin involvement er+ her2+++.I’ve had snb, tch chemo x6, mastectomy, rads and now tamoxifen and herceptin.I think I,ve got a bit of everything!
Hi everyone,
It’s my first time on this site posting. I was diagnosed with Grade 2 lobular last August, after going for a check up as I had a large cyst the other side. Nothing showed up on the initial mammogram- but the MRI scan found something suspicious. After 3 WLE operations during the following months 4 small tumours were removed. Luckily I didn’t have chemo as my lymph nodes were clear. I had 18 sessions of rads and now take Arimidex. I have returned to full time work but constantly wake up with back/hip pain. I have had some random dizzy spells and get really breathless. Is this anything anyone else is experiencing? My GP doesn’t seem concerned. I have a mammogram in October which I am not convinced is the right procedure for Lobular cancer. I try not to worry but it would be nice to hear from anyone else with similar experiences.
Goldwing girl
goldwing i cant help much with the dizziness but the bone pain is really common on arimidex and that is one of the reasons they send you for a dexa scan.
it often means just taking strong pain killers to counteract the pain… my mum has been on arimidex for years… she takes naproxen which is an anti-inflammatory for pain but has to take omeprazole along with it as it upset her tummy… she started getting pains and woken from her sleep almost immediately… she has changed beds mattresses, got mattress toppers etc but nothing helps… she wasnt keen to take the pain killers regularly but as its been so uncomfortable she has done… and she wont know if it will go away until she stops the arimidex next year.
i would recommend if you are getting other symptoms either speak to your gp or medical team to find out if its a side effect or something else coincidental.
hope things improve.
Lxx
Hello again
Lyn, I am now noticing some benefit from the citalopram antidepressants ! Hurray !! Have slept almost normally for 2 nights, am eating well and feel able to act almost like my old self again.
( fingers crossed Tamox doesn’t interfer with this positive effect, trying to get as much sleep as I can before the advent of hot flushes etc )
Laurasue when is your planning meeting? Like you, I have also noticed a decline in messages/support from friends and relatives. They seem to think I am “better” now I have had the op !! I suppose it’s only to be expected, they have their own lives to get on with !
By the way, did anyone else know about the little metal (titanium) clips they leave inside you after WLE to show location of the tumour? They did not even tell me about this. I read it somewhere and asked, and now I am sure I can feel those things tweaking me…
Take care everyone,
Anna x
Hello!
Also Grade 2 1.5 cm IDC with DCIS. Had core biopsy (which came back B1) then lumpectomy which came back as Grade 2 IDC with DCIS and then had Mx on 21st August with ANC. I am still awaiting results of ? lymph node involvement and receptor testing. See the Consultant again in 2 weeks and have yet to have meeting with oncologist. It all seems to be taking ages. I think next appointment I will ask for a printout of my histology, just out of interest, and because I haven’t really been given a massive amount of info…hoping they don’t think that because I’m medical I know what’s going on! I don’t.
So…I have no idea as yet what’s next. The sooner I know that the better. This site has been a brilliant source of information though and the ladies on it :-).
Good luck to everyone and thinking of you all. I’ll post more when I know what’s happening next, no doubt…
Kerry
xxx
Hi I had a tag inserted into the tumour before chemo and surgery this was to use as a marker when they scanned me and to show location of tumour.On ultrasound it was a little breast cancer ribbon shape, also had blood vessels clipped.Don’t know if this is the same thing you had annalou.