Yes daisy I think it is something like that, but I am not having chemo. My consultant ( when asked) said there were some 3-4mm metal clips left in me that were used to close off blood vessles and to pinpoint where the tumour had been for future reference. Also in the armpit where I had 4 nodes removed…
Oh,
never heard of the clips, will have to ask when I go in October. I am post surgery, chemo and rads but still not brave enough to see my results on paper. Maybe one of these days and then maybe I’ll keep my rosey glasses on a bit longer, the view might be better.
Hi to all the new ladies and fingers crossed for you all both through treatment and after. I had 42 prescriptions while on chemo and a few while on rads too so might be able to help if you are troubled by side effects. My speciality 
Lily x
Hello again ladies
The grade 2 club is getting bigger
I did not know anything about titanium clips but my surgeon did say he would identify the tumour area for the radiotherapist, maybe thats what he meant. I am poking about trying to find them now!
I asked for a copy of my histology report - very technical - but readable.
Kerry you have got to wait a long time for your results! That is awful - you need node results to find out what further treatments are recommended - does seem very slow, you just want to get on with it - especially after all that surgery.
Anna I am glad you are feeling the benefit of the anti-dep at last - saw my chemo Onc today and he said I had one of the modern ‘good’ one’s - cipralex (escitalopram) similar to yours? Does not help with sleep though.
I will be starting 3 x FEC then 3 x TAX in a fortnight so look out for new chemo post. The extra benefit re 10 year mortality of the chemo is 9% and 9% for aromatose/tamoxifen (combined 16%!) so worth going through all the SE’s - hugs to you all Lyn xxx
Hi ladies,
Anna I have my appt to see Oncology radiologist on 17 September, then I will know whether 3 or 5 weeks needed. Not heard about those clips you described although I was originally due to have a wire inserted as tumour not felt as a lump, but that wasn’t done in the end, just lots of pretty drawings in blue pen. Really want to get on with it and blast away any of those pesky little cancer cells that might still be lurking. Yes I know our friends and families have their lives and I am definitely not forgotten, its just they cant understand why I need to worry anymore. Glad you are feeling a bit better with anti-deps. Big hugs to all you other grade 2 ladies.
Chris x
I have found out on another thread what the clips are !! And found someone else who has them !!
Apparently, if your scar is not directly over where the tumour was, they use the clips to mark the spot for rads etc. My lump was right on the bra line of left boob, over a rib, so she made the incision a good way further over towards the nipple. This is for cosmetic reasons, so I can still flaunt myself in bikinis and low cut tops without showing a scar !!LOL
So… mystery solved!
Have planning meeting for Rads tomorrow. What fun.Need to get long list of questions ready…I just hope the onc/radiologist is approachable like my surgeon and lovely BCN.
Hope all other grade 2s doing ok today…?
Anna x
Hi everybody,
just been reading this thread and have found it really interesting.
Annalou - I have titanium clips because of my WLE scar not being over the lump, so they are markers for the rads treatment - was it my post that you saw???
Well, I had a 13mm grade 2, HER - ER + and PR + and a 6mmDCIS, WLE and SNB on 21st August. Nodes clear, no vascular invasion and meeting with onc tomorrow to start FEC x 6 then rads then tamoxifen. Oh and I’m 37.
Al
xxx
Hi Al
Yes it was your post I saw on another thread !!!
AND…
we had our ops on the same day !!!Same op as well
Diagnosis virtually the same( mine was 11mm plus 2mm DCIS) but they say I don’t need chemo…(I am 43, so a little bit older than you)
Am hoping to ask about it at meeting tomorrow, but i think that might be just with radiologist/radiographer (or whatever they’re called) so there may not be an opportunity for more general questions.
Anna x
Hi Annalou,
good luck for your meeting tomorrow - I hope you get the answers you need. I have a meeting with my oncologist tomorrow as well, so guess we are mirroring each other all the way!!!
Al
xx
Hi,
interesting about the clips. Mine was tunnelled up as well to save my cleavage they said! our surgeons are all onco plastic surgeons so I think they all do that. Then the cardio vascular surgeon made a big scar right across my chest and round my neck when he put the port in and messed it up! Ask about hormones if they don’t themselves. We have to start them at the same time as rads as tamoxifen takes 3 weeks to protect you. They are really into chemo in our area, basically anyone under 50 and quite a lot who are over 50 too. There is so much different advice around but you have to make sure it is a thought out decision and not just a cutting costs exercise to not give scans, etc.
Lots of luck to all of you just starting off
Lily x
Hi second graders
this thread has calmed down lately - I am in touch with a couple of people on another chemo thread but thought I would catch up with the rest of you. I asked my chemo ONC why I have not had other scans and he said that any cancer cells left behind after WLE and ANC will be microcells and not visble on a scan. But you still think ‘could there be secondries alreadyor Bigger cells?’ Just have to trust what he says I suppose - from their stats grade 2’s dont require them - di have pre op chest xray and ecg etc.
I had my first FEC 100 yesterday - not too bad until the evening when the sickness reeled in - managed to sleep a few hours and rested a few more. Very dizzy/heavy-headed like flu or hangover - bright red face - took masses of tablets this morning and still have a few more ant-sick up my sleeve for later. Don’t really feel like eating though. Love to you all Lyn x
Hi Lyn and everybody else,
Thought I’d bump this up in case anyone wants to share any news or chat…
You’re right Lyn we do have to trust what they say, but it’s hard isn’t it, especially when you read on here of people being offered different things to you despite similar diagnoses ?
Sorry to hear about the sickness Lyn. Hope it soon calms down.
I am now 2 weeks (approx) into Tamox and have rads planning on Monday.Not really chuffed about either but getting on with it.
How is everyone else doing ?
Anna xx
yo ! just updating - 17 days now on tamoxifen and all ok…can’t decide if tiredness & general anxiety is my usual state or tamoxifen-fed I suspect it’s my usual state really.
Hi everyone - well first one down 5 to go - s/e’s bearable bit like early pregnancy for me. Hope everyone else whos just started chemo and everybody else is ok. Worked out today that last chemo is Xmas Eve - guess what I’ll be having for Xmas this year! Have even been to work today as I’m thinking I might go back for the second two weeks of each cycle if I can manage - tons of people do I know - can’t bear being in the house on my own now the summer hols are over. My onc gave me a choice of 3 fec 3 tax or 6 fec - is anyone else in that position - dont have to make decision yet but if it doesnt make any statistical difference and I can manage fec might just stick with that but how do you make an informed choice???
Denise x
Well tax has been described as the current ‘gold standard’ chemo for primary bc and not all oncs are willing to offer it.It is very expensive.On the other hand if your cancer comes back and you have already had tax it is unlikely to be offered again.
Myself I would have it now [I did].
I agree - would take the taxotere. I was given 4 ec and 4 tax before surgery to shrink the lump. The ec had a small effect, but the tax really gave it what for. The lump went from 5.5 cm to 2cm.
I was Grade 2 lobular with 6/21 affected lymph nodes. I had 4 FEC/4 taxotere. I am 57. I was not given a choice. I had the attitude have the attitude that at least if it comes back I have had and done everything | could. I think you need to know the percentage difference between 6 FEC and 3 and 3. Taxotere is said to be very good. But I found the side effects appalling. You may be lucky and suffer few on taxotere. If you do suffer side effects there are few antidotes unlike FEC. Yes you have the sickness tablets but there are a whole raft of extra very unpleasant side effects which can be suffered. I guess what I am saying it is not something to be undertaken lightly and only if you absolutely need to have it. I feel I am still suffering the side effects one year after finishing and also feel it contributed to the onset of the lymphodema I now suffer from as I was so ill and in bed on taxotere and there unable to exercise and keep the lymph flowing. I hope this helps with your decision.
Thank you so much ladies - I still dont know what I will decide but it is really helpful to hear others opinion - and sorry that you have had such a bad time starfish. I was having the cold cap and wondered whether if I kept my hair on FEC I would continue with that but I think that hair is coming out anyway so at least I wont feel that it has influenced my decision. Which sounds horribly vain. I had 4/23 nodes affected and have had reduction mammoplasty already followed by a m/x which was all before chemo, so wondered whether this is whether they were offering tax too but it just seems to depend on the onc you have at our hospital.
Have a good weekend
Denise
hi ladies
my mum also has grade 2 invasive ductal carnicoma the tumor was only 2.4 cm. But she had 9/7 positive nodes, she is due to start cemo next week.the oncologist said they dont know the reason why she had so many node involvment as she she has grade2 cancer. any idea…
Hi I’m grade 2 invasive ductal carcinoma 0/3 lymph nodes er/pr strongly positive, her2 neg. dx 22/7/13 had lumpectomy and had to go back to clear margins on 22/8/13 I started 6 FEC on 3/10/13. I’ve been told I will need 18 rounds of radiotherapy and tamoxaphin 5-10 years. My question is when do they start you on tamoxaphin as I’ve read it takes 3 weeks to start working. I just didn’t want there to be a gap if that makes sence, thanks Tracy xxx
Thanks Mary and Jude. Mary was you on a trial seeing you started your tamoxaphin right at the beginning before op and chemo?
Jude if it takes 3 weeks for tamoxaphin to start working does the chemo stay working for a while after last dose to cover period till tam starts working? Xxx Tracy