Hi everyone
I thought i would introduce myself.
I am 38 years old, was diagnosed with BC four weeks ago, had a mastectomy last Monday, feeling a bit sore and fed up at the mo.
I have two children, nearly 5 and 18mths.
Hope to hear from anyone in a similar situation.
I am in Winsford Cheshire at the moment.
Bye for now.
Hi Naz,
Welcome to the forums,you will get lots of support here.
Its not surprising you are feeling down,you have had a h*ll of a shock and been through major surgery.Be kind to yourself,its early days.
I had a mastectomy in July 2008 with an immediate recon and I found it hard to move on,but I did manage slowly.
Do you know if you need any other treatment?
Big hugs for now
((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))
Dot
xxx
Hi Naz
I was dx in May of this year, had lumpectomy to LB and have completed 5 out of 8 chemos. Have to then have more surgery to remove rest of nodes, rads, herceptin and tamoxifen.
You will find lots of support on here, it has really helped me.
Good luck
Jayney
xx
PS - I’m originally from Nantwich - small world eh!
Hi Naz, Just to let you know that I was 39 when I had my mastectomy and had 2 children as well. Twenty years have passed and I am still here… Alive and kicking… Just posting to let you know there can be light at the end of the tunnel. In fact my little girl who was 7 at the time just celebrtated her 27th birthday today and I feel so grateful to have been here with her to celebrate it. Hope your recovery is quick and your prognosis is good. Thinking of you and wishing you well, much love Scottishlass. XX
Hi again
Thanks so much for all your replies, that is really kind.
Yes it has been a shock i have to say, it was not what i was expecting to her, BUT i am trying to be optimistic about things and keep busy (not a problem with two young children!).
I see the consultant mext Thursday for the results of the surgery and the next step, so fingers crossed!
Thanks once again!
Hi again
Well i saw my consultant on Monday, he said that the tumour cells were present in one of the lympth nodes taken out, so i have to go back to hospital next week to have them all taken out…
He was talking chemo aswell…has anyone not had to have chemo for breast cancer, i really do not want to have it as it scares me so much…
Thanks
Naz
Naz
I think that if there is any risk of potential for spread, either in the lymph nodes or through lympho-vascular invasion, they give chemo. Also, they seem to give it to pre-menopausal women much more. I don’t know my results yet (tomorrow, Thurs), so don’t know what lies ahead for me.
There are lots of threads on here for those going through chemo and radiotherapy, so you could read through those for extra information, when you feel you are up to it. These kind people (ladies and men) have kept me and many others going through these difficult times.
Good luck. Love Ann xx
Thanks Ann
I will have a look at some of those threads…they may help me to put my mind at rest.
I hope your results are positive.
All the best.
Naz x
Hi Naz
i didnt get chemo for my first cancer… it usually depends on the grade and stage… usually in younger women the grade is higher and i was told i would be getting chemo but when they examined it was a grade 1 so after my WLE to RB i had rads and tamoxifen i was 37 at the time.
i got a new BC this year this time in LB but its grade 3 this time and has lymphovascular invasion so had WLE and now having chemo followed by rads.
good luck with your results and you too ann
Love Lulu x
Thanks Lulu
Mine was 4cm by 1cm ,he said it was a grade 2.
I don’t have to have radiotherapy apparently, but he has talked about chemo.
Sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed again, did you have a lumpectomy the last time or mastectomy?
Naz xx
Hi NAZ
As well as the support you are receiving from the other users you may find it helpful to read the BCC booklet on chemotherapy. This booklet is intended to give you more information about chemotherapy and and will answer many of the questions you may wish to ask. If you would like a copy just follow the link below:-
breastcancercare.org.uk/upload/pdf/chemotherapy_07_web_0.pdf
I hope this is helpful.
Kind regards
Sam (BCC Facilitator)
Thanks for your good wishes. Got most of my results this afternoon by phone from the BCN - clinic tomorrow. Thankfully, there is no lympho-vascular invasion (LVI) and the sentinel node was clear. Don’t know about margins yet, but I will see the surgeon tomorrow.
Naz - Good luck with your node clearance next week.
Ann xx
ann good news about your results… hope your margins are also clear.
Naz i had a lumpectomy both times although with first one i needed a re-excision as margins werent clear… my surgeon is very pro breast conserving surgery… so even when i asked about mastectomy he said there was no need.
as you have a positive node naz it would be highly likely to have chemo… i havent found it too bad… some occasional bad days but nothing major and although i know not everybody is so lucky… the hair loss hasnt bothered me either but i know many women find this hard to deal with.
good luck with your node clearance.
Lulu
Thanks Lulu
Next op is on Wednesday, so hoping that goes well.
Chemo, well i guess it is the fear of the unknown isn’t it…
Maybe it won’t be too bad, i hope and pray anyway.
xx
Naz - How are you getting on? How was the op?
Ann x
Hi Ann
The op went okay i think…
It feels really uncomfortable now though, i think there is some fluid sitting there, so have to get it drained tomorrow.
Got to see the surgeon next Monday to discuss the next step.
How are you? xx
Naz
glad to hear the op went well.
i had some swelling and fluid build up after surgery in my breast but just left it and it gradually subsided by itself after a few weeks but its probably different if you have had a full clearance… so good luck with the draining!
hope your appointment goes well and that the chemo wont be to bad for you… im on epi-cmf but most younger women seem to be on fec or fec-t.
let us know how you get on.
Lulu x
Hello Naz - Glad it went ok. Like Lulu, I have some fluid build up in my breast. The op was four weeks ago today, and it is gradually going but it still feels hard in places. I feel as if someone has stuck a pin in me and I am gradually deflating! I also had a bit of a lump under my arm, but that has mostly gone now. I think what is left is scar tissue.
How are the exercises going, or have you not started them yet? I found the more I was able to move my arm around, the easier it felt. I used to walk around the house waving it in the air! I did have a bit of cording but that is much improved now.
I am ok apart from not sleeping very well. I am waiting to start rads and hormone treatment.
Good luck for Monday.
Ann x
Hi Ann
The exercises are going well ( i think!), but at the mo, my arm is too painful to move much,so really hoping that the draining will help it tomorrow.
Are you not having chemo?
I am not sleeping at all well, i feel exhausted most days, i just cannot switch off, it’s a real pain as i need to sleep!
Anyway, chat soon and take care.
Naz x
Naz - No, I am not having chemo. I am post-menopausal and as nodes were clear, they decided there would not be enough benefit to warrant having it.
Hope the draining helps you feel more comfortable. I am exhausted too and I can’t switch off. Also, I am too hot at night - due to having come off HRT, I presume - and it will get worse when I start the hormone tablets. I am thinking I should be starting to plan Christmas, because I shall probably be too tired from rads if I leave it, but I just can’t be bothered.
Take care. Ann x