I am very sad to be joining in with everybody here. I was diagnosed with Invasive ductal breast cancer (grade 2 ) on Tuesday, aged 25. They had warned me I probably have cancer last Thursday and so I dealt with most of the shock then.
I went into work today and had a complete breakdown because I received a call that the MRI I had yesterday picked up more areas to be tested. So have had yet another set of biopsies as they have found another lump in my other breast.
I felt ok until today but now I feel hopeless. Trying to pick myself back up. It is a lot to take on.
Oh big hugs for you Janck. You’re in the right place for hand holding & advice for your journey. There’s the BCC helpline for support & guidance plus all of us on here going though similar scenarios to make the journey a little less frightening & lonely.
More hugs Janck,
Very sorry that you find yourself here, but you will always find support from people who know exactly how you feel.
This is the worst part for you - after this you will find yourself in good hands with specialists who will give you hope and deal with all your problems as they arise.
I was in total shock in October when I was diagnosed - grade 3, 5cm tumour. I chose mastectomy over lumpectomy because that’s what I had decided thirty years ago as a young mum with no lumps or bumps to worry me!
The op went unbelievably smoothly and I went to my son’s wedding in London 11 days later and danced until midnight. I am now halfway through chemotherapy with radiotherapy to follow. It hasn’t been anything like as bad as I expected. Of course there have been ups and downs and sometimes the panic rises for a while but between healthcare specialists and wonderful new friends in these forums you will always have help at hand.
All the best in the days ahead and many hugs for now,
Kathleen
Do give the helpline here a call and have a chat, the staff are here to support you through this. Calls are free, 0808 800 6000 lines open Mon-Fri 9-5 and Sat 9-2.
So sorry you’ve had to join us Janck. This is definately the worst time for you, once you’ve had all the scans and prodding and poking and have a treatment plan its easier to deal with, and there are lots of people here to keep you company and help you through it. I was diagnosed in October and am half way through my chemotherapy, to be followed by mastectomy and radiotherapy. Its not half as bad as I thought it would be.
Hello Janck,
Really sorry you had to be here. I’ve got IDC same as you
But I’m grade 3 and had a lumpectomy and snb ,but found cancer
In one lymph node so had them all removed yesterday. I’m in hosp now
Its not too bad, best to be caught early.
I’m going to have chemo and radio, I’m 39 and have two small children.
I’ve been off work ever since dx on 6th dec. Can’t really think about
Anything else. My advice don’t google, and just take each day at
A time. Some people need to know everything I’m taking it slowly,
Trying not to worry and dealing with each process at a time.
The support on this site has been invaluable to me. The helpline
Is also wonderful, such carimg and compassionate people they are!
Sending big hugs
Love Fran xx
So sorry that’s the news you have. The initial shock is the worst part. Get loys of support, the ladies at the end of the phone on this site are amazing and make so much sense, do call them when you can.
I still feel like I must be dreaming this, and I’m sure you will. Keep in touch here.
Sorry for us all to be in this situation unfortunately ever since I had the biopsy on the second breast on Thursday - I just went into shutdown mode and could not bear to think or talk about anything for a while. I seemed to be dealing with things quite well after the initial diagnosis but I have had a knock since that day.
I am so worried about this second lump and I am so confused about all of the fertility issues. I am scared that I won’t be given all of the options clearly and will regret not having done something correctly in the future. Having a family is so important to me although I was not thinking about it now and I am single (did not plan on having children straight away even if I met somebody as I had the dream of weddings and some time with my partner first) it just feels so unfair that I feel like I am choosing living and not having any happiness in the future. I know it sounds silly to say this. But I cannot help feeling so bleak.
I really want some cold hard facts about fertility rates as which age with which treatment etc. My breast care nurse told me they would be referring me to a fertility specialist when she saw me on Wednesday but when does this happen? Should I be chasing them - what if they forget about it because its not important to them ( I know I sound daft).
Personally I would chase up your Bcn to get our fertility appt… I’m a lot older than you but had been just about to try for a baby before diagnosis and having chemo at 41 put me into the menopause and later had to have my ovaries out die to being a gene mutation carrier with a higher risk of ovarian cancer too.
At your age you have a much higher chance that your fertility won’t be permanently affected than somebody my age… But they can sometimes give zoladex injections during chemo to help preserve your ovarian function so that you can conceive naturally.
Fingers crossed about your other biopsy… When do you get the results?
Do you have any family history of breast or ovarian cancer? If it does turn out that you have it in both breasts or you have other family members with cancer you can request referrral to gentics for testing for the brca1 and 2 gene mutations if you wanted to go down this route.
Keeping my fingers crossed for good news about your biopsy.
Hi Hun, Sorry you are here…There are so many of us thinking about you, and many lovely ladies who will support and offer advice and friendship… As mentioned by many -don’t google, ask on here. there is a lot of experience amongst us and we can give a sensible answer, well, try to…xx
So sorry you’re here and don’t beat yourself up for feeling bleak, angry and thoroughly p8ssed off. You are entitled to. BC is a crappy thing and no one should have to go through it. But what others say on here is true - I was 28 when diagnosed in 2007. Stage 3 IDC with 14/15 lymph nodes affected. For the first few weeks I was in total shock and it felt like every time I went back to the hospital they were giving me more bad news and no one could tell me anything positive as basically all I wanted to hear was that everything would be ok. But I can honestly say despite some crappy times, feeling poo and going bald nothing for me was ever as bad as the total terror of those first few weeks. It is just horrendous so take it easy on yourself, take all the support you need from the people that love you and scream on the bathroom floor if you need to. Once you start your treatment you may feel you have a bit more control - this worked for me. I had mastect and node clearance on the right, 6 months chemo and 5 weeks rads. I based everything around that and arranged treats for when I knew I’d be feeling better, went away for weekends and out with my friends.
On fertility - my tumour was a big blighter - 8cm - so they did surgery first then referred me for IVF to try and freeze some embryos pre chemo. This works for many people - it didn’t work for me unfortunately. There are other things you can do to protect ovaries while going through chemo. I didn’t have the option of these things, but despite all that and being told I had gone into menopause I am currently 35 weeks pregnant and awaiting my little miracle almost 5 years after diagnosis.
I am not going to tell you that it isn’t sh1t, but cancer doesn’t have to take everything and you don’t need to feel you’re choosing life over happiness. Take it a step at a time and be kind to yourself. Never feel like you’re asking too much of people or that your questions are silly
It’s good to hear such a positive ending so far. Goodluck with the rest of your pregnancy/baby
I am happy to say that the second lump came back all clear! I have just been getting myself ready for my upcoming operation on 13th February - which in a weird way I am looking forward to. They have told me that after my op I can then go about freezing eggs as it wouldn’t be safe before then. However, everything is happening so fast that I can see how we may lose time.
I really want to get this sorted now and do not feel as bleak as I did last week. Although I have peaks and falls throughout the day.
Reading some of the other categories in this forum about recurrences for people after treatment has finished is very worrying too. This is like finding something new to freak myself out with each day.
Recurrence isn’t common about 5-10% following mastectomy and around 10-15% following wle… These are lifetime risk so yor much more likely never to get a recurrence.
Great news that there is no cancer in the other breast… Hope your surgery goes well on th 13th and fingers crossed for the fertility appt too.
Great to hear the second biopsy came back clear - what a relief! Good luck with your op, recovery and treatment and fingers crossed for your fertility plan. I had the full treatment works when I was 31 and my periods came back with no problems shortly after finishing my 8th chemo cycle. Chemo doesn’t always mean the end of fertility for us “younger women”! Fingers crossed for you, Angelfalls xx
That’s the thing you already feel so unlucky to have gotten cancer so young so after this everything is a worry! But I feel so much more positive after the relief of the second lump and I guess time has made it a little easier (plus not having started any treatment yet!)
Good to hear that recurrence is so low. I suppose you can’t live your whole life afraid of what may be. These things can happen to anyone.
At the moment I am getting ready for my op on 13th as best as I can. Although not knowing what to expect as I have never had an operation in my life so far!
I also don’t know whether I will be feeling well enough have much time after surgery to get to check out wigs. So far I am not really ready to accept that the chemotherapy is happening as I feel like this hasn’t been given to me definitively with a treatment plan. Although everything they have said has prepared me to expect it. They all look rather alien and the ones I have liked the look of are expensive so feel nervous to spend and then not need it! Might go wacky and get a totally different colour for a laugh and keep it as a disguise…
hi janck
good luck for your op on 13th i had never had an op before but it went well i was so frighten on the morning of my op but it was ok and i was allowed home that night so didnt have to stay in i had my op on jan 18th and i feel quite well 2 weeks down the line waiting for results on feb 16th i am really frighten of having chemo but if it needed i am trying to stay positive and had a look at some wigs myself i have long curly hair and always fancied straight hair so maybe a straight wig could be my chance good luck with your op you will be fine
lots of love
tracyxx
Having a family is so important to me although I was not thinking about it now and I am single (did not plan on having children straight away even if I met somebody as I had the dream of weddings and some time with my partner first) it just feels so unfair that I feel like I am choosing living and not having any happiness in the future. I know it sounds silly to say this. But I cannot help feeling so bleak.