Blimey, it’s been a busy weekend on here! Hello and welcome to you @wizzer Personally, I took absolutely every bit of treatment offered to me. I was a belt and braces woman. I also hate blood tests and drips so I fully sympathise. I got a little bit of neuropathy towards the end of Paclitaxel but was told that as it was late onset, it would rectify itself, which it did. I’m glad you’ve had a good response from the buddies so you can get different experiences to help you make a decision. I didn’t use any cooling packs but I cold capped and lost most of my hair. It grew back very well however. I had a port in my arm which was fantastic. You don’t have to go through all the needles and cannulas in quite the same way. I have a dent in my arm now as a souvenir from its time spent with me.
Hello and welcome to you also, @lg1206 I’m so glad you came over and introduced yourself. 53 was the age I was when I was diagnosed as well. Fantastic to hear that the MRI results show no spread. That’s a big phew. Hard to know which option to pick re the surgery or chemo first and personally I would have hate to have had to make that choice. I went for what was recommended which at my first hospital was surgery after surgery after surgery first and when they had trouble getting it all out, I switched hospitals and consultant and got advised to go straight into chemo then have a mastectomy at the end. I really think that at the meeting with the oncologist, you should discuss the options in detail and ask what the recommendation would be for your mum’s situation. I can honestly say that in all the time this thread has been going, even the people who have had horrible experiences with chemo, have always recovered enough to have surgery. I’ve never heard of anybody who hasn’t. I had radiotherapy without any issues. As for you dealing with all this just 4 weeks after having a baby, well, I forgot to say hello back to someone 6 weeks after giving birth. In the end he had to ask me if I recognised him and pointed out that he’d attempted to say hello 3 times. I was shocked to realise that I had seen him and not managed to respond with a simple ‘Hello Paul’ so seriously, you are doing amazingly. I’m just sorry that such a happy time has been blighted by bloody bc. Sending you a big hug.
@Jaygo I didn’t make it to see any bands on Saturday. In a nutshell, I drank too much Prosecco on Friday to manage the following evening. My son had suddenly announced he was giving up the perfect course he was on at sixth form college and going back to school to do A levels that were unrelated to his career goals. It proved stressful but fortunately he has been dissuaded. I blame this for the overconsumption of Prosecco on Friday night for which I paid the price all Saturday. I did, however, get a beautiful slice of treacle tart from that amazing cake cafe in Tarrant Street which lifted my spirits and energy levels for about half an hour. Then I had to give up, go back to the camper van and call it a day at about 8:30pm. Drink is evil.
@rhombusrhombus I finished chemo on 4th July 2024 and had my mastectomy on 7th August 2024 and was amazed at how much I had improved in that period of just over a month. I hope your experience is similar. You are a costume designer!! I have my dance and drama school show at the end of November and had a minor panic at the first hurdle of finding a Jack of Jack and the Beanstalk costume. I’ve had to hand the job over. NOT my strong point. I admire you. Creativity and talent combined. Is this for stage and/or screen? I was an actress for many years and was always in awe of the costume designers. @wizzer you are another creative. Cancer cannot take that away. It may try temporarily but that makes returning feel all the sweeter. I teach now and when I was nearing the end of chemo I went to see the summer show at our local theatre. All the kids were waving and cheering for me from the stage at the end of the show from where I sat at the very back of the balcony fully masked up and with my headscarf and no eyelashes and eyebrows left. It lifted me no end and I will always remember it. Going back into the studio felt amazing. I had my mastectomy in the August and walked back into class in September. I want to encourage you that you will get these back in your life again.
Gosh, it’s 2pm and I haven’t had lunch. Off I go….
@salbert I’m always in awe of actors! Actually working and collaborating with actors is one of my most favourite parts of my job. I work in theatre, opera and film. A film I made at the start of the year before my diagnosis is opening the London Film Festival, and I’m pretty heartbroken that I can’t go. It’s a week after my surgery, my oncologists said we could make it work if I really wanted to, but it all feels a bit too much and would delay my surgery by at least two weeks, so I decided not to do it.
It is so nice to hear about your return to teaching, right now I can’t imagine every having the energy to do my job again, but I’m really hoping I can recover enough to keep doing it as I love it.
I’m glad it worked out with your son after his brief diversion!
One year ago today, my op to remove the uninvited guest happened! After it had been duffed up by chemo! Little did it know, radiotherapy was coming it’s way too! My first year mammogram shows no signs for concern. just zolendronic infusions left to complete! Wherever you are on your journey, stay strong, you can do this x
Thanks @salbert I think I’ve also decided that I need the extra reassurance that I’ve done everything I can. I think it will make me less anxious long term and hopefully more likely to stay cancer free
The treatment will take me up to Christmas (except the extra trastuzumab injections) so hopefully the new year will mean a fresh start back in the workshop!
That’s so lovely that the kids were cheering you . I’ve had wonderful support from my craft community
@rhombusrhombus that’s so fabulous that your film will be showing at the London Film Festival I completely understand your disappointment not being able to make it - but once all this stuff starts, I found it is in your head the whole time and other things feel overwhelming and you just want to get it over with
What’s the name of the film?!
I just managed to finish an important piece for an exhibition just before my ‘slog’ began..
@rhombusrhombus Gutted for you that you won’t make the London Film Festival to see your work in all its glory but treatment does come to an end and you do return. I think it’s so important to reclaim what you love.
@sassy3 Fantastic news on the clear 1 year mammogram!! We do so love to hear and celebrate these milestones.
@wizzer I’m with you on doing everything possible to keep the anxiety and the unwelcome invader at bay. Your exhibition piece is absolutely stunning, you talented lady. @arty1 will love this. She has had a horrendous amount on her plate lately so can only drop by occasionally but I’m flagging her as I know she will appreciate it.
@wizzer Oh I love your piece so much! It’s stunning xxx The film is called Elsinore, it’s about the last year of Ian Charleson’s life as he took over as Hamlet at the The National Theatre whilst he was dying of AIDS. It’s such an incredible story actually, he was an amazing man.
Thanks for all the love and reassurance and encouragement everyone!
@sassy3 it’s so great to hear you are doing well and had a clear mammorgram.
@rhombusrhombus I remember the death of Ian Charleson so well. He was wonderful in many ways, not just because he was such a gifted actor. I definitely would like to see this film. Thanks for letting us know about it. I will be looking at the costumes and feeling a glow of pride that one of the buddies is responsible for them!
I actually saw Daniel Day-Lewis playing Hamlet in that very production and remember well how Ian Charleson had to step in and then being utterly shocked at the awful news that he had died such a short time later. What an incredible man to take on a role like that when you have AIDS which had such a stigma at the time. How inspirational.
So had my first meeting regarding my treatment plan today - 6months chemo, then radio & Phesgo for a year which from what Iv researched is the kind of standard regime? My start plan went a bit different to a few others as it was thought to be 23mm DCIS with microinvasion and no lymph involvement which after surgery 4 weeks ago now (theraputic mammoplasty & slnb) turned out to actually be 46mm IDC with associated DCIS with 2/2 micro positive sentinel nodes. Thanks to an amazing surgeon he removed all with clear margins which was the best outcome I could ask for but know for many HER2+ cases they give chemo first - did anyone else have surgery first then chemo after? I’m Her2+ hr- & grade 2
@rhombusrhombus Ooh you’re in the A league!! That’s got some really big names! Including yours of course . I can see why you might be torn about wanting to go
I will tell family in London to try and go and will go and see it myself when it comes out
@newtotheclub that must have been a horrible shock I had surgery first as initially I too had what was diagnosed as a big lump of DCIS. They then found some IDC but it was small and no lymph but I’ve now decided to have chemo to be safe. It does sound like the trastuzumab/chemo combo is very effective so hopefully it works for you if that’s what your given
Chemo first does put the surgery off which isnt always a good thing if treatment doesn’t slow it as much as they’d like. I think i would have chosen to do the same again and get rid of it asap even if I’d known about my invasive bit
Yeah I agree for me personally I wouldn’t change having surgery first especially as I had a bloody amazing surgeon who managed to get the big unexpected imposter out with clear margins I just had a bit of a panic when I saw most people having chemo first and wondered if anyone found themselves in the same boat but I’m assured as long as treatment gets going within the timeframes it’s all good. I had surgery 10th August & due to start my first chemo 8th October I think so I’m sure I’m well within the times - what time frame are you now if you don’t mind me asking?
@newtotheclub I had my mastectomy 4th July, and then a lymph node biopsy on the 24th.
Starting treatment on the 22nd Sept so pretty close to the three months! I’m just glad I arranged that appointment with the oncologist or I would have missed my window. Just hoping now that nothing prevents my start date
@newtotheclub hi and welcome, I think the decision on chemo verses surgery first depends on factors like tumour size and stage. I’m sure the individual treatment offered matches the individual situation we find ourselves in. There is always support on this forum, you are not alone, very best wishes on your journey!
Hello and welcome to @newtotheclub (I’m sure you’ve heard the saying that it’s the club that nobody wants to join but which has the best members - true! ) Your treatment path is a very familiar one to most of us and I too had what was thought to be 6mm of DCIS which then turned into 39mm DCIS with 2.3mm of invasive and 2 lymph nodes involved. I was also Stage 2. Your surgeon sounds wonderful and I wish they had been my first surgeon. I had a fair few unsuccessful surgeries then switched to Royal Marsden in Sutton who put me straight into chemo with a mastectomy at the end. My situation is unheard of apparently but I had a surgeon who didn’t seem to want to admit defeat. I believe that the route they take varies from person to person and between hospitals and consultants. They discuss each case at the Multidisciplinary Team meeting and proceed according to each individual case taking into consideration the information they have. @naughty_boob has written about this previously on this thread in much greater and more exacting detail but please be reassured that many of us have had surgery first. It sounds like you are in good hands and they are getting on with it. I had over a year wasted with unsuccessful surgeries and yet there was no distant disease when I had all my scan results.
@wizzer I’m glad you have a treatment start date. Just checking, but you have joined the September 2026 Chemo Starters thread, have you? Invaluable to have people going through it at exactly the same time as you.
I’m so lucky to have been under the Royal Marsden Sutton from day one and so so lucky it’s literally down the road from me which really does make things so much easier being a busy working mum of 3 too I’m sorry you had to go through all that you did and so glad you finally got looked after - might’ve even been the same surgeon we had! X
@newtotheclub I feel so very lucky to be at that hospital. I have the wonderful Katherine Krupa as my surgeon/consultant. She knows I sing her praises on here! I think the nurses on that chemo ward are just lovely. They are like old friends now. You are definitely in good hands.
@salbert that is extraordinary that you saw the production with Daniel Day Lewis! A friend of mine actually was there when he walked off stage. I’ve thought quite a lot about Ian and what he managed whilst he was feeling so ill while I’ve been bed bound from chemo. Hugely inspirational. @wizzer ha ha yes the cast were divine! You are so lovely to send along your family! I agree with Sal, and join the September chemo starters, I’ve found these threads to so helpful, I duck in and out of different months as there are a lot of good tips.
@newtotheclub It sounds like you’ve got great care and are in very good hands. It makes such a difference to have that feeling I think.
I’m just in the dreary Day 4 post big chemo cycle, but it was my last one before surgery, so it’s helping a little psychologically knowing I don’t have to go in next week for more! Still haven’t decided on boobs vs no boobs, but I must decide very soon.
Thanks @rhombusrhombus yes ive joined the September group and it seems there are a couple of others there that are on the same weekly trastuzumab/paclitaxel regime which is helpful Starting to feel a bit nervous about it only being just over a week away now
I personally went flat with a single mastectomy and I’m really glad I did. The incision healed super quick and ive had hardly any swelling and it gets it over with in one op! When I look at myself now I actually prefer it and wish I’d had them both done.. so much more practical
I’m just having some Scarwork done to release the fascia and tightness which has been really helpful already - I just wish it was offered on the NHS as I think we could all benefit from it
My son had suddenly announced he was giving up the perfect course he was on at sixth form college and going back to school to do A levels that were unrelated to his career goals. It proved stressful but fortunately he has been dissuaded. I blame this for the overconsumption of Prosecco on Friday night for which I paid the price all Saturday. I did, however, get a beautiful slice of treacle tart from that amazing cake cafe in Tarrant Street which lifted my spirits and energy levels for about half an hour. Then I had to give up, go back to the camper van and call it a day at about 8:30pm. Drink is evil.
just zolendronic infusions left to complete! Wherever you are on your journey, stay strong, you can do this 
x
. I’ve had wonderful support from my craft community 
We do so love to hear and celebrate these milestones.
. I can see why you might be torn about wanting to go 
I had surgery first as initially I too had what was diagnosed as a big lump of DCIS. They then found some IDC but it was small and no lymph but I’ve now decided to have chemo to be safe. It does sound like the trastuzumab/chemo combo is very effective so hopefully it works for you if that’s what your given
I just had a bit of a panic when I saw most people having chemo first and wondered if anyone found themselves in the same boat but I’m assured as long as treatment gets going within the timeframes it’s all good. I had surgery 10th August & due to start my first chemo 8th October I think so I’m sure I’m well within the times - what time frame are you now if you don’t mind me asking?
) Your treatment path is a very familiar one to most of us and I too had what was thought to be 6mm of DCIS which then turned into 39mm DCIS with 2.3mm of invasive and 2 lymph nodes involved. I was also Stage 2. Your surgeon sounds wonderful and I wish they had been my first surgeon. I had a fair few unsuccessful surgeries then switched to Royal Marsden in Sutton who put me straight into chemo with a mastectomy at the end. My situation is unheard of apparently but I had a surgeon who didn’t seem to want to admit defeat. I believe that the route they take varies from person to person and between hospitals and consultants. They discuss each case at the Multidisciplinary Team meeting and proceed according to each individual case taking into consideration the information they have. 
I’m sorry you had to go through all that you did 
and so glad you finally got looked after - might’ve even been the same surgeon we had! X
Starting to feel a bit nervous about it only being just over a week away now 
