Thank you, Salbert. I’m so glad it was helpful.
Scaredmum, my heart goes out to you because we all know your fear. It’s universal among all of us when we first get our diagnosis. But what I wrote then is still correct. Whatever they found out they will have medication to handle. Treatment is a great equalizer and as soon as you start it, your anxiety will lessen. Just hold on for a little while longer.
Im sorry to hear you have found another lump! Whenever we get a lump/bump anywhere now its defo going to get our brains going.
After my MRI i had another little bit growing too apparently also i had node involvement and chemo got rid of both of them! I had another mri a few days ago but cant even feel the actual lump now so its either gone or really teeny.
My mums friend had the same type as us also ER positive too… her tumour was a wopping 9cm!! And lots of node involvement with another lump in her armpit… that was years ago… she is fab now! You can do this like salbert said most of us had node involvement. Chemo will do its job you will probably notice a difference after the first round or 2.
Sending love, you got this! 
@salbert @Kay0987 thank you so much for that! Really needed it. My best friend came over this evening which also helped me perk up a little. I’m just so scared it’s now spreading with still no dates or surgery or treatment, it’s pure torture! I have an appointment with my consultant tomorrow to discuss the MRI results further but she said I’ll need another biopsy and the soonest they could get me in was Friday :(
@scaredmum1 - I can only echo what every one else has said x
It’s really not unusual to need further biopsies and for more things to be uncovered , it doesn’t mean the cancer is going on an all night rave through your body , I promise you x
Back in August I was feeling the same I’d had a diagnosis on the 7th then they dropped it on me there were further areas that needed biopsies. I had to come back a week later and have a mammogram assisted biopsy … then back on the 27th for the results that yet more high grade DCIS had been found . By this stage I was in a state , I just wanted them to get it out !
Then I had to have a further appointment to talk to the surgeon , I was a mess , knowing it was her2, like you I was convinced the cancer cells were multiplying like gremlins !
I saw the surgeon on the 7th September then I blinked and suddenly I was having my mastectomy and now five weeks later I’m just about to start chemo … it’s actually only just over 8 weeks from my final diagnosis .
Once they have the full picture you’ll find things will move quickly … and just because it’s reached your nodes , it doesn’t mean it’s spread anywhere else x
My post surgery pathology showed five seperate invasive tumours which had been hiding in the DCIS but it didn’t change what they had suspected was my overall plan x
Do not hesitate to ask for some pharmaceutical help. You know what got me through this time? Xanax. That’s it. Because it sucked so badly. As far as spreading goes, even though it doesn’t seem like it, it really isn’t too much of a concern for a couple of months after diagnosis. Breast cancer, even the aggressive ones, tends not to spread as quickly as other cancers. You have some time to get an idea of what you’re dealing with and really need to take that time so that your surgery choice is the right one. Plus if you need chemo, that will probably be what they start first. And since you’re triple positive the chances of you having a great response to that is great. In fact, triple positive breast cancer has gone from being one of the two breast cancers with the worst prognosis to the one that probably has the best prognosis. Not only do you have chemo and radiation but also immunotherapy and endocrine therapy. And yeah that sounds scary in and of itself but truly most of us get through it all fine. I mean it’s not fun or anything but we usually make a full recovery when it’s all said and done with. Anyway they sound like they’re actually moving pretty quickly. Your biopsy is this Friday, hopefully results come in early next week, and then your doctors will have enough of an idea on what you’re dealing with to start. But again, don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it. This waiting period is truly torture and there’s no shame in holding your hand out.
@Kay0987 Lovely to hear from you. I will always be so grateful to you for your post back then as my mental health was in freefall and you did it the world of good. Your posts are always so well-informed and positive and so I’m glad to see nothing has changed there.
@scaredmum1 Torture is a word many of us have used for the waiting time and it really is torturous. I hope you can take heart from all of us who can tell you that this time does pass and you will look back and be so grateful it’s over but also amazed at the stronger you that got through it and survived.
We are all here.
XX
@salbert - it sounds like you had a fantastic time in your career and you are right … experiences mean so much more .
I clearly didn’t learn my lessons from each pregnancy as hyperemesis got worse 
I was still running my business all through my pregnancy with mh youngest and actually took a business call while in labour , the midwife took my phone off me 
sadly my marriage ended a few months later so I was left to bring up a ten year old , 6 year old and new baby . My eldest had left home and was at uni and my 17 year old stayed with his dad … it was a hard time but we did it x
I collected dad’s ashes today , I burst into tears when the lady at the crem handed the box over . I said out loud … “oh it’s heavy “ realising how ridiculous that sounded … I mean he was a person and not a cat The box is now in my bookcase until chemo is over and I can scatter him, he was a well read man so I figured he’d enjoy being in with the books
Blimey @arty1 You are Superwoman! If you have survived all that then you will definitely get through this unwanted stage in your life.
You are getting one of my virtual hugs for yesterday. I’m not surprised you burst into tears. I definitely think your dad will appreciate being amongst the books for a while until you are ready to set him free to fly off on the winds. It sounds perfect really, to keep him close to you while you go through a tough time and then you can emerge at the same time like butterflies.
XX
@salbert I think you just get on with it when adversity hits don’t you , it’s a case of having too x
Dad was a government scientist before he retired , always reading , I note when I go to his house that his Mensa mag and The biologist are still turning up … he’d been a Mensa member for years …
I really miss him but I’m mindful that if he’d still been alive we’d have been looking at end of life care for him which would have been awful to deal with … after everything That’s happened in my own life , I’m grateful he got to give me away last year when I remarried x
Hi all
I had my MRI results and they are clear of any nasties. But I do have two bulging discs in my neck that are causing the issue. The word arthritis was used and it happens with age! Lucky for me I had a physio appointment today after the phone call from GP and she has given me a few more exercises. But overall it’s keeping flexible and improve my fitness. She said the swimming will help.
Like everyone else waiting for results, it was a long 2 weeks and I’m very grateful it was done so quickly, was told it could be up to 4 weeks. The GP saw the email and called me the same day without having to jump through hoops to make an appointment, she just added me to her list to call. I was so grateful she did this.
Thinking of you all. 
@naughty_boob boo to arthritis , but brilliant news on the MRI results not being anything sinister, that must be a weight off your mind x
Just had a call from the hospital , I can’t have weekly paclitaxel due to my castor oil allergy .
They are switching me to nab paclitaxel on a 3 week shedule , I feel very nervous as it’s clearly stronger if over 3 weeks and I won’t finish now until the end of May but obviously I can’t have normal taxel 
I’ve got to see the oncologist again and I don’t know if it’s going to change my start date now which is worrying as I’m already at 8 weeks on my start date
@arty1 First of all, I love your look on your wedding day. Stunning bright colours, you look amazing on your dad’s arm. So beautiful. What a clever man. I’m so glad you had that day together. I also went for bright oranges and blues when I got remarried. 
I’m sorry to hear that your Paclitaxel regime has to change slightly but thank goodness you flagged up the castor oil allergy. When do you see the oncologist? Hoping and praying your start date doesn’t change.
@naughty_boob BRILLIANT NEWS!! So happy for you, my friend. The word arthritis isn’t the best word in the world to hear, but so much better than many. I think celebratory cake and dog cuddles should very much be on the cards for today.
Salbert
xx
Fingers crossed nothing else changes and you start soon. Well done for flagging up the allergy
Thank goodness @naughty_boob that the MRI didn’t show anything sinister, although i’m sure arthritis is not fun. Hopefully physio can help, but be careful.
@arty1 just as well you realised that the paclitaxol contained castor oil, i wouldn’t have realised. I think i’ve read on here others have been on the other stuff, so they might be able to tell you all about if. What a fab picture of you and your Dad, so great you had that moment and what a clever and interesting man, you must be so proud of him and i’m sure he was proud of you too. Also what a joyous picture of @salbert on your wedding day. I’ve led a very boring life in comparison, but a happy one, so not complaining.
@salbert I love this pic … so vibrant and full of joy ! You both look so happy 
when did you get married ?
My husband is 14 years younger than me … I feel sorry for him putting up with all this 
I’m a big fan of teal and being 50 when I got married I went for a fifties teal dress . I’m sadly not very slim anymore so couldn’t carry off anything as gorgeous as your lovely floaty dress .
@naughty_boob have they suggested anything else re the arthritis ? It is just physio for now ?
Sonetimes they just call it wear and tear … which is just rude imo … I’d like a refund or exchange for some younger body parts in that case as my neck crunches constantly
@pennyp Its thrown me a bit as I was mentally prepared for weekly paclitaxel and now it’s going to be five months … but better to be careful . I just hope it’s not a horrible regime .
The moving forward course sounds interesting … it’s nice to have that hand hold instead of being cast out into the wild … a cancer diagnosis changes your mindset and learning to accept and move forward I know I will find hard .
My dad was an amazing man … not perfect … but we were closer in the last few years and he literally cried with happiness on my wedding day . I’m so glad I was able to give him that moment too .
Hubby and I on the day .we got married in April last year
Re arthritis/neck. I saw the physio yesterday who gave me 2 more exercises and discharged me. Said it’s about keeping up with the exercises and staying fit. The GP gave me Naproxen but wouldn’t put on repeat due to the issues it has with the stomach and kidneys, I’m taking the Omeprazole to prevent stomach issues. She said she’d give me one more prescription of Naproxen but to try just to use paracetamol instead. But the paracetamol doesn’t help enough.
I’ll see how it goes over the next month nd will have to have another discussion with GP re pain relief.
@naughty_boob oh yes try not to take naproxen too long as it can reduce kidney function x
I’m a bit stressed as my chemo start date is 22nd November and the oncologist said it was the latest she wa happy to start it . Yesterday the breast nurse said that I needed to come in and sign the consent forms for the new regime before I started but worse case it could be done on the day .
She said I’d be sent an appointment through … for four days after my chemo is due to start !
That can’t be right as it would mean I’d start my chemo much later and almost on the cusp of the cut off time …
Oh dear @arty1 thats a bit confusing. I signed my forms in the clinic on the Tuesday having pre chemo bloods for infusion on the Thursday. I’d already talked through what was happening at a previous appointment. I hope it sorts itself out.
I went in to Aldi to buy more paracetamol to take and reduce the naproxen. Obviously you’re only allowed 2 packets per purchase. So we popped in another 2 packets to pay separately as I was with my husband. They refused to sell the extra 2 packets as we ‘walked’ in the store together. I said we are 2 adults making 2 separate purchases but they still refused. They said it was Aldi policy. It’s so annoying, if you take the 8 tablets a day, 2 packets last 2 days. I walked across to the Asda and bought more! I know it’s because it can be dangerous to take too many. I didn’t want to ask the GP to prescribe (they would be free in Wales) as they are generally cheap to buy but I can’t be going to the shops every 2 days!
@naughty_boob Yes it’s all extra worry I could do without … I’ve had my date in the diary for a good three weeks and I can’t believe they would just cancel my start dates… I can only assume it’s a mistake on behalf of whoever had booked the appointment … ie not realising I needed the appointment before my chemo started .
It’s frustrating buying painkillers … like you say … they don’t last two mins if you are taking regularly … crazy that you both couldnt buy them though !!
