@salbert I’m usually adamant that I don’t put decorations up until December but thought . What the heck … we all need a bit of early Christmas cheer I think .
I’ve still got Christmas decorations my grown up kids made at school and still squeeze them in although they are looking a bit worse for wear .
I think after 41 years it’s time to let go of bauble guilt !
Sounds like you had a close call too thank goodness you couldn’t go further … we found out the object on the line as sadly a person who made the decision not to carry on with life unbeknown to them , they saved our lives that day
Mum has stage 4 non hogkins follicular lymphoma , currently in remission but she got health insurance at 74 with an existing heart issue and on monoclonal antibodies , it was astronomical I won’t lie but she said it was worth it to go on holiday .
We are here for you and I’ll see you over on the chemo starters thread as well.
Christmas decorations look fab. I, like @salbert have loads of old ones, many made by the children when they were younger. I did start buying some nice glass ones and then got another dog and worried if they get knocked and break.
Going to Bath Christmas Market in 2 weeks to try to get into the Christmas spirit.
@naughty_boob I feel sick with fear today …husband has had to pry me away from the phone to prevent me cancelling … I won’t lie … the fear is all consuming … I’m great at reassuring others but rubbish at reassuring myself
Bath Christmas markets are lovely . I do love Bath it will definitely get you in the Christmas spirit x
Hi all, I’ve not posted for a while as I’ve been burying my head in the sand a little while waiting for my results from recent lymph node and another lump biopsy found from my MRI. Well, today both the lump and lymph node came back positive for cancer which I really wasn’t prepared for. I was in a such a positive head space and adamant it would be nothing so now, yet again, the plan has changed. A CT scan Tuesday and meeting with oncology Wednesday to start Chemo :( I was really geared up for surgery first, enjoy Christmas, then onto chemo. I’m so scared, once again. Lymph node being positive has realllly got my mind back to that awful dark place.
@arty1 best of luck tomorrow! I’ll be thinking of you. It’s just another part of this horrible journey that will soon be over for you x
Everyone deals with this poop show differently, you have to do what works for you. I’m so sorry to hear that the second lump is also cancer and in your lymph nodes. Again different trusts do different things, mine did an ultrasound and on the lymph and said it looked ok but it wasn’t until after surgery when they did a sentinel node biopsy that I knew for sure.
At least by Wednesday you should know everything that is going to happen. Your multi disciplinary team will have discussed what they know so far and more than likely what to do if these tests come back positive. Once your treatment starts you’ll feel like you’re on a rollercoaster that you can’t get off.
You say you are in that awful place again, I would suggest you call the BCN nurses on 0808 800 6000 between 9-4 and if you see this before 8pm tonight you can always call the MacMillan helpline (open 8-8). I hope by talking it through they will help settle your mind.
You are strong, you can do this. Chemo is not great but it’s doable. All of us that have had it, have been where you are and we’ve got through the other side. Some of us on here have just started or in the middle of treatment, we all react differently to the medication, but the staff know what they are doing. There give you lots of drugs to help with side effects.
I send you a virtual hug. Do something nice this weekend.
This is just a quick one and I’ll be back on later to answer properly, but I just wanted to say GO @arty1 YOU CAN DO THIS!!! You are treading the path that many of us have trodden and many are still to tread and we are cheering you on from the sidelines. Xxxx
@arty1 Good luck today! I hope your fears will be unfounded and everything will go smoothly for you.
Lots happened since I was last in here… have been just keeping my head down and getting on with things with the Kadcyla. I had my full body MRI scan last week and my oncologist called me soon after with the happy news that there was nothing to worry about on the scan. I switched to a new brand of Tamoxifen this week and the headaches have gone away so it seems like the headaches I was getting were related to that and not brain mets.
@kartoffel That must feel good to get that news I know my friend whose on Tamoxifen said she had rotten headaches … but of course you instantly think oh my god what if … it’s horrible the way cancer puts you on red alert so that “body noise “ becomes the worst in our heads
Annoyingly I’ve woken up with a snotty nose and a bit of a cough I’ve tried to ring oncology for advice but no one is answering … Temp is 37.5 ,. Do I just turn up and see what they say ?
@naughty_boob supposed to be 1-15 but I’ve woken up this morning with a snotty nose and a bit of a cough … Typical … my 14 year old has had a bad cold last week and I was hoping to avoid it … I’ve tried ringing oncology but no one answers … I’ve also got a bit of earache now … do I just turn up and see what they say ?
Oh @arty1 sorry to hear that but I would just go, unless you have a temperature they will usually do the treatment. As usual I would advise that you try and call them if you can get through just to double check with your own team.
@scaredmum1 - I had the same thing happen to me on 27th December 2023. I remember that date so well. There I was enjoying Inbetwixtmas (my favourite bit) when I got the call that there was cancer in 2 of the 3 lymph nodes they had taken and that they STILL didn’t have clear margins around my cancer. I went into freefall just like you. I called the breast cancer nurse who kept telling me it was all treatable. I was told I would definitely be having chemo and Herceptin and I did. It’s common for it to be in the lymph nodes and it means they are doing their job, acting like sponges to soak up any seeds that try to escape. Everyone here who has been where you are right now will tell you that it’s the worst bit but that you will come out the other side. You will not feel like this forever. Do not despair. There is lots that they can do and lots of options for really successful treatment. Do not Google. Stick to Breast Cancer Now, MacMillan and Cancer Research websites. Dr Liz O’Riordan is your go-to expert. We are here and we are holding your hand. You will get through this time and you will look back and help others when they find themselves in that dark and scary place. Sending love and strength.
@kartoffel - So great to hear your news. You and I have been on this journey together throughout so I’m really relieved and happy for you. That calls for a celebratory roast potato or two. Chips, crisps and rosti too.
@arty1 I went in with a cold threatening to break and was told to go ahead with the chemo one week. You will be there now. You’ve got this, my friend. Go on Arty!! Smash it!
@salbert thank you so much. You have such a reassuring way with words. My friend kindly came and sat with me today to try and cheer me up and we sat and read your message together and both cried, it came at just the right time and my friend said… what a lovely lady.
I’ve been so afraid to start chemo but this evening I’m so determined to start this journey now! As hard as it’s going to be. Im ready to get this out of me!!
The chemo totally melted my lumps away i had my initial lump and a tiny one near it forming apparently also positive nodes and the chemo made the nodes clear too! I have done chemo now and i have my surgery date for the 18th december.
I know its hard, but be positive! Your going to be fine and it will come round sooner than you think at the other side of it! Honestly i though people was just saying it but mine went so quick. Dont forget we have the phesgo injection on top of chemo which is called ’ the wonder drug’ so its getting everything fired at it. X
@jeml That sounds very similar to mine. My initial lump was 9mm, they found a 6mm one right next to it and positive node. I’m having a CT scan on Tuesday and I’m absolutely petrified and praying it’s no where else. Does anyone know how long CT scan results take? My consultant said she wouldn’t be seeing me now until half way through my treatment so I’m assuming I just get a call with results?
They have a good idea what the seeing on screens and how it grows etc. Your lumps are not big at all… mine was 2.7cm and not sure how big that one starting was. Anyway it got rid of them! So im pretty sure it will blast yours. I feel for you, i remember being where you are now. I had a scare in other boob too but it was benign tissue so i remember wanting to crack on with treatment and feeling like i been set back.
You will get there. I remember my nurse saying to me ’ we will get you where you need to be’ and here i am nearly there. You got a good attitude wanting to get started though, being positive minded really is powerful and makes us determined and strong. We are mammas, the strongest people out there
Try not to think too far ahead , the Ct scan is to rule out spread … not confirm it . Our lymph nodes do a great job of gate keeping the breast area and soaking up the crack before it goes anywhere else , so just because you have positive nodes … it doesn’t mean it’s spread … there are one heck of a lot of lymph nodes in the arm alone and cancer would have to work very hard to get through all that lot first x
@salbert my temperature was fine so they were happy to go ahead x
Thank you for all your well wishes ladies - I was in tears when I turned up but was soon reassured by a lovely nurse who realised she was from the same town in n wales as me and is my age so our paths probably crossed lots of times !
She offered me a side room with my husband but I said no I’m going to get my big girl pants on … he needs to go shopping and will be bored stuck with me !
Nurse doing the herceptin jab was amazing and I didn’t feel a thing … unfortunately I had a reaction ten mins later but they were on it in seconds … DR called and piriton and steroids in … so the chemo itself was uneventful as I’d gone off to my happy place
Home
Since 5.30 … feel very hot … and weird sternum pain… have taken an anti sickness and inhaled a pizza which I may regret later .
I’m anaemic … no surprise there so am back on iron and also vitamin d tablets as I’m quite deficient
unbeknown to them , they saved our lives that day
I was really geared up for surgery first, enjoy Christmas, then onto chemo. I’m so scared, once again. Lymph node being positive has realllly got my mind back to that awful dark place.
I’m literally shaking xx
I know my friend whose on Tamoxifen said she had rotten headaches … but of course you instantly think oh my god what if … it’s horrible the way cancer puts you on red alert so that “body noise “ becomes the worst in our heads 
I’ve tried to ring oncology for advice but no one is answering … Temp is 37.5 ,. Do I just turn up and see what they say ?