@lynnc123 amazing! Thank you so much 
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Hello i am new to this thread, shannon 30 and recently diagnosed in october with high grade dcis and invasive ductal carcinoma stage 2 grade 2.
First round of chemotherapy today, 1/6
I will have to have a mastectomy on my left side cause of the size of the dcis, my invasice bit is 12mm but they cant be sure have had an mri, ct scan, mammogram and ultrasound.
No spread, no lymth node involvement. Just trying to focus on getting through chemo. Then i think im opting for a double mastectomy and reconstruction if anyone has any experiences with this type of surgery, and any triple positive POSITIVE stories 
I also have an active 5 year old to keep up with luckily i have my partner and family to help
Shannon
Hi! Welcome to this chatâșïž I was 36 in April when I was diagnosed and am triple positive grade 2, stage 2. I have had 4xEC and 3xDocetaxel with phesgo then a lumpectomy and SLNB and then radiotherapy. I didnt have a complete response to the original chemo (there was a small amount of tumour left and removed during surgery), so I am now starting Kadcyla for 14 cycles too and had my first one yesterday. This is more to try and mop up any rogue cells in my body and prevent recurrence.
Iâm also on tamoxifen at the moment but chemo made me menopausal instantly and I still am, so theyâve just done bloods and are discussing switching me to letrozole and ovarian suppression soon.
Just wanted to let you know that it is doable and Iâm actually feeling not bad considering all the treatment so far - just a bit fatigued! I kept moving/exercising and eating as best I could throughout, which I felt helped. It goes in quickly (youâd be surprised!). Just take one step at a time and youâll get there 
I had 4 other phesgo jags on their own before started Kadcyla and havenât really noticed any side effects. Same with tamoxifen - Iâve been on it a month now and donât feel any different 
Sorry I canât answer the surgery question but there are others here who had a mastectomy and can help. I cold capped (if you want any info on that) and if you want to know anything else from me just let me know. Thereâs monthly chemo starter threads too, so you can join one of those when you start (I found it really useful for meeting others going through chemo at the same time and getting hints and tips!). Good luck!
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Thank you for your response belle1, yes im on doxetaxol phesgo etc. For 6 cycles, just felt really fatigue after it yesterday waiting to see what this week brings. Thanks for the advice i have been eating plenty and going out a walk this morning with the dog, small steps but keep going. Yes i done cold capping yesterdayâs first 15 mins were sore but ut was more the strap under my chin that hurt going to take an extra flannel for underneath my chin but any more tips are helpful x
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Hi @shannon27 and welcome!
Itâs a rubbish hand to be dealt at such a young age. Sadly there have been a few of you on this thread, but who are doing really well. Itâs very good news that you have no lymph node involvement. There are definitely other women on here who are triple positive such as the lovely @belle1 and others who have had or who are having double mastectomies. In fact, just above you will read of @lynnc123 who had a double mastectomy in July and @jeml is having a double mastectomy a week before Christmas. I have said it before and I say it again, those of you going through this with young children have my utmost respect. You are forces to be reckoned with. I had a single mastectomy in August with a tissue expander and it was absolutely fine. I was surprised at how straightforward it was. These are common ops that the operating theatre teams do all the time and Iâve been told that by a friend who works as an operating theatre technician. You sound like you are doing all the right things. You are connecting with us on here, you are out walking the dog, you are eating well. The fatigue is to be expected on chemo so just make sure you get as much rest as you can. Itâs great to hear you have a good support network. If you ask me, that cold cap was the worst part of it all! However, I am glad I persevered as now I have a very thick head of curly hair growing back. (When I say âthick headâ I am referring to hair volume as opposed to IQ, by the way.) I found comedy podcasts helped me to laugh my way through that particular discomfort.
Glad you have joined us.
Salbert
x
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Aw I found the chin strap uncomfortable too! I took paracetamol about 30 mins before putting the cold cap on and also took a hot drink in a thermal flask for the first 15 or so mins as it totally helps! Keep brushing your hair every day and wash 1x per weekâŠ. It feels minging at first but your hair adapts quickly and stops getting greasyâ:smiling_face: I used moogoo hair products for washing and conditioning, but there are loads of more natural and gentle products you can use. Look good feel better do online courses and one of them is a hair care one that I got good info from (or you can check out the cancer hair care website too). They recommended that if it does get more painful as your hair thins or you get patches, to try to keep capping and put a surgical cap on underneath the cold cap too. I did this for the last couple and it helped
You may or may not have a bigger shed about 2-3 weeks after as your hair will still thin using the cold cap. No one warned me about this and it was upsetting as I didnât expect a bigger shed, so I defo think itâs better to get a heads up! I lost a bunch at once but it was even and not overly noticeable, and I continued shedding afterwards for a while then it slowed. I thought about shaving my hair after the first shed but stuck with it and am glad I did. It started growing back towards my last Docetaxel tooâșïž
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Hello salbert, thank you for your message. Yes its not a journey any of us what to be on. But these threads made it all that wee bit better with all these amazing woman pushing through it. Yes hard work with children and taking all tbe support i can get to keep her entertained and me rested. Yes its really helpful to her people on there surgery stories and what they all had, plenty options out there with great teams to help with it all x
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Thank you @belle1 i will take the the paracetamol next time and see if that helps yeah the chin strap was tbe worst bit tbh after the 15 mins. I will have a look at these products definitely worth investing in some, yes i have thick hair but have been warned about my side burns falling out as the cap dosent reach them. I have a couple of wigs to play about with just incase i shed lots but i think i will push on with it đ©· xx
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I had thick hair to start with too and it really helped having lots to start with⊠the parts that thinned are growing back thick and fast again too
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Hi @shannon27
Welcome to the thread. So sorry to hear of your diagnosis especially being so young. There is a group for women under 45. Link below.
- Younger Women Together: For people 45 and under. You can choose the support that suits you: online, one day or 2 day residential events. Find an event.
I was bi lateral so had two primary tumours once Grade 2 ER+ HER2+ 20mm and the other grade 1 ER+ 0.9mm. I had a bilateral lumpectomy/ wide local incision. I was told the outcome was the same with that or a double mastectomy and I would be closely monitored for 5 years. I have larger boobs so it was an easy option, I know itâs not always possible if you are on the smaller size. Had I had the genetic risk I would have then had double mastectomy but I was negative. Many ladies on here had just had the one side operated on as thatâs the one with cancer.
Until you have your next scans you wonât know what the best option is for you surgically.
I noticed you have started chemo, have you joined the monthly chemo starters group, link below
I also cold capped and kept most of my hair with shedding and two small patches, but itâs not for everyone.
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Hello @naughty_boob thanks for your message i will look into these groups.
Yes my area is in my left breast and its over 60mm the invasice bit is in there so i have to have a single mastectomy on my left side with reconstruction because of the size of the dcis, so just thinking about doing it all at once and getting them both done, as im 30 im thinking better doing it now. But ive got time to think about surgery. But i think im set on having them both done, im waiting for my gentics to come back but i have 2 grannys that have had breast cancer 1 aged 55 and 1 aged 80 so both after menopause and my mum was 58 and was on hrt hers was hormone fed, so yeah just planning ahead for the future x
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Love love love them both , have to say the first one is my favourite 
you look fabulous, hope all ok sweeti XXX
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Hello @Nikks How lovely to hear from you!! You were one of the first people to answer me and give me the encouragement that I so desperately needed back in December. Everything is good with me, thanks. Iâm so very glad itâs November 2024 instead of November 2023. 
How are you doing? XXXX